Why Do I Photograph?

That’s a big question, and I could probably ramble on for a while with the answer! But that would just be boring. So I’ll try to keep it short. Keyword being ‘try’! I photograph because I love it! The dark room is my favorite part. I don’t personally have a dark room, but it’s on my ‘add’ list for the husband! In high school I dread all my art classes. I was horrible at drawing. And honestly I had my little sister draw most of my projects for me. It was the only way I could pass the class! My teacher was amazing- I just didn’t have the talent or patience. Then I took photography! I fell in love immediately. Sitting in the dark room working with film became a passion. And my photos were pretty good too! 😊  

When I imagine photographing now, I have a little bit of a different view. I understand the importance of photographs. I still love being behind the camera and capturing those moments. But it means so much more than just pointing a camera and pushing a button. Taking a photograph means pausing all the emotions and memories and holding them forever! When you look at a photograph, it’s not just something you hold in your hand to look at, or something you hang on your wall to show off. Those reasons are good, and worth getting photos done for. But when you look at a photograph of your family, you can feel the love and laughter in those photos. You can hear them laughing and feel their hugs. That’s an entire lifetimes worth of emotions right there in your hands, or on your wall.

When I look at a photograph of my oldest son, I see his face now, and I feel the love he has for his mama, and I can see the way he was last month, last year, and 6 years ago when he was born and they laid him on my chest for the first time! Those emotions and memories run strong! And that’s all in in the palm of your hand.

It’s the same for adoptions- the moment you met that child, to adopting, the final paper work, the day they changed their name, to the moment you took those photos! The same with grandparents, extended family, and even scenery. There are so many emotions a simple landscape photo can invoke in someone. Even buildings!

So don’t brush off taking those photos and booking a photographer. Because it is most definitely worth everything! Tomorrow may not come, so save those smile, and treasure those moments.

Because every photo has a story to tell.