If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you will know that I have talked about this time and time again. The importance of a picture. A picture is a frozen moment in time. It can capture a smile, a frown, laughter, a pouty face or a sleepy newborn. It can evoke deep emotions when looked at years later; feelings of joy as you remember exactly what was happening at that time when the image was captured. Pictures serve as documentation of our life. When memories begin to fade, a picture is there to help us remember.
It is important to photograph your children as they grow and change over the years. It is equally important to have a family photo taken as often as you are able. This could mean hiring a professional, going to a studio, or even setting up a tripod and racing to get into the picture before the timer goes off! It doesn’t matter HOW the family image is captured, just that it IS captured.
Last October, I was asked to photograph a wonderful family in Georgetown. The father had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Recently, he passed away. At his celebration of life, there were pictures of him with his wife, with his children, with his family, all over the hall. There was a beautiful photo book where everyone was asked to put a special thought for the family. Through pictures, Dave’s family will honour his memory. Through pictures, he will always be with them.
So, I have a message to anyone who A) doesn’t want to be in pictures, or B) doesn’t think pictures are valuable. The message is simple – stop thinking like that! You are just as important as your daughter or son. You look fine, beautiful in fact. So what if you think your smile is crooked!? When your child looks back on that image later in life, they will love it and love you.
A special note to my photographer friends: this goes for you too! Get out from behind that camera with your family. Make it a mission to put yourself in the pictures too!
Pictures are worth it. They are valuable treasures to not only decorate your home with (not your computer, your HOME), but they are valuable memories that will forever be cherished.
