I am not one for country music, a few songs I can enjoy, but for the most part it is not my cup of tea. However, the song, “If Tomorrow Never Comes” really hits home for me on so many levels. Every time I hear it, it makes me teary eyed. I know sappy, right. I try to always leave my daughter or hubby on a happy note and hate if things are not quite right when we leave. This song also makes me realize how important photography can be, should be for people. A great photograph of a moment can bring you back to that exact time and place and feel the love or sadness or silliness of that time. It helps you reminisce about old times, remember people who are gone from our everyday lives.
WARNING! Grab a tissue, these stories can be heartbreaking. However, I want people to realize how much a photograph can impact your life. I want people to realize when planning their wedding that having a great photographer can make all the difference.
Over the last year, I have had several clients have loved ones pass away. The overwhelming response I have received from these clients is a resounding thank you.
“Thank you for taking the best photograph I have of my mother: smiling and happy. The last few months before she passed on were really hard”
Another client said to me, “my mom is really sick, she may not make it to the wedding.” She did make it. She danced, smiled and watched her son marry the woman of his dreams. She passed away a few weeks after the wedding. The phone call I received, “Thank you for the beautiful moments and images of my mother. They will be cherished for ever” The images were printed in the funeral program.
Another client’s grandmother could not make it to the wedding. We stopped by the hospital so she could see her granddaughter in her wedding gown. Now the family has some heartfelt moments between the grandchildren and grandma.
I took an image at a wedding of the grandmother reading a book to one of the grandchildren. It is one of my favorite images because they were completely unaware. That same wedding, I captured a heartfelt moment between the grandmother and the bride. The grandmother passed away the following week. The family called me personally to thank me for those images of her.
I hear many more stories like these from fellow photographer friends. Such as: an old man is dancing and having the time of his life with his wife at the reception. He suddenly has a heart attack. The family later called to say those were the best images of him and had not seen him that happy in years.
Who do you wish you had photographs of? What moments or people do you have photographs of that you cherish? How much are those photographs worth to you and your family? If you had a beautiful photograph of a moment in your life, I mean artistic and full of life, where would you place that image? Would you keep it on your computer? in a shoebox? on your wall to remind you everyday how lucky you are? A beautiful book to keep for generations to come?
When thinking about these stories, the photographs you cherish and the people who are important in your lives: What would you allot for photography? Would you spend more on your dress? The limo? The bigger band?
Next week…what would you give to hear those moments? What would it be worth to you to hear that special loved one again and again?
by Sofia
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