This year I started a commonplace book for quotes and verses. I’ve done something similar to this with images before, but I’ve never systematically written down quotes in one place from all of the information I take in every week from reading, listening to podcasts, or watching documentaries or great movies.
Photo from “Where the Heart Is” Film, 2000
“She pulled her book of pictures out of the plastic beach bag on the seat beside her. She had been collecting pictures from magazines since she was little … pictures of bedrooms with old quilts and four-poster beds, kitchens with copper pots and blue china, living rooms with sleeping Lassies curled on bright rugs, and walls covered with family pictures in gold frames. Before, these rooms had existed only in the pages of magazines she bought at garage sales in Tellico Plains, Tennessee. But now, she was on her way to California — on her way to live in such rooms.” –
“Where the Heart Is”
After I saw this movie when I was a Freshmen in college, I went and bought a three ring binder, filled it with page protectors and began to cut out pictures from magazines of what I drew my eye. I organized the pages by topic. I began to see my style develop as I saw commonalities between the images I was drawn to from the content I was consuming. When I look back through it today, I still have the same taste. No matter the trends, you are who you are.
You can read more about what a common place book ishere.
In a commonplace notebook instead of filing away images, I compile quotes I hear throughout the day into my notes app and then at the end of the day I transfer those notes to a composition book that has a growing table of contents.
Just as I started to notice a pattern of my style and taste developing with my image book, I’ve started to notice the same things with the words I’m collecting.
I read widely, but still see commonalities among things I’m reading and listening to even though the content I’ve selected is varied. I hope this will make me a better writer and help me retain what I’m learning.
“If you make the choice of reading classic literature every day for a year, rather than reading the news, by the end of that time period you’ll have a more honed sensitivity for recognizing greatness from the books than from the media. This applies to every choice we make. Not just with art, but with friends we choose, the conversations we have, even the thoughts we reflect on. All of these aspects affect our ability to distinguish good from very good, very good from great. They help us determine what’s worthy of our time and attention.”
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Over the last year as I’ve listened to podcasts and researched books that have similar themes to the ones I am writing, I have noted the titles and decided to compile a list in case you have similar reading taste to me.
I’ve made it my goal to intentionally work my way through the list this year (or at least make a dent in it).
I use my Libby App a lot for audio books, but I am also ordering hard copies as I can from Amazon and Thrift Books.
Thrift Books has great deals on used books and gives perks to Teachers. If you aren’t a teacher, they also have a rewards program that I earn free books with all of the time. You can sign up and if you make a qualifying purchase using this link, we both get a free book.
“It’s not about following passion; it’s about following purpose passionately. Passion is a manner of traveling, not a means to determine a destination. Passion is the spark that lights the fire; purpose is the kindling that keeps it burning all night.”
Brianna Weist, “101 Essays that Will Change the Way You Think”
When you think back to childhood, what were the things that you were drawn to for fun? Ever since I was a small child, I’ve loved cameras, picking up developed rolls of film at Wal-Mart when I could hardly see over the counter, creating albums and scrapbooks, and looking through my mom’s collection of photo books. It all started with me watching her and my grandmother constantly clicking away at family events and later in childhood I’d be mesmerized by parents at school events with their fancy zoom lenses.
In the mid-’80s, and I got my hands on my very first camera, a pink 110. My family and friends became my first subjects as I tried my best to take pictures that matched the quality of my mom’s that filled our family albums.
Hi there, Zach Cook!
In the late 90’s, graduation day rolled around, and in the most awesome way my dad gifted me a Nikon SLR.
That first “real” camera became my sidekick, and with just that and a kit lens, I was on a mission to turn my photography passion into a business. I went on to major in graphic design to fund this dream of mine.
I dove headfirst into the creative career world, working day in and day out, shooting and editing after working an 8 hour day as a graphic designer (plus a 2 hour round trip commute). I had lots of energy then, but it wasn’t all smooth sailing. There were times when my skills fell short of my vision, and frustration would creep in. Yet, my love for photography kept me pushing through knowing this creative outlet was what I was made for.
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9
Then came the game-changer. After hours and hours of practice, mimicking pics from magazines, and soaking up advice from mentors, something clicked. My style emerged, and suddenly, my skills matched up with what I envisioned. I was living the life I had always dreamed.
But here’s the neat part: that newfound confidence spilled over into regular life. I took on new creative challenges, faced fears (like public speaking), and guess what? Turns out there’s some science behind it, (thanks to Andrew Huberman’s research , 46 minute mark). Stepping out of your comfort zone, doing stuff you’re not crazy about but you know is good for you—apparently, it makes your brain grow (Anterior Mid-Cingulate Cortex).
This whole experience of dreaming and working towards bringing it to fruition taught me a life lesson: whatever you consistently do, you’ll get better at it. Those things that scare you? Develop a plan and tackle them one at a time. Dreams that feel too big? Go after them. It’s like a brain workout routine, and before you know it, it’s a lifestyle.
So, why am I sharing all this? Because it’s never too late to become who you want to be. Maybe it’s capturing the bright side of life through your iphone camera to combat anxiety, maybe it’s framing your own work to adorn your walls, or maybe it’s having others appreciate what you create enough to pay you for it and hang it in their home. I’m here to cheer you on, whether it’s in photography or wherever your heart’s nudging you.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8 KJV
Our brains are wired to keep learning, and it feels pretty awesome to keep leveling up as you grow older (☺️we don’t just have to do crosswords anymore). So, here’s to embracing whatever you want to accomplish this year, and staying forever young at heart in the process! 📸✨
Your lens is how you view life. How open you are to faith is how much of the Light you let in. His Word is the light for your path. The darker the day the more the Light needs to be let in the lens. -EPC
Psalm 119:105 : “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”
A life of faith can be compared to adjusting your camera settings.
In dark conditions, you should use a low aperture to allow more light in. Just like a photographer finds a way to capture a beautiful moment in low light, you can also discover the goodness of God when life’s circumstances seem dim. Open your heart to the light that Jesus gives, let Him illuminate your path, and allow your faith in Him to help you see Him working, even in the shifting shadows.
Copyright EPC Photography
A low aperture also acts like a filter, focusing on what matters in the picture and blurring out what doesn’t need to be focused on. Similarly, in faith, when we zoom in on love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control, the chaos of life begins to blur and what’s most important in life becomes clear.
Copyright EPC Photography
(Tech note: I only shoot in aperture priority. I don’t ever shoot in manual for my style of photography.)
Expose your film [your life] to the Light [Jesus].
In life’s low light moments, adjust your settings spiritually to allow God’s brilliance in grace into dark times.
When friends hurt you, let the Light in. When grief sneaks up on you, turn your face to the Light. When sickness drags you down, don’t forget to reach for the Light. When you long to reach more of your potential in life, love, or career, let the Light guide your way. When you feel stuck or broken, look up to the Light. When you are tempted to walk into darkness, remember, when the sun is to your back, the Light’s still there showing you the way back to Him. When you are scared of the heartbreak of endings or new beginnings, adjust the way you look through your lens and remember to look for His light in all situations and trust in the Light of His word, His grace, and His love to never leave you. Believe and walk in the light.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
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.
Create Everyday 