Often times we let excuses get in the way of getting our family pictures taken. I hear it SO many times as a photographer but also I come up with the same excuses too. Which is ridiculous for me since I know so many incredibly amazing photographers.
When I went through my health scare and thought I was dying earlier this year...the very first thing I did was schedule family pictures. My amazing friend Ginnie got me in so quickly and we got some beautiful pictures taken of our family. I knew if I was going to pass away...neither of my children would remember me and all they would have would be pictures. Thankfully that did not happen and I am healthy and strong and raising my beautiful children but it just solidified in my head the importance of pictures.
One of the reasons I feel strongly about this is that I never knew my dad's parents. His dad died when he was 8 and his mom passed away when he was 18. Since my dad was born in 1943 (yes...my dad was old enough to be my grandpa), there was a good chance that even had they lived to a good age...I still would never have met them. Growing up I never saw any pictures. All I had were stories my dad told. And that is it.
Well recently I've been feeling a need to connect to my grandparents and my dad's little sister reached out to me and shared her memoirs of her mother (she doesn't really remember her dad all that much) and some pictures. I was in TEARS as I looked through these beautiful pictures of people who I had never known. I felt so drawn to them and I really feel like I have found myself in them.
The little boy standing up and playing with a stick is my dad. My grandpa isn't in this picture but I LOVE the way my grandma is looking at her children. This picture just speaks volumes to me for some reason.
Especially my grandmother. I have always felt kind of like an outsider in my family. I have traits that it seemed just came out of no where, little quirks that I couldn't explain. In reading about my grandmother...everything fell into place. It's amazing how you can find yourself in someone you never knew. I now feel like she has been there the whole time and has just been waiting for me to recognize that she is helping to guide my feet.
So. This is the reason it is so important to take pictures. So that your children and grandchildren can have these memories. So they can relate to you. So they can help to understand a bit more of who you are. Of how your family interacted. And no excuse is worthy of getting in the way of that. One of my most treasured pictures is that of my dad at my wedding. I was the only child who was privileged to have my dad be at the wedding. He passed away shortly before my 2nd anniversary and my children will never know him. Pictures are priceless. They are treasures. And we are so lucky to live in a digital age where they are so easily taken. Please don't let excuses get in the way.
ANYWAYS! I'll get off my soap box. :) Onto Kayla and Jordan. Kayla is one of my dear dear friends. I love her lots. And Jordan is her soul mate. He is great! And Beamer? Well...he is just plain AWESOME! Who is Beamer? Beamer is their boxer. We got together for some family pictures up here at Union Station and seriously...I love this beautiful little family. :)
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