A 14 Year Old Took My Photo

And the results were EPIC! 😲

Hello Artists,

The most inspiring moment for me this week came during an impromptu family photoshoot—one that wasn’t planned but turned into something magical.

On Sunday evening, Lilian (my partner), her 14-year-old daughter Ariel, and I decided to take a spontaneous walk to the lake near our house and grab some dinner. Just before we left, I casually grabbed a camera. I wasn’t planning anything, but something in me said, just in case.

A few weeks ago, Lilian made an offhand comment that stuck with me: 

“You hardly ever use your camera unless you’re working.” 

As a professional photographer, I spend most of my time capturing moments for clients—always in a professional and paid setting. Something about what she said bothered me. It was confronting. 

Somehow, somewhere along the way, I had lost connection with that raw, unfiltered passion I once had for photography.

Don’t get me wrong, I love working with my photography clients, but there’s something different about shooting for the sheer joy of it. 

For the last few weeks, I’ve made a point to keep a smaller, simpler camera on the kitchen countertop—always within arm’s reach, always ready. I found it helpful to mentally separate my “work camera” from this smaller one. 

This is NOT a work camera. 

This is my family camera. 

This is my community camera.

Anyone can pick it up at any moment. No experience needed. 

And then something incredible happened. 

Both Lilian and Ariel picked it up.

They started experimenting, taking photos with the “community camera,” and suddenly, we found ourselves immersed in the most spontaneous, joyful creative flow.

For the next two hours, as we walked to the lake, ate dinner, and strolled back home, we would continually swap creative roles. One moment I was behind the camera, the next, I was in front of it as the model, and the next moment, I was shooting behind-the-scenes footage of Ariel or Lilian capturing their own moments.

It was pure creative energy—self-expression and art in its truest, most joyful form. Completely unattached to the outcome.

We weren’t taking photos because someone was paying us.

We weren’t taking photos for social media likes or to please the algorithm.

We were making art because it made us laugh.

We took photos because something caught our eye, something interesting or beautiful, and we wanted to see if the camera could capture it too.

And here’s the thing—the photos turned out insanely good. But that wasn’t even the best part. The best part was how much fun we had, how we tapped into something raw, something real.

That experience brought me back to my early days of photography—the days when I had nothing to lose. I wasn’t thinking about the rules of photography, or whether a shot was “correct.” I didn’t care about any of that. 

Instead joy became my North Star. If something made my heart smile, I stepped in and went deeper. And in the process, I found little pieces of my heart scattered along the way.

This simple, unexpected photoshoot reminded me of why I fell in love with photography in the first place. It’s not about perfection or performance—it’s about the joy of creating. It’s about seeing something interesting or beautiful with your eyes and doing your best to get the camera to see it too.

So, this week, I encourage you to grab your version of a “community camera”—whatever that is for you. Let go of the need for results, for validation, for perfection. Instead, create something just because it makes you smile. You might just find a piece of your heart waiting for you on the other side.

💖💖💖💖💖💖

Below I have included a short behind-the-scenes video of Ariel taking my photos. She was inspired by the textures on the floor and the shadows on the wall and asked me to pose for her. How freakin great is she!?

If you want to see some of the photos the 3 of us took you can find them here. 

Big love,

D

—

Darius Bashar
HEARTshots™ Photographer + Founder
Artist, Creator, Meditator ArtistMorning.com™

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PS: Did you know I teach 4 classes a month where I share my very best lessons and strategies on building creativity, confidence and community?

The classes are a part of my Deep Divers paid membership —> Click Here to learn more.

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This Week’s Journaling Music Playlist:

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This Week’s Journaling Prompt(s):

This week, set aside 30 minutes to create something purely for the joy of it.

Don’t worry about the outcome—just follow your curiosity.

Afterward, journal about the experience. How did it feel to create without pressure? What surprised you about the process, and how can you bring more of this joyful creativity into your daily life?

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This Week’s Guided Meditation:

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