BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! We’ve all heard the annoying and painfully high pitched sound of a smoke detector (usually when we burn the toast:) ), but a couple of years ago my smoke detector was telling me my toast was way beyond burnt... it was a point of ignition. Shivering on the ground holding my dog. Watching the flames go higher. Listening to the sound of the raging fire and the windows exploding. Waiting for the fire department to arrive at our rural location, I made a rash decision. Running back inside I grabbed photo albums, back again for a couple more, then one last time, coughing and gagging, unable to see, carrying the computer and its precious photo files. It was a handful of our family memories, the rest were gone in a matter of minutes.
Kind family and friends sent pictures they had. As photos trickled in, there were many that I couldn’t remember where or why the image had been taken. Gaps became evident. It was more than gaps in time, there were gaps in the story of our family itself, and those were my fault. I had failed to grasp the important details. Many things changed that day for our family and for me. One of those was the way I approached photographing my family.
My children were teenagers before I took the time to learn how to use my camera... before I took the time to learn how to document the lives of my children. There is a hole in my heart for all the moments that are gone forever, the moments I failed to capture in the lives of my own children.
That loss ignited a desire in me to help make sure other mothers never have to feel this way, that they won’t miss the chance to capture the truly special moments.
I am the photographer of fun, interesting, genuine people.
I am the teacher of fun, interesting, genuine, curious people. Like you! I am blessed to live on a hazelnut farm (you’re welcome Nutella lovers!) in the beautiful Willamette Valley of Oregon. I am wife to one amazing husband, mother of two awesome daughters, and playmate for one peculiar canine.
-Beth
