Existing in photos

Being a photographer I'm often reminded of the fragility of life. I've seen weddings brought forward so loved ones can be there, emergency family photoshoots when someone is diagnosed with cancer, stories of regret because someone didn't take the photos they now know would be priceless. Life is both so beautiful and so cruel. Being a photographer also means I am privileged to capture those precious moments and memories for people. It's fulfilling and a very big reason why I love photographing people, but for every precious photograph captured, I know there are thousands others being missed. 

I try not to live with regrets, but there are definitely many photographs I wish I had to hold today, ones that were never captured. As a family we never had professional photographs taken, I have very few photographs of the three of us when I was younger and while I have some beautiful photographs of my Dad, I wish I had taken more photographs of him when I was starting out into portrait photography. Back then I had very little idea of the importance of my photographs.

So all of this just to say...take the photo. Be in the photo. Don't just have family portraits done once in a blue moon, make them a priority. Exist in photos, not for you but for those after you - because I can guarantee you that one day those photos will be priceless to your children and grandchildren.