Sounds cliché, I know. But that is what I suddenly felt while editing a recent session. I'd just gotten word that a five-year-old that I'd photographed just passed away. It left me in shock...and much more patient with my own son of the same age.
Myles was a beautiful, sweet little boy. Almost four when we had our session. For those who don't know, I make myself available to donate my time once a month to terminally ill children. It is difficult when these sessions come up, but pale in comparison to what the parents must endure.
So this is what brings me to the editing of this recent session...where the Dad is horsing around with his young son. Simply laughing, playing, teasing...all affectionately, of course. Absolute bliss for both child and parent, no doubt. My thoughts went to Myles's family. There will be no more joyful jumping, hugging and jousting with little Myles. Before this could consume my thoughts, my young son could be heard screaming for attention in a nearby room...and I wondered, where are my captured memories of my little Tucker and his family? Oh yes, have photographs and quite stunning portraits. But where are the captured memories that bring you back to that moment...the time when he ate his cereal, buttoned his pajamas, or brushed his teeth. Suddenly these were things that became so important to document. And I guess here and there I have...but not as a mission. So that is my new mission. To provide for y children, the memories I aim to provide for others. I can't worry so much about clutter in the background, slight blur from movement, or unkempt hair. If anything happened to any one of my children, I'd want to remember them just as I see them every day. I'd want to remember that one of them left Hot Wheels all in a row on the landing of the second floor. That one of them sits in a squat while watching television for long periods of time and the other bit his nails while in suspense.
Forgive me. This is my very first blog post and a bit on the heavy side.
I don't, for a minute, pretend to know how this all works, but I hope to figure it out and invite all who are interested to follow my journal.
