What is really going on in the world here lately? Times have changed drastically and social media is where everyone is! I'm no different, trust me. I want to document EVERYTHING! My boys see my phone out and they run from me lol! (mind you.. they are 18, 13 and 9) even my dog Willow gracefully walks away HA! In the world of social media, it's easily to get caught up by nonsense. I'm a little guilty of this myself. I start with a purpose.. "Ok, checking my messages and comments.. and That's it!!" Then 2 hours later I find myself still looking at the funny meme's, videos, have read through some funny comments, have caught up on news and have expressed my own concerns and opinions here and there and have now realized that for some odd reason, I need to buy this product that is going to change my life in a significant way. Who else is guilty of this? Raise your hand!
I love seeing beautiful photos and inspirational quotes. Now, everyone has these amazing phones and digital point and shoot cameras that take some amazing photos, they have these cool apps that can do some cool editing and add some neat filters and slowly photographers are being overlooked because the way people think is "Eh.. I can do that myself" I even went out of town, took my "big" camera with me and hardly used it! (I'm so embarrassed about that) The truth is, I knew I wasn't going to really print them in a huge way. In fact, most of my photographs are still in my computer somewhere. I keep telling myself that I will organize them all when I get a chance. (riiiiggghht) Recently my family and I experienced the death of a very loved and important member of the family. You never know how these things will hit you until you actually go through them. As we were all gathering photographs of us together, I couldn't help but feel like I failed my family for not having more professional photographs of Grandpa. I had plenty of the random phone photos, some blurry, underexposed and overexposed ones, even some at the weirdest angles that were not flattering to anyone. Although we will cherish those memories, having some professionally taken photographs would have been such a huge gift for the family.
Photography is our legacy. As much as I want everyone to understand that, I realize that it's definitely an opinion that not everyone believes in until it's too late. I was given a gift and I know that I wasn't using my gift the way it should be used. Who cares if I look crazy snapping photos everywhere I go? People say to "live in the moment" Yes! I completely agree with that but also take 5 minutes from your crazy schedule and photograph something meaningful. Specially when you're out of town, on a trip.. schedule ONE hour with a professional photographer to take those photographs that will be passed down for generations. A selfie is not a quality photograph (yup.. just NO!) Not when you have taken a million and one photos of the same angles. So the moral of this whole post was to remind you that life is short, don't waste your time with nonsense photos and remember that there are professionals out there that can take your photographs and will do an amazing job. It doesn't have to be me who you book. That is perfectly okay. Art is viewed and created in so many different ways, that as long as you do your research and find the right photographer for you, that's all that matters! Book those mini sessions. Think of your bare walls, who's art do you want to see hanging there? What type of editing do you like and don't like?
I'd like to share with you something that has really broken my heart. I had someone reach out to me yesterday asking if I could create an image of her 5 year old little boy walking towards the sunset. He was battling brain cancer and he recently lost his battle. As I write this, I can't help but to get chocked up, not only because I myself am a mother to boys but because I could only imagine the pain this family is going through. I of course, asked her to send me photographs of her little boy. As I mentioned before, everyone lives on their phones. In my head, there's definitely going to be at least one photo that I can work with. Although she did provide me with a photograph, it wasn't the best. It was blurry and completely out of focus. It breaks my heart because now.. those will be the only photos left. I'm sure photographs were not a priority, but if you can.. please take the time and document all the little things. Hire a reputable photographer that will give you variety at least once a year. There are so many photographers out there that can meet your budget because too, professional photography is a luxury, not a necessity (I understand that) just like buying random things online is a luxury as well. If you can't afford a photographer, then take random photos! Just try to at least take 2 minutes to focus on your subject and take a photo that you could be happy with. Those random photos of your child, your mother, sister, friend, brother, niece, nephew, grandparents etc.. are what you will be left with at the end. Make those count also because taking the time to take a 'good' photo may not seem like a big deal but those will be the photos you will cherish.
0 Comments