There are so many aspects of photography that I love. It’s a creative outlet, I get to connect with beautiful families and their adorable children, it allows me to help other families to document where they are in their lives, but what I love most is that it stops time. Completely and totally stops a moment in its tracks. There aren’t many ways to do that… in fact I don’t know of another way other than with my shutter.
While I was unpacking samples, prints and canvases at the new studio space last week, I came across a print that I had ordered of my daughter. It’s a relatively new photo, taken last month at the tail end of the bluebonnet mini sessions. I was dog tired by the end of the sessions and my husband had returned to help me load up all my larger props and he brought our two kiddos with him. Even though it was getting really late and there really wasn’t much light left I snapped a few of my own children.
As my husband was moving stuff back to our car, my daughter laid down on this cute little toddler bed that I had been using and she was so sweet asking how my clients were and how the “photography” went. She is really into what I’m doing lately, which is pretty awesome. As we were chatting I got this image….
.jpg "texas bluebonnet photos")
Then I edited it and fell in love with it and… LEFT IT ON MY COMPUTER. Until, last week, when it arrived as a 10×15 (I know, it’s an odd size) to be hung on my wall. And as soon as I unwrapped it, I got all sappy (even my very laid back husband was struck by it)… though this photo was made over a month ago I was instantly snapped back into that moment… I could remember how humid it already was and the crickets were chirping, it felt like the beginning of summer in Texas and here we were in this gorgeous country field having a little conversation about our day.
I love these little moments and she’s getting older by the second so I want to remember as many of them as possible. Now when I see this photo I can do that. I know that in our very digital age, everyone likes to get the digital files and I totally get that. I want them too… but this just reminded me that these photos I make are not meant to be kept on a computer. At the studio opening last weekend, I was talking to another photographer and good friend about how much more “alive” the photos look as prints… it’s just so different than seeing them on a computer or an iPad. I know I’m definitely guilty of not printing enough photos too, just ask my parents, they are constantly asking me for prints of the kids. So let’s make a vow that we will get these images off our hard drives and onto our walls or at least into an album to be enjoyed. I’m going to get that photo printed so that every time I walk by it, I’m reminded of that evening and how my daughter was at that time in her life. Time is so fleeting… I just want to remember it all one day when this whirlwind called life winds down some. So, join me, will you?
Jessie Parker - Jennifer your work is outstanding! you have a gift and looks like many blessings. Wish you all was all closer to ohio. I would love for you to do some family pics. We just need to come to Tx.