It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness and the mundane of the day to day. It’s easy to forget where we’ve been and where we are going. To do lists fill up and overwhelm. And sometimes it feels like all we do is work and pay bills. Well, I know that is not all I am meant to do in this life. I know it’s not what brings me joy. As a creative I know that I want to be out in the world: experiencing it, living fully, and framing it in memories to keep. Sometimes I live life through my lens and other times I actively decide to put my camera away and be present in the moment. And what matters is I get to walk through this life with the people I love. I get to laugh with my husband and enjoy the sand between my toes.

I’m doing a lot of work on my website this week and as I look through all the images I’ve taken this year and my favorites shots from years past I was challenged to see the themes. To see what it is I love to shoot and what images make my heart come alive. Simon Sinek always says in business to “Start with Why”. So I’ve been considering, what is it about a couple pledging their life to each other that makes me want to grab hold of that memory? What is it about capturing the dress, the shoes, the perfume that the bride wore on her wedding day that makes my heart sing? What is it about having all your family and friends in one place that brings me joy? I think it all comes back to the fact that I think love and marriage should be celebrated. In our culture where it’s rare for a couple to make it to their 50 year anniversary we need to celebrate the good ones. Cherish the marriage. Capture the moments that started it all. So when life is great or when life is hard they remember where they started and how they got to this place. It’s the telling of a story and the start of a life together. It should be captured and it should be preserved. And so WHY do I only shoot weddings? Why is this where my creativity shines? Simply put:

Marriage is worth believing in. I believe that marrying your best friend is something that should be celebrated. I believe that you should have photographs to show your children and grandchildren and that they should be as beautiful and classic on day 10,000 as they were on day 1. I believe in holding hands, laughter, and having a shoulder to lean on through life. And the details that make up that day tell the story of your love. And that is why I am a wedding photographer. That is why it is a privilege to be there for those moments – the loud happy ones, and the quiet soft ones – and to press pause so you can remember what you felt like in that moment. And to celebrate with you.

 

Here’s to the celebrations of 2016.