Beautiful book! The message is encouraging and perfect for the start of a new year. I loved this one!

I have mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, it is absolutely beautiful in words and photographs. I don’t think I’ve ever underlined a book so much and been so moved in so many ways by the variety of ideas presented. Parts one and two (Why Becoming Present Feels So Hard and Practicing the Art of Presence) have great chapters and are more how I imagined the book to be. Part three (almost 2/3 of the book and titled Coming Home to Yourself in the Present) is very… abstract. There were still beautiful quotes and ideas but I was not able to connect with the subject matter or make sense of what, exactly, she was trying to say. I couldn’t even summarize it and I just finished reading the book. I would suggest getting this from the library to see if it’s something that speaks to you.

If you know me, you know I love being a mom.
I also love taking pictures.
I really, really love taking candids of my family.

This book, Practicing Presence, only further enforced the meaning behind my love of doing so & gave me a different perspective. I have often felt I was alone in the way pictures make me feel so deeply connected to (and empathetic towards) the subjects & have at times felt guilty for having my phone (because I don’t have a legit camera) out to capture moments that are meaningful for me. However, I don’t feel guilty. I know I can take pictures & still be present in the moment.
Thank you @netgalley, @joyprouty, & @readbakerbooks for sending an ARC copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. #netgalley #practicingpresence #goodreads #bookstagram

It is a familiar sight. At a restaurant, before eating the food on the plate, people would bring out their phones to snap a picture. They would then post it on social media to tell the world about what they are eating. Almost everybody has a smartphone these days. Many have more than one due to the rapid technology upgrades and device depreciation. Instead of snapping the picture, posting it, and forgetting it, how about learning to take time to let the photos help us appreciate the little things in life? Not only can that provide a sense of relief in an emotionally fast-paced world, but it also offers some rest and respite for the body to heal. Using the camera as the main tool to capture meaningful moments, author Joy Prouty shares her journey of photography and how the photos enable her to savor life and affirm relationships. She shows us that we do not need to photoshop, crop, or manipulate faces just to appear perfect instead of real. She applies this orientation to herself by taking pictures as they are instead of posed. Take pictures without judgment. Any picture taken would then be considered one that contains something worth remembering. Authentic vs. artificial. Real vs. Posed. Actual vs. Perfect. In all of these, Prouty convincingly argues for the former. In fact, it is the unposed, imperfect, and candid snapshots that enable us to remember and tell our stories of loved ones. Part One is a personal story about her journey through discovering the importance of being present. Using personal interactions with her children, readers can share Prouty's experiences with childlike imagination, discover the true meaning of joy, and empathize with difficult moments in life. She even takes issue with her own name (Joy) as she reflects upon her melancholic disposition. One intriguing assertion is how "mothers are the memory makers." Part Two looks at the nitty-gritty of how to practice the art of presence. Using the camera as a key tool to create memories, Prouty encourages us to develop a habit of attentiveness to those precious moments in life. A picture taken is evidence that something there is worth our time and attention. She gives us a 4-step presence principle as follows;

1) Slow down and breathe
2) Set an intention and write it everywhere
3) Engage in a sensory-rich moment
4) Focus and take a picture

Part Three is where the practice deals with inner spirituality with awareness of our true worth. Prouty takes us through various tenets of self-awareness and development. Practices like taking our own photographs toward self-validation without critiquing them. Using the presence principle, she helps us apply this to cultivating compassion; acknowledging beauty; welcoming light; seeking to strengthen our foundations; knowing our bodies; recognizing our strengths; leaving behind a legacy; and being mindful of our creativity. These and many more help us practice true presence.

My Thoughts
==============
This is a unique book that highlights three key areas: Be Present; Be Real; and Be Thankful. Firstly, we are reminded to take time to be present for the more important things in life. We live in a fast-paced world. Phrases like "I'm busy," "I've not enough time," and "I need a vacation," are becoming commonplace among colleagues, acquaintances, friends, and family. Sometimes, even after taking a long vacation, one might even say they need a vacation to recover from the vacation! Parenting has many challenges which might explain why there are so many couples reluctant to have children, or for that matter, more children. Here, Prouty shows us how we can reclaim childlike imagination to learn to take time and enjoy the moment. Parents will know how time flies. Before they can realize it, children will have grown up and if their younger selves are not photographed, they might be lost forever.

Secondly, we need to cultivate greater authenticity beginning with ourselves. In our efforts to take the perfect shot, the taking of photographs can often mask our real selves. Social media is full of people who Instagram their best looks even when they do not particularly feel that great. I like the chapter about "Letting Go of Perfect Pictures." Prouty notes that far too many people are taking perfect pictures because they are too conscious of what other people think. The trouble is that when that happens, we become slaves to the opinions of others. If we truly desire authenticity, we need to free ourselves from the burden of trying to please everybody else. Learning to flee from the fear of shame is essential.

Thirdly, it is a reminder for us to be thankful for who we are. I appreciate how Prouty uses the ubiquitous camera and applies its use to the cultivation of personal spirituality. Call it the spiritual side of photography. With nearly half the book dedicated to the practice of being present to self virtues, this book feels like a self-help book. In particular, I appreciate the poetry at the end of each chapter that helps us be thankful. Thanks to Prouty, taking photographs will never be the same again.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5.

conrade
This book has been provided courtesy of Baker Books via NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.

This book is lovely! It's tagged as "Christian" but I think it's a bit misleading. You don't need to be Christian to enjoy this book & I think labeling it as such may actually deter people from reading something potentially great for them. It's pertinent for our time & I'm grateful to have it.

Practicing Presence is a work of art in and of itself. This book has truly made an impact in my photography and motherhood. It is profoundly beautiful and so filled with tenderness, wisdom, and heartfelt encouragement in regards to the journey of motherhood and our own self journeys as women. While elements of photography, creativity, and art are threaded into the pages, the overall tapestry here is so much more broad and far reaching. It’s an encouragement to search for and explore the light and beauty, the incredible pieces that make up the life that’s right before your eyes, and practicing savoring and capturing it all. I loved the practical insight here and helpful steps to take as you assimilate practicing presence into the very fabric of your day. This was a truly profound, encouraging, and stunning read that I know I will revisit and take pieces to glean from time and time again. I will shouting about this book from the rooftops and gifting copies of it! I truly believe this is one of those books that all mothers, especially those involved in the arts, needs to read.

I have tabbed and written down so many beautiful quotes from throughout the book, but I’ll leave you with one that especially struck me and touched my heart. “We stack the layers of our lives every day, small bits id vibrancy hidden in our daily tasks. The meals we prepare, the photographs we take, and every smile given - all small ordinary things we do over and over that become extraordinary in time. The most beautiful things we will one day long for are the ones that feel exhausting in the right now. We just have to occasionally step back and hold still long enough to remember that life is short. As the wise Alma Thomas reminds us: everything is beautiful.”

Joy Prouty, thank you a million times for pouring your heart out on these pages, for sharing your vulnerability, and for the words of wisdom and the insights you share here. This book is truly impactful and an absolute treasure. A new forever favorite.

Many thanks to Baker Books and NetGalley for the gifted e-copy!

Practicing Presence!
How timely is this book? Not being a mother, I still consider in this time of the unknowns that abound in this world, our country, our present and the future, how one can approach raising, loving and educating children, as a team of mothers and fathers, family members, friends, and neighbors all encouraging and holding on together.
Being Present in every way is thoughtful , physically and emotionally, with words, wisdom, and self care.
Joy Prouty has approached practicing presence with her own research, deep attention to her family, and workshops for mothers who will pass it on to their spouses and friends.
Practicing Presence
is enhanced by creating memories as well- and photography from its conception made the world see, remember and reflect on where we might wish to change the future for the better.
Joy’s photography is the other side of her voice, her vision to see and capture the beauty and the harder times to find a wiser, more thoughtful and hopeful path to those being nurtured now, to become our future generations.
I was informed and inspired by the stories told, the portraits that are words in their own.
Get this book for yourself and others and be drawn in to practicing presence- something for everyone to consider.

Joy Proutry, author of Practicing Presence, A Mother’s Guide to Savoring the Life Through the Photos You’re Already Taking, has shared her insights and examples to slowing down, capturing life, as is, and enjoying the moment. A couple of her points in the intro really stood out and spoke to me: “By taking a picture, we declare an anthem of hope: something here is worth remembering. Practicing presence through mindful photography was gently rewiring my brain for self-compassion, joy, and peace. Paint the spirit.” Basically, let go of what pictures are supposed to look like and embrace what they capture.

The book is broken into several sections: Why Becoming Present Feels So Hard, Practicing the Art of Presence, Coming Home to Yourself in the Present. Poignant poems in-between the chapters to capture the essence of the message.

I think it is important to note that this book is part autobiography, part inspirational encouragement and part “how-to.” Some “how-to” instructions and exercises are included, but they are descriptive and written out in an explanation. This is not a step by step, visual tutorial. This is really about you practicing with the tool you have (be it phone or actual camera), getting to know it and being willing to just practice in the moment. There is a lot of encouragement to let go of expectations for the perfect picture and being at peace with the moment you do capture. Additionally, exercises are included to assist you in being present in various moments and allowing yourself to fully capture that moment, unedited. I loved that at the end there is a blessing for practicing presence is included at the end. Mothers are doing their very best, day to day, and don’t need the additional guilt or worry that it is passing us by. We truly can be present in the moment and embrace each moment as we encounter them. God’s grace is sufficient.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.