Not Your Average Photographer

Being a photographer has been one of my favorite hobbies. Especially as it has developed over the years and into what it is today. I have the opportunity to see so much through my lenses; to capture split second moments that people will treasure for years. Capturing smiles brings joy to my life because “smiling is my favorite” – thank you Elf. But not all pictures bring happy feelings; some bring memories of sorrow and pain that I have also seen through my lens.

Those split second moments that you treasure for years to come?  I have many of my own that I cherish because it is all I have. My husband and I are blessed to have two beautiful daughters to share life with and watch them grow up. They are the subjects of many of my photo shoots because they are stinkin adorable and are growing up quickly. I also have two other children I have been blessed to meet, yet in our meeting our “hello” and “goodbye” were too close together. And for those short hours that my husband and I had with them, I needed to capture all I could. Through my lens I captured two babies that wouldn’t grow up in our arms, that wouldn’t smash a cake in their face on their first birthday, that wouldn’t meet their incredible sisters and that wouldn’t grow up in our home. I had just hours to capture memories that needed to last us a lifetime. Yes, I chose to take my own camera to the hospital on those unforgettable days. After all, they are my children and I wanted to capture what little time I had with them. It wasn’t easy, physically and emotionally!  When Grace was born I needed someone to prop me up because I was numb from the waist down (thank God for epiderals!). When Colton was born, it was 2 am and my eyes were going blurry from a long day of crying.  But those short hours needed to last me a lifetime, so I needed to capture all I could.

I told you, I’m not your average photographer. I don’t claim to be great or better than others; I simply capture life, whatever that life may be. Every picture has a story behind it, and I’m glad I get to share mine.