There are so many reasons I love what I do. It is creatively engaging, challenging, inspiring, consuming, fun. But far and away the most incredible thing about photography is the meaning it brings to the people I work for.
Within the span of a couple weeks two clients of mine passed away, events that got me thinking about the importance of photographs.
Liz hired me to photograph her three Weimaraners in December of 2008. I could tell immediately that this was a woman who felt an intense connection to her dogs, and her ability to communicate with them surpassed anything I’d seen before. She did a lot for the Mile High Weimaraner Rescue and will be sorely missed among many dog people + friends.
The second client was Patricia‘s mother, who passed away several weeks ago. I took photos of the two of them together last November, and was so touched by the email Patricia sent me last week that I asked her for permission to share it here:
I just wanted to write and share something with you. My mom passed away a few weeks ago, and I used many of our pics from the November shoot we did at her memorial. I must tell you they are some of my most favorite photos of my mom and I and everyone absolutely loved them. I am so thankful that we did that shoot and that I have those to keep to remember our day together. You do such a great job capturing the dogs, but I wanted you to know that, that day you translated the love my mom and I shared into a photo and I will remember that forever. Thank you so very much, Patricia.
I am blessed that my clients trust me to capture some of their most intimate moments and the faces of those they love. I believe it’s important to take a step back every now and again and remember that it’s not always about the glamor, or the creativity or the fun–even if those are important components. Sometimes it’s about something much greater than all of that: every day people and every day moments.
7 Comments
Could not agree more!! I’ve been wanting to write a similar blog post but it’s always a hard one to write. I think you did so quite beautifully.
So very true.
Very well put…that’s what I love about a photograph. The story it tells and the emotion it brings are so important. Being someone who lost their mother I truly appreciate those memories and wish that I would have appreciated a good photograph more back then. I would love to have photos like this of my Mom and I so I can imagine how grateful Patricia must feel and the emotion (both happy and sad) they bring each time she looks at them. What a treasure for her. Despite all the hard work that goes into your photos I bet it’s moments like these when you hear from clients that make it all worth it.
Amber
This is a beautiful post. What you do is very important- keep it up.
beautifully articulated, claire. your work has inspired much of the photography and writing that I do in regards to my sophie…and i will have that always, like my love for her, even long after she is gone.
Beautiful. And so very rewarding…
You have a special gift for capturing these moments and you are graciously sharing that gift with others. That is the greatest gift of all.