August Photo A Day 2014: The list, the rules + everything you need to know

HeyGot your camera ready?

It’s been a month since Little Moments was released and it honestly feels like a lifetime since then. It was one of the highest highs I’ve ever experienced, resulting in a whirlwind of emotions quickly after. I’ve loved using the App this month. It’s definitely made life much easier for me. I hope it’s done the same for you too.

If you’ve already scrolled down and taken a peak at the new list, you will know it’s a bright and happy one… much like it’s designer Jayde. Jayde is vivacious and full of life, and the proud owner of Little Paper Lane {a real life and online paper goods store}.

Thank you Jayde for creating this awesome list for August Photo A Day. I am loving how bright it is! x

HOW TO PLAY PHOTO A DAY

Playing photo-a-day is easy! Here’s how to play:
♥ Grab your camera or phone or photo-taking-device.
♥ Look at the monthly list to find the prompt for the day. {The number corresponds to the date of the month}.
♥ Take a photo using the prompt as inspiration. So for August the prompt for day 1 is ‘landscape’. So take a photo of a landscape you see during your day. It could be the city, country, beach, where ever you are.
♥ Now you’ve taken a picture, it’s time to share it. This is the fun part. You can share to whichever social media platform you like, for me I like Facebook and Instagram best, oh and Twitter too. Make sure you add the hashtag #FMSphotoaday to your caption so people can find you, and others know what you’re doing.

If you’re sharing on Facebook, you might like to join our Facebook group. It’s a big, lovable community of photo-taking-people. Click here to find it.
♥ Now you’ve shared, check out other people’s photos. You can check out the #FMSphotoaday hashtag on Instagram or Twitter to find them all. OR look at the Facebook group. It’s nice to comment and get to know other photo-takers too. We’re a friendly bunch.

If you’re playing using my App, it will add the hashtag and prompt automatically to your caption when sharing to Instagram.

WHERE TO PLAY

I’ve touched on this above, but there are loads of places for you to upload your photo-a-day photos. Here’s a bit more details:

♥ Instagram: Just upload your photo, and add a caption and the hashtag #FMSphotoaday and then share.
♥ Facebook: There are a few options here. You can simply share on your own personal page, among your own friends. Or you can upload to my page’s wall, or to the FMS Photo A Day Facebook group. You can join it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FMSphotoaday/ Now that Facebook has hashtags, simply add the hashtag #FMSphotoaday when you share your photos and you’ll be able to see which of your friends are playing along too. It’s cool!
♥ Blog: If you have a blog, you could share each day or do a wrap up of all the photos at the end of the month.
♥ Tumblr: Add your daily photos to your Tumblr feed.
♥ Flickr: You can get their app and share your photos there, or upload on their web version. We also have a photo a day group here.
♥ Twitter: You can share on Twitter by uploading the photo and sharing the hashtag #FMSphotoaday.

HOW TO REMEMBER THE PROMPTS EASILY

I know it can be hard for people to remember to do photo-a-day each day, particularly for those just starting out. It takes 21 days to form a habit, so stick at it. Until then we have have these tips:
♥ The Little Moments App is the easiest way to remember how to play. It can send little daily reminders to your phone at the time of your choice. Or you can just open the App and get all the details in one click.

♥ The lovely Doug has created prompts for us that we can download straight into our calendar, so we won’t forget. Just click on the below to get them in your phone.

To subscribe on iPhone/iPad/Android/Mac:
http://bit.ly/15KFbZw

To view on the web:
http://bit.ly/16Tad4H

Otherwise, without the App try these:
♥ Come back here each day and click the button on the right-hand side to check out the list.
♥ Right-click on the list above and save it to your desktop. Or if you’re on your phone you could take a screenshot and save it as your wallpaper. {To screenshot click the power button and home button at the same time}.

WHAT’S THE FAB FOUR?

Each day I spend some time scrolling through the photos shared on Instagram and Facebook, selecting four from each platform to put a bit of a spotlight on. The Fab Four isn’t a competition. There is no prize. It’s just a way to share some of the awesome photos being shared for Photo A Day. The Instagram Fab Four will be shared in my Instagram feed daily, and will also be showcased in my App too. Jayde will also be picking the Fab Four for one week in August, so follow her on Instagram and you can see the Fab Four there {I’ll repost to my account too, of course}.

Over on Facebook the lovely admins of the Facebook group select the Fab Four each day. You can find it pinned to the top of the group. The admins are Leesa, Barbara, Sarah, Kim and Natalie.

A LITTLE MORE ABOUT THE PROMPTS

The prompts really are up to your own interpretation. Don’t feel like you have to follow any rules. Do as you please. Some people like to know what I’m thinking when I create the prompt, so below is just a suggestion:

1. landscape
Take a photo of a landscape, where ever you are. It could be the city skyline or the hills or the beach or the desert. Share it.
2. lunch
What’s for lunch? Share a photo of what you had for lunch, or what you did at lunchtime.
3. s is for…
Find something that begins with the letter S and take a photo of it.
4. in the middle
Find something in the middle and take a photo of it, or something with something in the middle {jam doughnut comes to mind!}
5. pile
Take a photo of a pile of something. This might be good reason to get your inner stylist out and creative.
6. grateful for…
What are you grateful for? Take a photo.
7. spot
It could be a polka dot or a place you go. Or something else. Perhaps you have a dog called spot? Do you?
8. pet peeve
What annoys you? How can you share it in a creative way?
9. mix
Combine one or more things together. It could be 2-3 photos joined into one using an App, or it could be a picture of you making a cake. Have fun.
10. art
Art is in the eye of the beholder. Share art with us.
11. mirror
Find a mirror and share a photo. I’m wondering if we’ll see a lot of selfies today.
12. gather
Gather means to come together or assemble something. Will you share a photo of people gathering? Or a items together?
13. inside
Share a photo of the inside of something.
14. give
Give means to swap possession. What will you give? Or receive?
15. clouds
Hopefully the weather plays nice. Can you find clouds today?
16. clean
Discover something clean. It could be the simple lines of an object or it could be a space that is clean.
17. dinner
What’s on your plate for dinner? Share it.
18. arrow
You don’t notice the arrows in your life until someone tells you to look out for them. Good luck finding them today.
19. to-do
What needs to be done? Share it.
20. before bedtime
Share a photo of the calm or chaos before bedtime.
21. decorate
It could be an artwork you’ve decorated your home with, or another decoration. Share a photo of it.
22. words
They’re everywhere! Which will you choose to shoot?
23. style
It could be the way something looks, or it could be the way something behaves {he has a swagger when he walks}. Show us some style baby!
24. fragrant
If only we could smell photos. Show us something that smells {hopefully nice!}.
25. mail
We all get mail. Show us yours! {Or perhaps it’s a good excuse to write someone a lovely note and send it!}
26. breakfast
What’s on your plate this morning? Share what you’re eating or what you’re doing at breakfast time.
27. dull
Dull is boring right, and lacking in anything exciting. How can you share dull and make it worth looking at?
28. travel
Yay for you if you’re traveling the world. But if you’re not, share a photo of a mode of travel {could just be walking or riding a bike!}
29. dessert
Oh yes, ALL desserts are calorie-free today. You must have dessert. Share a photo of it.
30. nearby
Share a photo of something that’s near you. Easy.
31. 10am
What are you doing today at 10am? Share a photo of it.

Here’s to a fab photo-taking month. xx