Preservation of Your History, Legacy and Love.

This topic has been on my mind but it is always hard to talk about. When I’m in the middle of a shoot I don’t really want to talk about death. Some of us try not to think about it. Others fear it. Some have dealt with it first hand. Regardless, we can’t stop it.

This post isn’t particularly about death itself but more the fact that our lives are finite. Images give us a piece of history that we can hold and pass down. This past year I had the opportunity to photograph families with their grandparents. It was so rewarding to capture their unconditional love. There is something very special about parents when they become grandparents.

Furthermore, there can be many reasons for my clients to want to document moments with family. I recently had an old friend reach out to me about taking photos with her family because her sister is terminally ill. I was honored to do this for her because I completely understand the importance of having those memories. Our kids sometimes are so young they might not remember or have vague memories depending on their age. These photographs or videos can help keep those memories alive. You can bring them out to look back on, strike a conversation and even tell a story.

Have you ever heard a song on the radio or smelled a scent while walking through a public place that triggers a memory? Photos and music do that for me. I come from a family where taking pictures and videos are what we do. My dad would rent video cameras to film me before he could afford to buy one. My mom basically felt if we didn’t take a photo of an event it didn’t happen. My mindset focuses on how lucky I was to get to experience those moments with the people in them. 

My point is…life is short. If you can, bring your parents to your kids photoshoot. Better yet, book a shoot for the grandparents and the kids. If you have a newborn shoot set up, let the photographer take some photos of you and the baby. Don’t worry about getting all dolled up. I promise your kids will not look back at the photos in 20 years and go, “Mom, how could you take photos with me without your fake lashes?” If you are feeling fearless, have a lifestyle shoot at home where a photographer can take photos of you guys in your natural habitat. 

I won’t apologize for the heavy post but I do hope it resonates with a few of you. Thank you to all of you that have given me the opportunity to capture those that are so dear to you. These are priceless moments with priceless people.