I absolutely LOVE photographing people! I love watching the way they interact with one another. I love watching them be genuine with one another. I love it when I can SEE how they FEEL about one another! However, there is one thing that I do not like and that is when I hear beautiful mothers talking about how they don't like certain parts of their bodies. You are BEAUTIFUL!
Women, sometimes men, but mainly women, put so much time and effort into planning their photo session. They have to go shopping for the perfect outfits, bribing kiddos to cooperate (and husbands too), making sure everyone stays in a great mood, choosing a location that fits with what you have in mind for your wall art, etc. I notice, believe me...I NOTICE. I love that you put so much time and effort into your session before it even began! I want nothing more than you to absolutely LOVE and CHERISH your photographs because they will last a lifetime and the generations to come will LOVE and CHERISH them as well.
“Photography is the memory of our lives.”
But...
...so many BEAUTIFUL mothers ask me to...
- "Can you make me look skinnier?"
- "Please hide me somewhere behind my kids."
- "I just want photographs of my kids. I need to lose 10 pounds before I am in them."
- "Can I see what the photo looks like on your camera? I hate the way I look."
- "Photoshop me as much as possible!"
...the list goes on and on. And it makes me sad. This makes me sad because you can't even recognize your own beauty. I'm not talking about being the perfect size, with perfect makeup and hair, and gorgeous clothing. I'm talking about YOU! I'm talking about the way you LOVE your family. I'm talking about the way your family LOVES you. The way your family looks at you is breathtaking!
Life is not perfect. It isn't meant to be. Life is messy, yet beautiful. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Life is meant to be lived in moments. Moments are meant to be photographed and documented.
I can promise you this, I was THAT mom. I have TONS of photographs of my kids, but where am I in these photographs?? I was hiding. Every single time the camera came out, I ran. I needed to lose weight. My hair wasn't fixed. My outfit wasn't picture worthy. But my kids...they were adorable! And all I think when I look at those photographs is how I miss holding them in my arms, getting slobbery kisses, giggling with them as we played, and snuggling. I can never get that time back. I hold onto these memories, but at some point they will be lost in my mind. Lost for no one else to SEE. My own kids won't even SEE us interacting with one another.
But I'm certain that IF I did allow myself to be photographed with my children, they wouldn't look at them and laugh at my hair or outfit. I'd like to think they would cherish those photographs because they are documenting a moment in time between us...our beautiful family.
So to all the BEAUTIFUL mothers out there...BE PHOTOGRAPHED!! As difficult as it may be, do it for your children and your grandchildren. You won't be sorry...I promise.
I stepped out of my comfort zone and was photographed. I'm not as thin as I used to be. My hair was not perfect. But our foreign exchange student said it best..."I will never forget that family picture." I am glad I am in this photograph...for my memories and the memories of my family.