Where to start? I could start with the obvious, my history with photography, but there is just so much more to me than that. I should start by being honest: photography is not my passion. I love taking photos, I love my silly attempts to make my clients warm up to my camera, I love seeing my client’s faces as they view their galleries of images- I love so many aspects of photography. But again, it is not my passion. It does help fuel one of my passions though: making a difference.
Some of you may know this already, but I have my masters in School Counseling. I have known I wanted to be a counselor since I was in 7th grade, counseling truly is one of my passions. I had originally planned to be a clinical psychologist- then I got a job as a Juvenile Corrections Officer. It was then that I decided I wanted to mix the good in with the bad. I wanted to be there for my students like my high school counselor was there for me when I suffered the biggest loss of my life thus far.
Which leads me to another thing some of you already know: My dad passed away when I was 16. The day after a loved one leaves this earth, you have a very vivid memory of them. They may as well be on vacation. 10 years later, you are fighting to keep their memory alive. A single picture may be worth a thousand words, but I wanted 50 thousand. I don’t know if you all remember 10 years ago, it was before 90% of us had even heard the words “digital camera”. The pictures I have of my dad are minimal. The ones that I do have, are very much cherished.
While photography may not be my passion, cherishing my family sure is. Moments one day become memories and I want to capture them-to keep them preserved. One day, that baby girl in so many of my photographs will be an adult. I want to remember her elbow dimples, her cute gummy smile (which is already being tainted by two teeny tiny teeth), the way she scrunches up her nose, and the way her eyes light up when I come in the room. It didn’t quite occur to me until I had her (and until the amazing Bobbi Sheridan of Bobbi and Mike Photography spoke the words), but “What we do matters!” It does matter. Pictures hang on your walls, children and grandchildren fight over them, they spark memories, help you tell your story, help you remember when you’ve long forgotten. If I didn’t have a picture of my dad, would I remember that he parted his hair on the left? or that his eyes always smiled? I definitely would not be able to show my little girl what her Grandpa looked like.
I want to capture your moments as perfectly as I possibly can, which is why I have chosen custom photography (please see my FAQ page if you are unsure what this is). It is why my logo has taken on new form (again, FAQ page). Photography may not be important to you today, but I can promise it one day will. I work hard at every session because I know these moments are important, and I am so incredibly honored to share them with you.
Amy your talent is astounding! You may say photography is not your passion but my dear cousin…sorry to let you know…I think your internal passion you have not ‘yet’ acknowledged comes through your photography! Wow! I am so impressed by your amazing ability to capture those moments in life the majority of us are only able to hold in our heads and hearts for little blips of time. I want to set up some time with you when we come through October 2012. I really want to have some photo’s of Taylor Braun and I. The loss of a parent is horrible, as you know I have lost a few in the last couple of years, but knowing and actually praying to out live your own child so that his care is all yours his whole life is crazy, sad. I want to keep his spirit with me forever and I know you are the one who can do this for me! Here is the challenge…can you get him to look AT you? I will bring some funny family photos with me and you will totally understand! Much love to everyone of you!