In an Instant, Everything Changed

I have always known photos mattered. I’ve always loved photos. However, I never truly knew why fully and had a hard time articulating the why behind my business and photography.

I knew I loved to buoy people up. I knew I loved the friendships formed through photography. I knew I loved adding goodness to the world. But those didn’t really cover “Why photography?”

Then on August 1, 2021, at 12:03pm everything changed.

If you’ve followed me on social media since then you’re no stranger to my story this past year and a half. I’ve never written it out fully here though. This isn’t the time for the full story. But it was because of that moment that everything changed in my life and my business.

Sitting there by my Dad and holding my sister’s hand, we watched one of my dearest friends, my 55-year-old mother cross over from this life and into eternity.

In the week that followed we went through hundreds of photos from Mom’s life. We poured over memories that had faded with time. We received emails from people with snapshots of Mom they had from their experience with her.

In the months that followed we have restored old photos. Prints have been hung on our walls. A friend gave me a necklace with a photo of my Mom and I that I rarely take off. It makes me feel connected to her. It gives me an extra way to help my children connect with a grandmother they may not remember as they grow.

As I have gone along I’ve realized why I love photos so much, why they are important, and how I want to use them to add goodness to the world: Connection.

Photos can connect us to our past, present, and future loved ones. They connect long distance friends and sweethearts. They pull up emotions and memories in an instant. Photos connect us to business owners, their work, and the heart behind what they do. They tell stories that connect us to different lands, different times, and different ways of thinking. They can connect us to nature, to God, to each other, and to life.

Life is about connecting people, not collecting people.

There are many ways to connect in life, but my particular specialty is fostering connection through the photography experience. I am so grateful that it has led me here to this moment, connecting to you.

Are you on Instagram?

I’d love to connect with you!