There’s this moment after you snap a Polaroid picture where you wonder is this anything? Will the lighting be right? Will the color look nice? Will everyone’s eyes be open? Is this a keeper? Is this anything?
That’s what the creative process is like for me. I see the result in my mind quite often for many artistic endeavors whether it be through photography, teaching, writing, or art. That’s what imaginative people do, but until we take the risk to take action on the actual work we can’t know if what we see in our minds will translate in real life.
Creating something takes research, input, reflecting, releasing things on paper, and then using the time, talents, and resources we have to see if we have what it takes to finish the project. What we are taking in to make art often spills out of us in what we say and what we post, sometimes cryptically and sometimes more literally. We enjoy art and want others to join in on what’s bringing us happiness.
I’ve shared my process publicly through the years, trying out my ideas to see if they sink, swim, or need to be filed for a later date when the time is right. Until you share the art that is bubbling under the surface, you can’t know if it resonates with anyone else, although being relevant is not the goal. Rick Rubin says “An artist makes art for himself, not for the audience; you must like your art before your audience does.” That flies in the face of modern publishing and marketing which wants artists to niche down and put themselves in a box.
I need to practice writing in a long-form more regularly. I am still adding to last year’s work, but don’t feel it’s ready yet to move forward. When writers get stuck, we are advised to write what we know. Photography mingled with my faith in Jesus is what I could talk to you about in my sleep. It’s so ingrained in me. I hope sharing the process of writing what I know about photography will give me the momentum and motivation I need to just keep writing.
To help me generate my longer copy, I’ve created an encyclopedia of sorts of 100 prompts from A-Z of this photographer’s life who views it through the lens of faith.
I’ll be sharing these “snapshots” about life behind the lens with you here and on Instagram because I enjoy talking about what I’ve learned and helping others further their abilities in the process.
Not a book yet, but maybe one day will be.
Will this develop into that finished pink book you see in the photo above? We won’t know until I shake everything up like a Polaroid picture. As a result of my outward creative process, you’ll gain photography knowledge and encouragement, and I’ll get the daily word count that I need to become a stronger writer.
I’m starting the year off telling the story of EPC Photography.
Let’s start at the very beginning…
From the start I was fueled by a deep love for capturing moments. My mom and my grandmother constantly had a camera in their hands and I was fascinated! Yet, the limitations of my small town (no photography lessons until 11th grade), the era I grew up in (no YouTube, internet, etc.), and my lack of equipment could have frustrated me. But, with just a pink 110 camera in hand, I immersed myself in practice, learning from every roll of film developed. I carried my photos around in my backpack from 1st grade onward.
Post-graduation, my dad surprised me with a trip to Wolf Camera, where I acquired my first SLR. Little did I know, that film camera would become the foundation of my photography business. Was I a master from the start? No. Did I possess an unwavering passion? Absolutely! People took a chance on me, and the moment they offered to pay me to take pictures I was floored. It was a validation that all those hours of dedicated practice were paying off.
The essence of my journey lies in starting with what I had, reveling in the joy of experimentation and learning from the results, purely for the fun of it. Photography, then and now, has been a source of immeasurable joy.
My smile is reflected in the images you see in my portfolio (here and here) because we have so much fun at the sessions! Transforming this passion into a career feels like a blessing I could never repay.
I share this as an encouragement to use whatever you have to practice joyfully. In this process, not only will you improve your skills, but you’ll also begin to see the world with fresh eyes.
Join me on a transformative 30-days to Portfolio challenge. Tag me #epcphotochallenge if you post any of them on Instagram.
Here’s to capturing better moments through our lenses in ’24! 📸✨
Emily Peyton Cook
Ready to turn your photography dreams into your reality? Whether you want to elevate your photography skills, start a side hustle, have a dream of owning a studio or feel stuck in your creative biz, I’m here to help!
Hi! I’m Emily Cook and I have had a relentless passion for photography since I was a kid with a pink camera from the Sears Catalog on my🎅🏻wish list in 1988. 💖I transformed my childhood dream into a thriving photography business and I want to help you do the same.
If you’re a dreamer yearning for fun behind the lens, join me as I unfold the story of EPC Photography—it’s not just my story, but the blueprint to proven photography success.
Join me, a Main Street girl with a Wall Street mindset, as we unlock the secrets to a fulfilling hobby, side hustle, or career in photography (I’ve done all three).
Do you have the love of photography, but crave the skills, strategies, and ability to make money doing something you enjoy? I’m here to share my secret sauce!
Ask me anything about photography, and let’s start the conversation! Drop your questions below.
So there I was falling down the best kind of internet rabbit hole, one that took me away from the place of self-absorbed or fear-based content to the online world we used to live in where organic content reigned supreme and posts were made on the fly, feeling less polished and more sincere...Before I knew it I was surprised by tears, the happy kind, the kind that sneak up on you without warning as you long for something you didn’t know you missed.
A few weeks ago I was on the search for a preview of the movie “Family Switch” to show to my girls. I stumbled upon a review site and there I discovered that the movie was adapted from a children’s book by Amy K. Rosenthal.
Photo: Netflix
That of course piqued my interest, so I looked up “Bedtime for Mommy,” the book the movie is based on, which led me to find her other children’s book, “Yes! Day,” also adapted for Netflix.
Who was this amazing children’s book author? I had to find out more! This led me to the type of internet adventure I used to enjoy on the regular before an algorithm spoon-fed me what it thought I would like to look at every day, (I’m looking at you, multiple posts a day about influencers using Nutrifoil).
So there I was falling down the best kind of internet rabbit hole, one that took me away from the place of self-absorbed or fear-based content to the online world we used to live in where organic content reigned and posts were made on the fly, feeling less polished and more sincere.
The web crumbs led me to a 13-year-old Ted Talk by Amy K. Rosenthal, the author of these books and many more. Before I knew it I was surprised by tears, the happy kind, the kind that sneak up on you without warning as you long for something you didn’t know you missed.
Amy lived and wrote during a different time, not so long ago, but in internet time which seems like light years away. She was a content creator before that was a thing in the glory days when sharing creatively felt more like offering the world what you had to give and less like building a platform to gain approval from the world.
“Writing is the only thing that makes sense for me,” Rosenthal, now in her early 40s, told her hometown Chicago Tribune in 2004, back when she was merely a successful author of books for adults (notably the memoir “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life,” a cross between Jean Kerr and Dave Eggers), an online columnist and the host of a Chicago Public Radio program, the ironically named “Writers’ Block Party.” “I don’t know how to stop,” she said of writing. “I don’t know how not to do it. If I see something interesting, it’s hard for me not to take a note or scribble something down on the palm of my hand.” (I know how not to write: Amy, haven’t you heard of suddenly needing to look up old [friends] on Facebook?)
She didn’t fit the industry mold, her first 5 books being for adults and memoir-like. This was in the early 2000s and not today when it’s generally frowned upon to try to publish a memoir unless you’re famous or have an incredible story of overcoming something worthy enough to be featured on Oprah. Her unconventional memoir, “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life” was named by Amazon as one of the top ten memoirs of the decade at the time.
She took joy in spreading joy organically and unpredictably, just for the fun of it. I used to do that before I got so bogged down by the invisible list of expectations and rules for how to behave online. Anything created now that’s off-brand gets tossed aside by the algorithm that prefers 7-second clips that hold our fleeting attention span.
3. Her good ideas grew organically. She showed me how planting small seeds of creative work whether it be an unconventional book for adults or a long list of children’s book ideas that eventually came to be can turn into more than ever imagined and outlive life itself.
Ideas that come in the shower may turn into a small piece of creative content that may end up being streamed by millions one day. You just never know.
But, that wasn’t her intention and it shouldn’t be ours. Creative work that flows from an authentic place of making it just for the need to create translates so much more beautifully than work that is created for an audience.
The most amazing thing for an artist is to create something from their heart and soul and have it enjoyed by people, but organically, not because it was targeted at them.
Learning about Amy’s life and career impact made me long for the days before social media was a big deal. The original iteration of my blog (and facebook content) was an outpouring of whatever popped into my mind that day. I was always surprised at how many people showed up to read it or that they read it at all.
I’d read other people’s blogs from start to finish and I trusted their taste by reading other blogs from the links they had on their sidebars (usually their friends who also wrote).
I’d join their challenges and be inspired by their words of faith and diverse creative expression. I loved hearing about their lives as wives, moms, friends, and career women. Their good ideas outweighed their political affiliation. Would you look at that?!
Amy’s story made me remember how the once-upon-a-time internet drew us together in real-life scenarios. In 2011 I posted about a bible study I was co-leading at a local church and on the first night 75 people showed up. That’s huge for a small town where oftentimes we stay in our own Holy huddles. The study was life-changing for so many including me and reverberates through my life still today. I even eventually changed careers because of the work the Lord did in my life during that season.
All of it started with a blog post.
When I found out that Amy was no longer living, that she’d been taken from this earth far too soon, I was even more intrigued by her story and ordered several of her books that are now out of print. You can read about her last piece here, (get your tissues).
Things I created in October : An Art-trepreneur course for High School Students and I’ve been experimenting with Adobe’s new tools that they rolled out recently. Amazing! I’ve also been toying with the idea of opening an Etsy store to sell some other things I’ve been making. It was a productive month. 🎨📝💻
I’m dedicating November to #nanowrimo (with a goal of completing my 50,000 word YA novel) so you may not see me much on the blog.
I’ve gotten on a roll with my first YA book that was going to be a novella series, but now it’s evolved into a “movie” inside of my original story and has the potential for spin off novels of other characters in the book.
The hardest part is having all of it in my computer and head and not being able to share it with you. I hope to have it in the hands of an agent next year (which is a long process) or self publish (to get into your hands quickly). I’m having so much fun writing it! Hope to share more soon. #createeveryday
Every family needs a blue print, a mission that defines who they are and how they live. For us, that mission has been built around a Bible verse the Lord laid on my heart when I was a just young mom, Philippians 3:13-14.
I had been asking my husband to come up with a mission statement and vision for our family. We began to pray about it and our street address number at the time kept coming to my mind, 313.
One day while my babies were napping the Lord led me to Phlippians 3:13-14 and I shared it with Zach when he got home from work. We agreed that the verse suited us perfectly and was what we wanted our family to stand on and stand for. So, we claimed it, but never really expounded upon it further.
We have returned to the verse over and over in our marriage and parenting and glance with a wink and a smile at each other when it’s quoted at church. Saturday when we attended our friend, Tim’s, funeral and his sons spoke of their family’s Core 4 Values, it gave me an idea to take our family mission verse and break it into a “Core 4.”
Tim had no idea that he was going to heaven the morning of his Iron Man race. He was in such great shape just seconds before his cardiac arrest. Yet, Tim was prepared to meet Jesus and he had prepared his 5 boys and wife to live strong in their faith when he was gone.
That’s what a mission and vision with the power of the Holy Spirit behind it will do. When it’s broken down in something that’s easy to remember, growing kids can have words that stick with them and a lighthouse to return to if they ever question who they are or who’s they are.
In this blog post, I’ll show you how we broke our verse into our family’s core values: Forget, Focus, Forward, and Fortunate. I’ll walk you through each value and the supporting verses, and even provide a template you can use to create your own family mission statement.
Forget: Matt 6:14-15 NLT “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.”
We start with the word “Forget.” This value is rooted in Matthew 6:14-15, which teaches us the importance of forgiveness. For our family, this means letting go of grudges and embracing forgiveness. It’s a reminder that holding onto past wrongs only hinders our progress. We’re encouraged to forgive, just as we’ve been forgiven.
Focus: Hebrews 12:1-3 NLT “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.”
“Focus” is our second core value, inspired by Hebrews 12:1-3. This verse encourages us to fix our eyes on Jesus and run the race of life with endurance. It reminds us that distractions can deter us from our path. In our family, this means staying focused on our goals and values, avoiding unnecessary distractions, saying no and yes to the right things and keeping our faith at the center of our lives.
Forward: Colossians 1:9-14 NLT “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light.For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
“Forward” takes its cue from Colossians 1:9-14. This passage reminds us to live a life worthy of the Lord and to bear fruit in every good work. We strive to move forward in faith, growing spiritually and making a positive impact on the world. It’s a value that propels us to continually seek God’s guidance and purpose for our lives.
Fortunate: Colossians 1:4-5 “For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and your love for all of God’s people, which come from your confident hope of what God has reserved for you in heaven. You have had this expectation ever since you first heard the truth of the Good News.” And Matthew 6:33 “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”
“Fortunate” draws from Colossians 1:5 and Matthew 6:33. These verses emphasize seeking God’s kingdom first, and in doing so, finding true riches. For our family, this value highlights the importance of gratitude and contentment. We consider ourselves fortunate, not in material wealth, but in the blessings of faith, serving others, and family.
Now I can take all 4 values and create devotionals(subscribers, I’ll have these available for download at the end of the week) to refocus our family and remind ourselves of the path that we are on in faith. I can make scripture memory cards, flyers for the fridge, and air drop them graphics to their devices for them to meditate on. With a little creativity this could be an amazing discipleship tool.
Creating Your Family Mission Statement Now, you might be wondering how you can create a similar family mission statement. Here’s a template to get you started:
A family mission statement is a powerful tool to guide your journey through life. It helps you stay on track, measure your actions, and live with purpose. Using a Bible verse as your foundation adds depth and meaning to your mission. We hope this guide inspires you to create your own family mission statement and template to help you in life.
In the heart of my childhood, I met my best friend, the daughter of an avid Jimmy Buffett fan. Little did I know that this meeting would lead to a lifelong appreciation for the man and his music, and that this connection would remain a cherished part of my life, even after his passing this month.
It all began when my best friend and her dad invited me to join them on a journey I was entirely unprepared for – Jimmy Buffett’s “Fruitcakes” tour. At 14 years old, my musical world was limited to adult contemporary and country, and I had never heard of Jimmy Buffett. But as the tickets arrived in the mail my friend took it upon herself to initiate me into the world of Jimmy’s lyrics.
She pulled out old cassette inserts, treating them like sacred texts. I remember feeling like I was studying for an exam as she meticulously went through each lyric, explaining their stories, and ensuring I understood the essence of every song. She was determined that by the time the concert day arrived, I’d be a full-fledged “parrothead.”
The journey to the concert was as much a part of my initiation as the concert itself. My friend put my Buffett knowledge to the test, making me sing along to every song on the iconic yellow Jimmy Buffett tape. I vividly recall her demanding that I master every word of “Fruitcakes” and “Cousin in Miami,” two songs from the tour.
That night, in the Memphis Pyramid and with the carribean sounding band playing loudly, I experienced my very first concert. The energy, the community, and the music of Jimmy Buffett left an indelible mark on me. I had officially become a fan, and soon, I was the designated DJ for all our beach trips, always hitting play on “One Particular Harbor” as we turned onto I-10.
One summer during our beach vacay, I stumbled upon a piece of art that instantly reminded me of a Jimmy Buffett album cover. In those days, mobile phones weren’t accessible, and I didn’t have my film camera with me. But the memory of that art stayed with me.
Fast forward to this summer, and a walk down memory lane in a box of momentos led me to a torn-out check register page. As I examined it, I realized it contained all the words from that piece of art I had encountered at that eclectic beach store so many years ago. I remember asking my mom for something out of her purse to sketch it.
From my mind’s eye, I set out to recreate the artwork, my reference being none other than the Jimmy Buffett “Fruitcakes” album. I couldn’t afford the original as a teenager, so I decided to do my best to recreate it for fun at 40.
Jimmy, this tribute is for you – the artist, the storyteller, and the soundtrack to my once-in-a-lifetime friendship and every beach trip from here to eternity. Your music and your writing continues to inspire me. Thank you for the memories, the giggles at your lyrics, and the songs that will always be apart of me. 🌴🎶🏖️ For your Friday listening pleasure… FRUITCAKES!
Have you ever felt creatively blocked, discouraged, or distracted, unable to know what to do next? I have been there. But let me share with you a surprising way I’ve discovered to break free from being creatively drained and back into a creative flow again. For me it all starts with a simple act of fasting, **intermittently with food (I fast from food 16 hours overnight), but also from the noise and distractions that clutter our minds in today’s world.
I’ve found that fasting from certain things can put you into a creative flow and lead to creative breakthroughs.
Fasting from the Noise For me, the process started by fasting from the constant notifications of news and political content. I realized that my mind was cluttered with opinions, arguments, and the fear-mongering that often accompanies the news cycle. So, I made the move of unsubscribing from all political content, commentators, and emails, and even bid farewell to the Twitter app on my phone.
Fasting from Distractions But the journey didn’t stop there. I realized that my creative well was still being drained by the distractions on social media. I took another step by unsubscribing from anyone who contributed to a negative view of the world or political polarization on my social platforms.
The result? A newfound clarity and happiness that I hadn’t experienced in a long time. It turns out, fasting from the negativity and divisiveness in the media world allowed me to focus on what truly matters: my faith and enjoying the life God gave me instead of draining myself with anxiety.
Intermittent Fasting**(not medical advice, only personal my experience) For mental clarity and overall health I began fasting from early evening until early lunch starting in September. The results in my productivity and overall energy levels have been hard to deny a connection. I feel great! (Disclaimer: This is my personal experience. Please seek your physician to make sure fasting is right for you. I am no doctor)
Guarding my Heart for 2024 The decision to guard my heart already from the usually unnerving and divisive nature of the election season felt necessary for my own well-being. Instead of being bombarded by conflicting opinions and constant updates, I chose to focus on what I could control—my own thoughts and actions.
By doing so, I created a mental space where my creativity could flourish. I turned off the T.V. and streamlined my YouTube algorithm to creative, business and educational content.
Suddenly, I had more time to engage with things that truly mattered to me. I started writing more words each day, got a clearer plan for my short term and long term creative goals, and began exploring new artistic outlets with a renewed sense of purpose. The distractions that had once controled my time were replaced by a more focused outlook.
Living Out the Word of God As I’ve paid attention of what drains me and have let those things go, I discovered that living out my faith in a creative way was not only possible but deeply fulfilling. Instead of merely posting a scripture or devotional (or sharing someone elses content), I found myself interested in discovering what it looked like for a myself as a Christian to live out what God has for me to do in this world.
How is that different from an unbeliever? It feels like the time is now to leave it all on the canvas, so to speak.
My creative breakthrough wasn’t just about producing art or writing; it was about using my unique gifts to serve others, to be a source of light in a world that often feels dark.
I realized that each one of us is uniquely gifted by God for a purpose, and it’s our responsibility to share those gifts with the world similar to the parable of the talents that Jesus pointed us to in Matthew 25:14–30.
In a world filled with distractions, fear, and negativity, fasting from certain things can for sure lead to new ideas. Eliminating distractions, and living out the Word of God in our unique way, we can shine as beacons of creativity and love in the world.
So, if you’re creatively blocked, discouraged, fearful, or distracted, consider embarking on your own fasting journey. You might be surprised at the creativity and joy that flow when you create space for what truly matters in your life.
Let’s leave it all on the canvas and be the salt, the light, and the city on a hill that we were meant to be.
Create Everyday 