Hanami is the art of slowing down to enjoy the flowers. It is a celebration noted for its connection to Cherry Blossoms or Sakura.

Here in DC, the Cherry Blossoms arrive to great fanfare and thousands to millions of visitors. The frenzy of people crowding around the Tidal Basin can make it difficult to remember to slow down. Some days, it can make it difficult to remember to breathe.

This same frenzied rush can happen on any photo shoot. Often, photographers will talk about how on a shoot they were in such a hurry that they didn’t take time to breathe or to think. When they noticed a mistake the same shot zipped through their thoughts: “I can clean that up in post.”

For photographers the rush probably comes from an overload of adrenalin caused by nerves.

How can you change this experience?

1. Always prepare a pack and shoot list and then use it.
2. Remind yourself to get all the shots “right” in camera.
3. Get to the shoot location early so you can scout out locations and prepare for any unexpected.
4. Think quality over quantity. A few excellent photographs are always better than a bucket full of average.

Hanami – slow down – enjoy the flowers.