What we’re thankful for in 2020

November is the time of year when we pause amidst the hustle and bustle of life and holidays to reflect on the things and people in our lives for which we are most grateful. Given the unique challenges of 2020, at Shoot My Travel we thought this was especially important to do, both to acknowledge what we’re thankful for and how our photography helps honor those things.

So before November gets too far along, grab a warm drink, snuggle into your sofa, and let us share with you what we’re thankful for in 2020, because that most definitely includes you!

Family & Friends

It may seem cliche to start by saying we’re grateful for our friends and family, but that’s only because it’s such a true and eternal sentiment. In a year that has been anything but cliche we would not have survived without every single friend and family member! When it seemed physical distance would make us grow apart, love and determination only brought us closer. We learned to Zoom and Facebook chat like pros. We threw awesome virtual parties and hosted virtual Happy Hours. Most of all, we all learned that the bonds of family and friendship are unbreakable and together we can get through anything. 

At Shoot My Travel, gratitude for family and friends is a constant. As a team, this year we even had Zoom baby showers and graduation parties and met virtually each week. And as your photographer marketplace we continued to capture your memories and love through innovative virtual photoshoots and safe contactless experiences.

Are family and friends what you’re most grateful for this year? Capture them in a special photoshoot or treat them to a gift card they can use anytime, anywhere!

Community

The word “community” and our understanding of it broke boundaries this year, and we couldn’t be more grateful for that! Community has come to mean our neighbors, our local businesses, and the essential workers who have kept us going. It is the BIPOC community who invited us to open our hearts and minds and stand in solidarity. It is our talented photographers, our brave business partners, and our incredible clients. 

Community is about giving and receiving. This year we were grateful to have the opportunity to give in the form of buying locally, donating to important causes, and showing up when needed. We are also grateful to recognize that we are part of a larger network and support system. And we are grateful to have our photography as a means to advocate for our communities, providing income and capturing love and authenticity in the face of any adversity.

Who do you count as part of your community? Support your local photographers by booking a photoshoot or giving our gift cards this holiday season. 

Travel

The world is our larger community and we’d be remiss if we didn’t say how incredibly grateful we are for travel. 

Traveling and exploring is how we learn about our planet and each other; how we come to understand our connections and similarities. When it seemed like travel was impossible, our thirst for adventure and knowledge inspired us to innovate and explore in new ways. We ventured into our own cities and neighborhoods with new eyes. And we travelled virtually thanks to all the museums, national parks, theaters, musicians, and many others who expanded their own definition of travel.  

After 2020 we are more grateful than ever for this world and the ability to travel, near and far. We’re grateful for the nature and beauty around us, and for our local photographers everywhere welcoming visitors and capturing their memories.

Try domestic travel and connect with a local photographer. Or book a flex photoshoot without any expiration and use it when you’re finally able to head out on your dream trip.

Creativity

Where would we be in 2020 without our creativity?! Quarantine and social distancing took our creativity to a new level as we all figured out how to continue daily life and stay connected. More than that, it was our collective creativity, from virtual museum tours to driveby birthday parties to homemade games, that helped us stay sane and keep our joy no matter what the year threw at us. This is one of humankind's greatest abilities, making beauty in the darkest of times. 

At Shoot My Travel, we didn’t let ourselves be defined by the moment, but defined the moment for ourselves, finding inspiration in the limitations. Our creative juices got fired up like never before and we blazed a trail with our innovative virtual photoshoots and took this opportunity to reflect on our clients’ needs and dreams. We’re eternally grateful to our photographers for not just sticking with us, but being collaborative and open to our crazy ideas. They kept us motivated and we feel it's our duty to continue this dream for them. We can’t wait to see how all these new ideas and energy manifest in the new year...and share them with you!

We want to hear your creative ideas too! Get in touch, share your photo dreams, and we’ll work together to bring them to life. Or try one of our easy and fun virtual photoshoots.

Photography

We couldn’t write a list of what we’re grateful for and not include photographs, whether printed or digital! They’re pure magic, every single one! 

Photography is our passion and we’re thankful for the power and beauty of this art. Throughout the year we’ve tried to share why we do what we do and why we all treasure photographs. When we couldn’t see family and friends, photographs still let us gaze on their faces. When we couldn’t travel, photographs let us look back on previous adventures and dream about future ones. Photographs honors what we’re most thankful for; they hold our memories, they carry the legacy of our creativity, family, and traditions into the future. 

Keep the magic and power of photography in your life. Buy gift cards, book photoshoots to use now or later, and insure your life will continue to be documented and your memories captured through this beautiful art!

The Future

Speaking of the future, this might very well be what we’re most grateful for. Like many businesses, we have faced unprecedented challenges this year and had to think outside the box. As individuals, we have gone through a roller coaster of emotions, reevaluating goals and priorities. In the future, we will continue to cherish our family and friends, support our local and greater communities, travel near and far, and keep taking beautiful photographs...of you! 

We’ve got some new ideas and inspiration coming your way soon that are going to take your photoshoot experiences to the next level. We’re grateful for this year and all it has taught us, but we’re even more grateful for the future ahead. Stay tuned!