March 366 Project + The Upside Down | Kara Chappell Photography

Welcome to the Upside Down

Okay universe, what is going on?! Seriously though - looking back at images from the beginning of March makes me feel like I've time-traveled to an alternate universe. We're really living in the upside down now, right? Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic, but WOW. Just WOW.

Deep Breaths and Adjusting Expectations

At the beginning of March I attended Click Away in Atlanta, which is an annual photography conference that I never miss. In fact, I'm probably one of the few people who has attended every year! What can I say - I think it's SO important to invest in your business and growth as a photographer and small business owner. And this year did NOT disappoint! We were probably the last conference actually happening anywhere, but we somehow managed to have a whole lot of fun, make amazing connections, and learn A LOT. This year I took a ton of business classes and my brain was bursting with ideas as I traveled back home, ready to hit the ground running. And then the pandemic took hold.

The Gratitude Journal

So... yeah. I was planning to start my busy school photography season, mini motherhood sessions, and start evening sunset family portrait sessions, but instead we're all staying home in Washington and trying to flatten the curve. Schools are cancelled (and probably won't start back up again - even though we go until the end of June!), businesses are closed, and everyone is keeping their distance to keep our community healthy.

I'm definitely going to lose a lot of business and expected income, and then there's the fact that my hubby works as an airline pilot (deep breaths, deep breaths), but you know what?! I don't have any control over the circumstances, so I'm trying to make the best of it - just like everyone else. 

Honestly, for as many "down" moments as I've experienced, there's also so much beauty and grace and service out in the world to be inspired by. And in that vein I've started keeping a daily gratitude journal. I write down three when I wake up and three things before my head hits the pillow (after watching Joe Exotic, of course!), and it helps to frame my attitude about what's really important.

Here's what I want to remember from March:

- How inspired I felt at Click Away practicing new photo techniques like shooting through Ziploc bags, and listening to incredible speakers like Ami Vitale, who photographed the last male Northern White Rhino before he died.

- How beautiful Washington looked from the air, and how Ryan waited hours after his plane landed to travel home together with me.

- How brave and resilient my girls have been with all the change, and how hard it was to say 'see you later' to their teachers.

- The fun and silliness of days spent at home camping in the playroom, Emma wearing her Wonder Woman costume for a solid week, Sophie learning to braid her hair and make friendship bracelets for her school friends, baking with the girls, and Emma learning to ride her bike without training wheels.

- Leaning into wellness and self-care by sleeping in, reading by the fire, letting go of the hustle, and letting go of shame for resting and caring for myself.

A Silver Lining

Despite everything, there are so many moments in all of our lives that are worth remembering. I can't wait to get back to capturing those moments for families like yours, but for now I'm grateful to be documenting my own people as we rest, and play, and love each other daily.