• About
  • Blog
  • Working together
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Girl Gone Travel

Girl Gone Travel

Travel
/
June 30, 2019

Travel photography: what my kid taught me

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share

One Christmas 13 years ago, my husband I wanted to take a photo for a holiday card – for the first time ever – of our 3 boys; 10 years old, 1-year-old, and 2 months old. I had them sit in front of the Christmas tree, with the oldest awkwardly holding the baby and the 1-year-old desperately wanting to leave. I would try for several minutes to get the 1-year-old to stay still, the 10-year-old to smile, while also making sure the 2 month’s old head didn’t flop over his arm. It was a disaster and I walked away from the moment frustrated and crying. I blame the crying part on post-partum hormones, but the frustration and ambition to get the perfect picture were completely due to the pressure I had placed on myself to take the perfect shot for the world to see. This wasn’t a photo for me, but for others and that made shooting it much less enjoyable and a lot more stressful.

I have a fondness for photography and can spend hours going through hundreds and hundreds of photos to edit, frame, and share on social. But what I learned over the years, and most importantly, what my children have taught me, is that the perfection of it isn’t the point. It’s the real, messy, authentic, not so photogenic stuff that really stays with us and turns those moments into memories that we will talk about for years to come.

Though I still like to take beautiful, well-thought-out photos that showcase creativity and beauty, I have relaxed a lot since that December day and have tried to pass on the joy of capturing memories through photography onto my children. Our youngest has proven to enjoy it most and it’s become a highlight of any family trip to watch him take in a space or moment and then pull out his hand-me-down camera to capture it.

Watching him has taught me to separate my ego from my photography, and to take photos simply because the subject makes us happy, not because it will perform well on Instagram or whether or not others will enjoy it. He doesn’t share his photos with anyone and thus he doesn’t worry about what others will think of it. His photography of London stole my heart not just because of how good it was, but because of how authentically and innocently he approached everything he shot. I love his eye for detail and his creativity.

As much as I traveled before, it wasn’t until I traveled with my kids that I was able to appreciate a new and different perspective.

I teared up going through his photography from our recent road trip around Ireland, some of which we wanted to share with you here.

He photographed moments, not just things, and it communicated so much more to us about what that trip was for him than he ever expressed in words.

May all our travels, whether alone, but especially with loved ones, be this genuine and expressive. I am most excited about our upcoming travels this summer because I can’t wait to see what other beautiful, fun photography he takes to memorialize it and I am so proud to see how wonderfully he views the world.

The photographer

This post is in partnership and sponsored by Expedia. All opinions are my own. Photography is the property of the publisher and may not be used without consent.

Related

Enjoyed this post? Give it some love and share!
Share
Pin this Post
Share this Post
Carol Cain

Brooklyn native Carol is happiest when on an adventure, close to home or farther away. In addition to creating Girl Gone Travel, she is the Founder and CEO of Brave World Media, a social media marketing, communications management, and brand development agency. She's mom to three wonderful sons and wife to a handsome Irish/Scot. She splits her time between her homes in New Jersey and Finger Lakes.

You May Also Like...

Christmas Tree Hunting in Long Island, NY

December 12, 2008

Fort Tryon Park, Washington Heights, NY

December 10, 2008

Winter afternoon in the Bronx Zoo, NY

December 16, 2008
2 Comments
  • Hannah
    March 14, 2020

    Great post Carol. I love the idea of photographing from a child’s perspective and making a point to enjoy the moment and enjoy photography! Sometimes I feel like we’ve all become obsessed with getting the perfect Insta shot. But actually, photo’s are about so much more – they’re about the moment and finding a way to capture it. To make it last forever.

    Reply
    • caincarol
      Hannah
      April 3, 2020

      Agreed! My kids aren\’t Insta obsessed so what they photograph has more meaning because it is truly FOR them not for others. Revisiting this trip through his photos was so special. It remains one of my favorite family trips.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to caincarol Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Previous Post
Grounds for Sculpture: A stroll through art in New Jersey
Next Post
Finger Lakes History: A Treasure Trove for the Curious Traveler

About me

Hi! I'm Carol! I am a communications professional, an award-winning travel blogger, a public speaker, CEO of a social media marketing, communications, and branding agency, a wife, and a mom of 3 sons and 2 puppies. Welcome to my blog where I share stories of my travels and professional public relations insights and advice. Thank you for reading!

Carol Cain

Categories

  • Asia5 Post(s)
  • Caribbean17 Post(s)
  • Central America4 Post(s)
  • Europe53 Post(s)
  • North America313 Post(s)
  • Oceana1 Post(s)

Contact

  • carol@girlgonetravel.com

Also seen in:

Follow @girlgonetravel

Sometimes you just need to take a long, long walk. Sometimes you just need to take a long, long walk.
Some times, more than others, you need to hold on Some times, more than others, you need to hold on to moments of joy tighter than ever.

For me, this week, it has been found during long drives through country roads and wintery scenes in wine country. Or with a good movie or TV show (Sylvie’s Love was my latest, along with Netflix’s special “Pretend It’s A City” with Fran Lebowitz). Or with loving conversations with dear friends.

The point is, as a society, there is much to do, but our heart and mind and soul are sacred. Care for them. Love them. Feed them joy, however and wherever you may find it. We may live to fight another day...but we don’t have to live to fight every day.♥️
Of all the places in all the world, here lives a p Of all the places in all the world, here lives a piece of my heart.
.
.
.
#fingerlakes #myflx #keukalake #citygirlgonecountry #lakelife #upstateny #flxwinter #countrylife @flxwinecountry
Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and foc Feeling so in tune with what brings me joy and focusing all my energy on that as much as I can, in all the ways possible. Like spending cold afternoons getting mud on my boots in places like these with people I love.
.
.
.
@visitithaca #winterhike #waterfalls #snowyviews #pictureperfect #flxwinter #fingerlakes @flxwinecountry
Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, read Snuggled up in @theflxcottage, cozy and warm, ready to greet this new year.
.
.
.
#myflx #theflxcottage #fingerlakes #newyear #newyork #keukalake
Looking back at this year in photos and I have to Looking back at this year in photos and I have to laugh at how very little it all says about this year. My health scare definitely impacted me but it by no means defined this year for me. It was a year of centering. 

I am grateful for so much. The health and safety of my family. Our ability to continue to work and have jobs. The honest, safe, strong, and loving relationship with my husband whom I really, really enjoy spending time with. The closeness, support, and love of my closest friends - all the tears, laughter, raw conversations and uplifting we shared with each other. The incredible weight lifted from letting go of the people and things that don’t matter. The clarity in what I want. The incredible peace in having all I need. 

I have no resolutions for this coming year other than to hold on to what I already have and to give more to those who aren’t so lucky, which I have found so gratifying.

This year showed me what a lot of other people value and how they define what’s most important to them and in many ways, I needed to see it. It helped me make better choices in what I call friendships and where I focus my attention and time, of which we all increasingly have so little.

So despite all that 2020 took from us, I feel crazy fortunate to still feel I am walking away with such important lessons and tremendous growth. And after all, isn’t that a sign of a year well lived?

Happy New Year. My heart to all who’ve lost so much, who need help and continue to struggle through, and to the many great souls who continue to give to so many.
.
.
.
#newyear #bye2020 #bestofnine

Copyright © 2021 Girl Gone Travel | Privacy Policy | Copyright Notice