Here's to You...

*Note: I don't usually "journal" on the blog, but I do hope you'll take the time to read this post...*

I love music--all kinds. And yes, that includes country. Even the bubble-gum kind that inspires my dad to rant about how "that's not REAL country; Hank Williams Sr., now that's country!"

Rascal Flatts have a fun little song about all of the reasons why they hit the road and go on stage night after night--the kids who pile too many people into their car just to get to the show, the cute girls hoping to catch a glimpse of somebody famous in the back parking lot, the moms and dads who leave their babies at home and dance up a storm in the aisles. The chorus says "You're the heart and the soul and the reason we do what we do; here's to you!" 

The reasons why I do what I do with photography are many: inspiring others to look at the world in a new way, creating art from everyday experiences, preserving too-fast moments, documenting life and love, and capturing personal history. As in the Rascal Flatts song, though, it isn't so much about the art or the final product as it is about the individuals, the lives, the stories captured in those prints.  I do not take it lightly when you trust me with your wedding, your newborn baby, your family moments. I get to know you and your story, I plan, I prepare, I pray--both for my abilities and for you. I do this so YOU have your life documented, so you can relax and enjoy your wedding day, so you can always remember that new-baby smell, the giggles of your toddler, the transformation of your child into an adult, and the love that you share with your family and friends.

In the past week, two of my newlywed couples have just lost a loved one--in one case, the groom's father, in the other case, the bride's father. Both have shared how they displayed photos from their weddings at the memorial service, and both have shared how much these images mean to them and their families during this time. 

I have a hard time expressing how humbling this is to me:  not only was I allowed to play a part in the story of their love, but I also am playing a part in the story of their loss, and ultimately in their healing. It is truly an honor. 

YOU are the reasons I do what I do.

Here's to you.