That was the last time I took him to a studio, I decided that I would start taking his pictures myself. I would follow that little boy around with a camera for hours, clicking away, until I would finally get a frame worthy picture. It was fun, and I have MANY pictures of cute little gestures that a parent forgets about over time!
Over the next few years, I was suckered into buying school photos, aka adolescent mugshots. The photographers didn't care that there was alfa-alfa hair poking up in the back, or that the smile on my child's face was as fake as it comes. They got paid, and that was that. Nope. Not for me. I would take my child to to school, have his picture taken for the yearbook, and then proceed to take him home and take a picture that I would want to hang in my living room!
Flash forward another few years, I had my daughter, and three years later another son. They are as photogenic as a child can be! YAY! (I will add, my oldest has improved in front of the camera, yet being a pre-teen boy he has not much interest in it). I continued to take my kids pictures myself, and any opportunity to take anyone's picture I would jump at! This was what made me happy (besides being a mother, of course!). I loved to download the pictures, edit them and show people what I had created. Now, if you know me, I am not an artist, but in photography I became one!
This was a start... yet not the reason WHY I do what I do.
For 11 years I was a Preschool teacher. My kids were raised in Childcare, where I worked of course. Then one day, that changed. I was put in a situation where I had to choose to keep my job, or be home with my children. I chose to be home with my children. This sounds like an easy choice to make, not so much for me. When you are a teacher, and you watch children grow, learn and you love them like your own, THAT makes it hard. For quite some time, I was living in a daze. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being home with my kids! I just missed all of my OTHER kids, and of course having an income.
THIS IS GOING TO GET A LITTLE CONFUSING.... STAY WITH ME!
October 28th, 2010. A horrifying day. I was working, and we were on a field trip at a local petting farm. My class was sitting down for lunch, and I received a phone call on my cell phone. It was my sister. Now, normally I don't answer my phone when I am working, I can't tell you why this time I did... but I had to. I was informed that my [other] sister, who was 38 weeks pregnant, had given birth to my niece, who had passed away.
I don't know what to write here, just as I didn't know what to do that day. If you have ever been through a traumatic experience, you know what I mean.
My sister decided to have a photographer from an AMAZING organization called Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep photograph my beautiful niece. We are all thankful for that decision because now I have wonderful pictures of my niece. My niece that I never got a chance to meet, yet I can see her beautiful face whenever I want now. {THANK YOU NILMDTS}.
January 14th, 2011. My last day as a Preschool teacher. I was enrolled in school, ready to start classes to get my Early Childhood Associates Degree (although I remember thinking "This isn't what I am supposed to do", yet being in a career for so long, I felt I should?!). After that day, I dropped my classes, and prayed. "Now what, God? What do I do now?". Photography crossed my mind quite often, even when I was working at the Daycare. I wasn't sure HOW to take that step, it seemed so far out of reach at the time.
January 24th, 2011. I was on Facebook, poking around and being bored out of my mind while my kids were napping, and I came across a photography page. I met another photographer who was new to the business, and she persuaded me to JUST DO IT! Make a Facebook page, and follow my dream of being a photographer. I guess I just needed that little push, and I am thankful to her for giving it to me! {If she is reading, thank you Savannah!}. Now, I said that I was thinking about doing this for some time, and my siblings knew this. One day, my younger brother mentioned a name for my business... and I loved it. {Thank you, Kevin!} Grateful Memories Photography. Because I am ever so grateful for all of the memories I have, photogenic and just memories of life. I am grateful for all I have, and all I will be. {Yes, this is a shout out! THANK YOU GOD!}
Today~
I have had the pleasure of photographing many families, and many more to come. I have had the opportunity to make memories last for these families! It is such a WONDERFUL feeling to hear "I love them!" when my clients see what we have created together! When they change their Facebook profile picture to one that you took {Yes, photographers LOVE this!}. When they tell their friends how happy they are with the experience and results. Everything about my job makes me grin ear to ear. I love it, even when I am up at night editing photo after photo.
Now, let me ask you. When was the last time you had family pictures taken? Have you had them done since your last child was born, or since your wedding day? Don't let these memories slip by unnoticed. Document them! Let them last! Hang them from your wall to remind you daily what YOU have been blessed with!
I had my family pictures taken this past November, and of course I couldn't take them myself... I wanted to be IN the picture! ;) I love and cherish these pictures! I waited way too long to get them done, since I had none taken since my 11 year old was an infant. Never again will that happen! {Thank you, Stephanie!}.
So, I will say what was said to me. JUST DO IT!
Thank you for reading, and many blessings!
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