45 Inspirational Quotes for Photographers

Here are 45 inspirational quotes for photographers to inspire and motivate you!

“There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.”
Ansel Adams

“Don’t shoot what it looks like. Shoot what it feels like.”
David Alan Harvey

“The best thing about a picture is that it never changes, even when the people in it do.”
Andy Warhol

“Photography is the story I fail to put into words.”
Destin Sparks

“It is more important to click with people than to click the shutter.”
Alfred Eisenstaedt

“Photography is a love affair with life.”
Burk Uzzle

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.”
Ansel Adams

“You don’t take a photograph, you make it.”
Ansel Adams

“Only photograph what you love.”
Tim Walker

“Photography is the beauty of life captured.”
Tara Chisolm

“I didn’t choose photography, photography chose me.”
Gerardo Suter

“It’s not the camera but who’s behind the camera.”
Anonymous

“A camera is a SAVE button for the mind’s eye.”
Roger Kingston

“I think of photography like therapy.”
Harry Gruyaert

“Taking pictures is savoring life intensely every hundredth of a second.”
Mark Riboud

“A good snapshot keeps a moment from running away.”
Eudora Welty

You know you’re a photographer if the ocean is never just the ocean, it’s a backdrop.
Anonymous

A camera didn’t make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel.
Peter Adams

If you want to learn what someone fears losing, watch what they photograph
Anonymous

“Which of my photographs is my favorite? The one I’m going to take tomorrow.”
Imogen Cunningham

“It’s weird that photographers spend years or even a whole lifetime, trying to capture moments that added together, don’t even amount to a couple of hours.”
James Lalropui Keivom

“Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.”
Yousuf Karsh

“When I photograph, what I’m really doing is seeking answers to things.”
Wynn Bullock

“Life is like a camera. Just focus on what’s important and capture the good times, develop from the negatives and if things don’t work out, just take another shot.”
Unknown

“The camera is an excuse to be someplace you otherwise don’t belong. It gives me both a point of connection and a point of separation.”
Susan Meiselas

“I love the people I photograph. I mean, they’re my friends. I’ve never met most of them or I don’t know them at all, yet through my images, I live with them.”
Bruce Gilden

You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at a picture for a second and think of it all your life.
Joan Miro

“I wish that all of nature’s magnificence, the emotion of the land, the living energy of place could be photographed.”
Annie Leibovitz

“When people ask me what equipment I use – I tell them my eyes.”
Anonymous

“To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting an ordinary place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.”
Elliott Erwitt

“Beauty can be seen in all things, seeing and composing the beauty is what separates the snapshot from the photograph.”
Matt Hardy

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.”
Karl Lagerfeld

“One doesn’t stop seeing. One doesn’t stop framing. It doesn’t turn off and turn on. It’s on all the time.”
Annie Leibovitz

“I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.”
Diane Arbus

“When I have a camera in my hand, I know no fear.”
Alfred Eisenstaedt

“Through photography, I see God.”
Melissa Greeder

“Everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it”
Confucious

“When I photograph, what I’m really doing is seeking the answers to things.”
Wynn Bullock

“Art isn’t a result, it’s a journey.”
Seth Godin

“Veni. Vidi. Cepi. I came. I saw. I captured.”
Anonymous

“Eyes like a shutter. Mind like a lens.”
Anonymous

“The earth is art, the photographer is only a witness.”
Yann Arthus-Bertrand

“The only photographer you should compare yourself to is the one you used to be.”
Anonymous

“Photography is to place head, heart, and eye along the same line of sight. It is a way of life.”
Anonymous

“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”
Anonymous

What is your favorite photography quote?

June 27, 2018September 3, 2019

Camping on Lake Superior

Camping on Lake Superior
Camping Day 2

It didn’t just rain, it stormed. Camping on Lake Superior makes sound travel quite a distance. So thunder and lightning illuminated the tent like an all-night fireworks show. Rain pattered the tent almost constantly and some moments, it sounded like the sky opened up and dumped everything it had on us.

At one point, Nate got up to check on the floor to see how wet it was. He moved my bags from the side of the bed to the end. My side of the tent was floating on a large puddle of water that was caught between the tent and the tarp. It wasn’t leaking in, but it was damp. He pushed on it to show how it jiggled like a waterbed.

Despite the lack of sleep, I was excited to get up when my alarm went off. The rain had stopped and soft light and the sound of birds greeted me. I dressed for the Kingdom Hall along with Cupcake. At the last minute, the rest of the family decided to join us so they could explore Grand Marais.

I drove carefully down the road through thick fog. Fog is so beautiful. The air smells sweet and delicious. The cool air is comforting and invigorating. I kind of wish I could start every morning with a beautiful thick lake fog.

The Grand Marais Kingdom Hall was adorable. It was a small, beautiful building with tall windows along each side. Every once and awhile a bird would fly by and I’d have to refocus on what was going on inside, rather than the beauty outside.

The talk itself was so good! The part that stuck with me was a metaphor. If Jehovah throws us a lifesaver when we’re drowning, it’s up to us to make the effort to reach out. All the life preservers in the world won’t matter if we don’t make the effort to reach out and grab that help he’s offering us.

After heading back to our campsite, I made bug spray. The kids ran around playing while I enjoyed my tea. We were all exhausted so we took a nap. Once we woke up, we were ready for adventure!

We hiked down acrossTemperance River through the fog. At the bridge, we used our drone* to take a family portrait. There was a couple next to us who used to come to Temperance with their kids but this time, they were alone, their children all grown up. It made me feel like freezing time and holding my babies in my arms.

They’ve grown up so fast. Before I know it, they’ll have moved on with their lives and I’ll be taking vacations without them. Right now, they are my little people. I can protect them, guide them, love them and adore my time with them. I don’t want to waste a moment.

We had a lot of fun exploring the rocks along the shore. We’ve never gone past the beach before so we enjoyed going a little further. Mr. Awesome was having a lot of fun jumping from rock to rock. I think if we let them, they would have gone along the shore until they were tired.

We wanted to have dinner and relax before it got dark, so we walked back to our campsite. Princess and I had butter mushrooms for dinner while everyone else had brats.

It was a wonderful day. Camping on Lake Superior is so peaceful, an experience which could almost tantamount to the time when we’d been camping in Yosemite National Park. That night we crawled into bed and fell asleep to the sound of wind through the trees and slept deeply.

*Note: We found out later after asking a park ranger about their drone policies that drones are no longer allowed at State Parks. They changed the policy last year. Drones are interfering with Peregrine Falcon nesting grounds in certain areas. Rather than police certain areas where they shouldn’t be used, they issued a full ban. The videos we took with our drone were the only ones we took for the trip. Birds are more important than getting some pretty footage for videos.

Check out our video from our day!

Did you miss Camping, Day 1? Read about it here!

INSTAGRAM @ melissajg

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June 26, 2018November 11, 2019

Temperance River State Park

Temperance River State Park is one of the most beautiful places in Minnesota, in my opinion. Temperance has camping right on Lake Superior. It’s got beautiful trees, flowers, and wildlife. You can hear the sound of the lake lapping against the rocks, the waterfall roaring, the delicate song of the birds singing in the morning or the wind blowing through the branches of the trees. The wind from the lake keeps mosquitos at a minimum. If you’re there at the right time, you can enjoy being shrouded in the thick fog rolling in off the lake.

1st Day Of Camping

My favorite place to camp is Temperance River State Park. It’s right off of Lake Superior. At some of our previous campsites, we could see the lake from our campsite. This time we chose a new camping spot, closer to the river than the lake. It was my favorite spot so far!

The weeks prior to camping, I prepped to make sure that the day we left wouldn’t be too stressful or crazy. I washed ALL of our dirty laundry. With 6 people, that’s something to be proud of! Ha! I preordered food, prepped and made food, packed up and cleaned.

Even with all of the prep, the day of still had a lot of work. At 7 am a heat advisory alert popped up on my phone, so we were trying to hurry before it got too hot. I finished packing up outfits for myself, Princess and Mr. Awesome. We loaded up the van while trying not to stress or fight.

Our goal was to leave by noon, but we left a little late at 1:30, which isn’t too bad. The temperature was just starting to get unbearable. We cranked up our air conditioning and began our long drive with Nate at the wheel.

Surprisingly, our first bathroom stop was 2 hours into our trip. We stretched our legs and had a snack in the parking lot. An ambulance pulled up next to us and offered the kids a tour. I think everyone was too sleepy and shy to accept, but we thanked them for their offer. We got back on the road with my turn to drive and didn’t stop until we got to Cloquet.

We had to pick up a couple things at Walmart that we’d forgotten. Small mayo, ketchup and mustard, hot dog and hamburger buns, band-aids, butter, sandwich meat, chocolate, a bigger chair for Mr. Awesome, and swimming trunks for Nate. We spent about an hour, at least, shopping.

I was getting really excited as we got back on the road. We were so close to Lake Superior. I was tingling with excitement and joy. As we came over the hill and caught our first glimpse of the lake, my heart raced with happiness.

Usually, after a long drive, I get sleepy staring at the monotonous stretch of road before me. Driving up the north shore, with glimpses of Lake Superior I could barely contain my excitement. At some point, fog began to gather on the Lake and engulf the shore. I think I had a dopey grin plastered on my face for the rest of the trip.

As soon as we pulled into Temperance, everyone else woke up. The office was closed for the day, but we checked our initials off the list for our spot. As we pulled into our new space Nate was also giddy with excitement. The last time we’d been up, he’d scouted all the locations in search of the best one for our large tent and family.

This spot had a large pull through driveway with plenty of space for the kids to run around. There was a huge tent pad and opposite the driveway, a nice large area for the picnic table and fire ring. It was right next to the river, so we could hear it from our campsite.

The first thing we did was unload the topper on our van. The kids set up the chairs while Nate and I set up the travel gazebo for the table. That was, if it rained, our stuff would stay dry on the table. I began pulling out the blankets and bags and handing them off to the kids.

We pulled out and set up our tent in exactly 5 minutes! Sometimes we can do it faster, but we forgot to lock the roof beams before straightening out the legs. I threw in the air mattresses and had the kids start blowing them up. I pulled everything from the van and put the food in the trunk to keep it safe from bears.

After that, we made the beds so that we could fall into bed after we got tired. The big girls immediately crawled into bed to relax. The mattress that had been laid out was so comfy. Cat worked on her sketches and Cupcake read comics.

I was itching to see Lake Superior and let it melt my stress away. I asked everyone if they wanted to join me. Only Mr. Awesome and Princess did. They’re always up for an adventure!

We tried a new path that led to a rocky area by the lake, across from the beach. It felt like we were climbing down into another world. The lake was shrouded by fog which added to the mystery.

After letting the kids climb around on the rocks and try to skip pebbles on the shore, I was ready to head back for dinner. We climbed up the steep stairs leading back to our campsite.

For dinner, we made hamburgers. Princess and I had 100% grass-fed beef and gluten free bread for our “buns”. We cuddled around the campfire and enjoyed the warm fire in the dark. We were happy to climb into our comfy beds once the embers burned down.

It was a fabulous first day of camping! Have you camped at Temperance River State Park? What campsite is your favorite?

Check out our video!

Continue on to Camping, Day 2!

INSTAGRAM @ melissajg

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June 12, 2018December 11, 2018

20 Fun FREE Date Ideas

Sometimes, life gets busy and money gets tight. Having a list of 20 fun free date ideas can help keep the romance alive. From going to the library to having a backyard bonfire, there are so many fun ways to spend time together that don’t break the bank.

1.Go to the Park

This idea is kind of a three in one idea. You could have a simple picnic if you’d like a more intimate and relaxing date. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could go hiking or biking. We love hiking at our favorite local parks and exploring new ones in nearby cities. Fresh air, exercise, beautiful scenery, what’s not to love?! Well, maybe bugs. Don’t forget to wear bug spray!

2.Movie Night at Home

There are so many ways to watch movies at home now! Browse through your old DVD collection for an old favorite. Check out Netflix, Amazon or Hulu for something new if you have a subscription. Go to the library to check out their selection. Snuggling up to a good movie is a great way to relax together after a long day.

3.Board Games

We have a lot of games, but we don’t often get to play them. Back when we were first dating, we loved to play different games together, like Scrabble for example. Taking the time to have a game night can give you something fun to do while allowing you to have a playful conversation.

4.Go to the Library

The library is a lot of fun with the kids, but it’s also a lot of fun without them! Browsing the books together, picking out a fun movie, laughing over the music section and reminiscing, browsing through the exercise equipment, even if we don’t pick out anything (how can you not?!) the library is always a blast!

5.Puzzles

I LOVE puzzles! Whenever I get a new one going, the whole family loves to spend time tackling it. Spending time alone on date night working on a puzzle is a fun challenge! I find puzzle nights are great for the times when you don’t want to say much. Puzzles can be a stress reliever. So if you’ve had a rough day/week/month, this might be a great way to tackle some of life’s anxieties by doing something you CAN solve.

6.Video Games

If your spouse loves video games, but you are not a fan, it might put you out of your comfort zone a little at first. Playing together can be a lot of fun though! If you’re not into violent games, like me, there are so many other fun ways to play. Many game systems have physically active games that allow you to get up and move, like Fruit Ninja. If you’d rather sit down, Tetris is always a fun challenge.

7. Take a Walk

Sometimes, a simple walk around the neighborhood can be a lot of fun. It’s just you and your sweetie, walking, talking and getting some fresh air. I find a simple walk can take the pressure off of date planning and allow you to just relax.

8.Cook and Clean up Dinner Together

I’m usually the one who cooks at our house. Sometimes, Nate will take over for a night if I’m not feeling well. Cooking together though, makes the work go faster and is a lot of fun! Cleaning up together means that no one is stuck doing the dishes alone. If cooking dinner is too intimidating, try making a simple dessert or appetizer.

9.Museum

We have a lot of museums in our area. Many of them have free days or free sections. Most history museums have a fee to help pay for upkeep, but sometimes they have a free day. Often, you can get a free pass at the local library. Many art museums are free. A few of the bigger ones do charge a fee, so always check before heading out.

10.Window Shopping Downtown

Our town has a cute little historic downtown strip. It’s full of antique stores, boutique shops, cafes, and restaurants. It’s a lot of fun to check out all of the unique items in the antique stores and window shop some of the newer boutiques.

11.Backyard Bonfire

Summer doesn’t last very long here in Minnesota, so bonfires are only optional a few months a year. We love to take advantage of this time to sit outside and enjoy the warm night air, under the stars, cuddled up next to the fire.

12.Tea/Dessert on the Porch

If you have a porch, like we do, it’s nice to sit out early or late on hot summer days. Taking a little time to enjoy the quiet solitude that comes with dawn and dusk with a nice cup of tea or a shared dessert is a lot of fun!

13.Fishing/Boating

Here in Minnesota, we have over 10,000 lakes. (11,842 lakes of 10 acres or more. 21.871 if you count the lakes under 10 acres!) We also have 69,200 miles of rivers which gives us many opportunities to enjoy some time on the water. We’ve gone fishing as a family, but fishing as a couple can be fun too! If you are vegan or don’t like to fish, sightseeing is also a lot of fun! Don’t forget to take binoculars for a little bird watching!

14.Study the Bible Together

There is nothing else like putting God first in our lives. Spending quality time together, with God, is one of the most important things a couple can do together. God can help draw a couple closer and give peace and contentment.

15. Go Through Family Photo Albums

As the years roll by and memories add up, it can be a lot of fun to look back on some of those favorite experiences together. Sometimes, this can inspire new plans for the future, so keep a notebook and pen handy!

16.Play Cards

Playing cards can be as easy as Go Fish, Speed or even a little more challenging, like enjoying a game of poker. If you don’t know how to play any card games, you can easily google how to play! Even better, there are a lot of videos on Youtube showing you exactly how to play! Cards are simple, cheap and can lead to a lot of laughs.

17.Build/Make Something

Is there something fun that you’ve always wanted to try? Build a birdhouse? Make a garden? Make a Chalkboard? Hang up some framed family pictures? Make a fun date of it! If you don’t know how to do any of these things but want to, check out community education classes, your local library courses, or ask a friend who’s more experienced to help you plan the basics before getting started.

18.Exercise together

I’ve already mentioned hiking, biking and taking walks, but breaking out a workout DVD or pulling up a workout on youtube to try together can be a lot of fun! Just make sure to take it slow if you don’t work out on a regular basis!

19. Read Together

Did you find an awesome book at the library or do you have a favorite you’d love to read again? Make it a date night book. Take turns reading chapters out loud (or pages if the chapters are long). No cheating and reading without your partner on non-date nights though!

20.Pamper Each Other

Put on face masks, file each other’s nails, or paint them if you’re feeling adventurous! Take a relaxing bath together, if your bath is big enough! If you don’t have a big enough tub, have a detox foot bath. Give a nice back or shoulder massage. Both men and women love to be pampered!

I hope these 20 fun free date ideas have inspired you for a date night of your own! What is your favorite thing to do on a date night? Have you given any of these a try? Let me know in the comments!