The Brutal Truth // Portland Photographers

I have to be honest, sometimes I think why do I do what I do?

We go to weddings every weekend, and to be really truthful; its not always fun. When a bride/groom tells you they hate getting their photos taken, or hate everything about the photos, or just act like they are dying in front of my camera is really takes a toll. I do my best to keep a smile on my face and pretend like its okay and happens all the time.

But its not and it doesn’t. Its not okay.

Its not okay because when I get a text saying that someone who has been close to my family for my whole life died in a tragic accident this morning, or when I get two phone calls in one day saying that two girls close to my age who I have also grown up with have cancer; I realize life is to F*!cking short.

Life can end tomorrow…..

Maybe you remember when we were in a contest for a workshop in Denver? Well, we didn’t win. Officially. We did end up going though, and it was life changing. It was called the Don’t Give Up Workshop, and it was all about why we do what we do. Why are we are photographers? What’s the point of making a photograph?

In the end, we came out remembering that our photos last longer then us, they are more important than us, and that our photographs will mean way to more in 10 years then in the first 5 minutes that we see them. Photos will outlive us. My photos will outlive me. Photos will show little girls who their parents were before she was made, they will tell the stories of her grandparents on their biggest day, and when someone is in a tragic accident or dies from cancer, those photos will be your memories.

So here it is. If you are looking for pretty photos, I could do that. Kellen could do that. We have the technical skills, and can make you look good. But, is that what you really want? Just pretty photos? Whether it be wedding, family, or portraiture? Maybe you do, but what if we looked at photos like a time capsule? You know when you listen to that one song, it can bring you right back to that moment. Or you smell that particular smell and it bring back all those feelings. What if your photos could do that for you? What if we took your photos, and dug deep down brought them to another level? What if this was your last day on earth? Wouldn’t you want this memory?

Because this morning when I got the text of my second mom’s husbands tragic death, I just thought about how she will never see him again. I thought how her heart is broken, and I hoped she kissed him and told him she loved him before he went to work this morning. And how she probably wished she had just a few more photos of him.

When I got the phone call about the girl who was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer, who has a husband and a little girl, I thought that I must go tell their story. That little girl may or may not have both of her parents in 6 months, or 1 year, and maybe cancer won’t be the reason; either way photos are a way to capture today and capture their life together. That little girl will have these photos to tell her story, to show how much her family loved her.

So lets rethink photos, lets make them less of a chore and more of a life choice.  These photos will mean so much in 5 or 10 years when everyone is grown up, or maybe someone dies, or maybe someone split up, or maybe they end up happy and healthy. But either way, photos will last longer then us. They are worth every minute, and every penny. Photos are the only way to go back to that moment, to re-live that moment, to see into the eyes of the people you love. One of my favorite things to do is to go through old photos, and see my family when we were still a family. When my mom was still alive, and my dad still lived with us. When my brother still really liked me, and my sister taught me how to ride horses. When we had our  beloved family dog Copper, and my grandpa would come over every morning before I went to school. Those are the memories that I never want to forget, and am so grateful to have. They are priceless.

So if your putting off getting your photos taken because you want to loose weight, have your hair grow out, get the right clothes, have your kids grow out of this “stage” STOP. Stop because you don’t know what tomorrow holds. You might get the phone call tomorrow, or maybe you will be the reason for the phone call. Life is short, capture all the moments you can. Its precious.