This title cracks me up as a photographer because it sounds like I’m going to launch into a discussion of pixels and dimensions. But I’m not talking about that kind of resolution. I’m talking about the goals we set New Year’s Day and keep all the way through February. (No, just me?)

This January, we don’t just get a new year — we get a new decade! And I’ve got a resolution for you that doesn’t involve counting calories or organizing your house. It’s a simple promise that anyone can keep with a single click: TAKE MORE PHOTOS!

I don’t mean photos of your food, or photos of your feet. The Internet has plenty of those. What your kids and friends will want to see is more pictures of YOU.

You laughing.

You smiling.

You crying.

You serving.

You dancing.

You living.

I know it’s easy to hide behind the camera because your hair isn’t perfect, your waistline is bloated, or your shirt has spaghetti sauce on it. But photos aren’t portraits of our dream selves; they are reflections of everyday life.

Too many of you are sneaking out of the shot, or promising to schedule family photos next year when you’re magically transformed into a supermodel. But you are loved right now, just as you are, and you’ll want to remember this phase/haircut/year when you’re older, wiser and probably softer.

Don’t let the quest for perfection rob you of memories. Ask someone else to take a candid pic of you at play, or schedule a photo shoot to capture your whole crew together. Might I even convince you to get headshots? (Eh, it was worth asking.)

Happy New Year to you and yours! What’s your photo resolution this year?