Yesterday morning, after walking the kids to school, I decided to take the long way home.
It was bright and frosty, slippery underfoot, even after 9 am when the sun was well up, and the skies were a clear bright blue.
After a busy but scattered week and knowing the school holidays were within grasping reach, I decided to take that long way home and take in the frozen world around me. It was a good opportunity to set my mindset up ahead of the next two weeks, where, as a working mum, I’ll have to put more mental admin towards giving enough energy and attention towards work and family, finding the balance between rest, screentime, one on one time and creating memories with my kids.
I took a long way home and instead of thinking of my to-dos, I turned it into a photo walk. I shared some of it on my Instagram stories and took you along on the photo walk with me.
What is a Photo Walk?
A photo walk is part mindfulness activity, part creative practice, part self-care, part bonding activity – all fun.
Photo walks are many things for me. It’s a slowing down, a chance to notice, a chance to be still and not have to answer to anything but my curiosity. It’s a practice I’ve cherished since discovering my love for photography.
My Journey with Photo Walks
In the early days, it was a chance to practice getting what was in my head to match up with what ended up in my camera, to practice new skills and techniques, to spend time deep in my hobby. I used to blog the results of my photo walks, and that was a creative outlet for me too – something I want to come back to this year, I think.
As I became more skilled and became a professional, photo walks became a way to stretch myself creatively, and sometimes share the experience with other people, learning or teaching new skills and ways of seeing.
Photo Walks as a Parent
And then when I became a parent, getting out of the house with kids was both a requirement (for sanity) and a challenge (also for sanity). Photo walks took on a new meaning and opportunity. In the first years, it was my way to keep my eye honed, a chance to snatch some creativity in between feeds and naps and appointments.
As life moved on, it became a way to document our adventures, connect with my children at their level, see the world from their perspective, and share in the wonder of bugs in the garden and handfuls of tiny gravel.
Connecting Through Photo Walks
As my kids have grown older still, a photo walk is another way to connect – and stay connected in a low-pressure kind of way. It’s a way we can explore the world we live in together, I find out how they experience the world, what lights them up, and how they think. It’s become a way to teach and learn together about so many things.
The Benefits of Photo Walks
Many things come out of a photo walk for me. It’s the act of noticing, the act of being aware of things that I’m not normally aware of, it’s enjoying the textures, seeing the contrast of the colours. It’s finding beauty in places where it might be challenging to find beauty normally.
It’s a mindfulness practice and a creative challenge that gets me out of my head, especially during winter’s rain, fog, and cold. Sometimes going out, noticing different things, quietly walking around the same old boring neighbourhood that you always walk in, and challenging yourself to notice it differently, can change your mindset, even just a little bit.
How to Do Your Own Photo Walk
It’s simple: grab your phone or camera, step outside, and follow your curiosity. Take pictures of whatever catches your eye – the frost on the grass, the way the light hits the trees, or the small details you often overlook. Let your curiosity guide you.
Two Paths: Self-Care and Connection
Photo walks can take different paths depending on your goal. You can use them to nurture your own well-being, or you can use them to strengthen your family bonds and other relationships in your life. Photo walks offer a versatile and enriching experience, no matter the reason you’re doing them
For Self-Care:
Heading out on a solo photo walk can be a powerful form of self-care, and thats something we all need to prioritise, don’t you agree? For self-care, walk alone, focus on the things around you, take it slowly, notice the details around you, and take pictures of what you find. The benefits of this are awesome:
- Mindfully Doing:
- A photo walk allows you to practice “mindfully doing,” which for me at least, is a type of meditation alternative. By focusing on the present moment and your surroundings, you are practising mindfulness (and mindfulness is a proven way to reduce your stress). An activity that has you “mindfully doing” gives you a low-pressure way to explore what mindfulness could look like for you.
- Challenging Your Perspective:
- Taking photos encourages you to see familiar places in new ways. It’s a gentle challenge to your perspective, inviting you to engage in something creative even if you don’t consider yourself to be a creative person.
- Gratitude Practice:
- As you walk and capture the world around you, you naturally begin to notice and appreciate the small details. Finding little moments of joy is just gratitude in practice, and this practice of gratitude can enhance your overall sense of happiness and contentment.
- Light Exercise and Fresh Air:
- You could turn this into whatever kind of workout you want, but personally, I use this as a time to slow down, get some light exercise, some fresh air and some daylight on my skin. This all helps in your physical and mental health. The fresh air and sunshine boost your mood and energy levels, making it a great way to invigorate your day. And it can all be done in 10-15 minutes over your tea break or at lunchtime.
- Process Art:
- I use photo walks to emphasize the process rather than the outcome. The act of taking photos, rather than the photos themselves, becomes the art. This frees you from the pressure of perfection and allows you to enjoy the moment and explore a new way of expressing yourself. Anyone can do it.
For Connection:
Photo walks are obviously great for your self-care but I love them more as a fantastic way to connect with others. For connection, walk with your kids or a friend, explore together, discuss what you see, take turns taking photos, and learn from each other. Here’s how a photo walk can benefit family bonds and friendships:
- Low-Pressure Conversation:
- Walking and taking photos together create a relaxed environment for conversation. It’s a low-pressure opportunity to chat and connect without the need for structured activities, without interruption OR an awkward staredown across a table.
- Quality Time:
- Spending time together on a photo walk allows for a meaningful connection with the people you’re together with. It’s a dedicated time to be present with each other. And quality time spent with one another always strengthens your relationships. Photo walks often lead to an adventure of sorts, finding new things or rediscovering favourite spots together, creating fun shared experiences and stories. It’s a wonderful way to create and share memories, building a sense of shared history and connection with each other.
- Seeing a Different Perspective:
- Exploring and taking photos with someone else lets you see the world from their perspective. It’s an opportunity to understand what catches their eye and why, and this builds empathy and a deeper connection between you. And it’s more than just the visual perspectives you can see from too – you can share and learn from each other different ways of moving through life, solving problems and sharing ideas.
- Sharing Creativity:
- Sharing the photos you take and discussing them with each other is a fun way to express and appreciate each other’s creativity. It’s a shared creative experience that can bring you closer. You can even put together an album (digital or hardcopy) of your favourite moments that document your shared creativity and enjoy the journey together.
- Connecting with the Environment:
- Photo walks encourage you to engage with your surroundings. It’s a great way to feel more connected to the environment and appreciate the beauty of the world around you, and it might even lead to feeling more engaged and connected with your community too.
- Teaching and Learning:
- No matter if you’re photo-walking with your kids, friends, or family, photo walks offer opportunities for teaching and learning. Sharing in a new experience (or making it a tradition), discussing what you see, and learning new things together make the experience rewarding for everyone involved.
Join Me on Your Own Photo Walk
Do you think you want to give this a go? Whether you do like I did yesterday, and use it as a chance to spend some time in mindfulness for yourself, or whether it’s something you can use to get the kids off the screens and outside, it only takes your phone and 15 minutes to notice the world a little differently.
I took all of the photos in this post with my phone – there’s no need to worry about the technology!
If you do try it, I’d LOVE to see the results and hear your thoughts. Tag me in your photo walk galleries or stories on Instagram/Facebook, or send me an email or DM with your favourites. I think that would be really cool.
With joy,
Kate
If you’re looking for Te Awamutu family photography, you’re in the right place. At Ryan’s Daughter Photography, I believe in celebrating family moments and building strong, connected, and intentional relationships through photography. Have a photoshoot in mind? Get in touch via my contact form here
