Life Through The Lens

As a photographer, I fully understand the importance of having family portraits done. I also sympathize with moms because I know most of us simply don’t like to be in front of the camera. It seems logical. We’re sporting different bodies, different clothes and let’s face it, we’re not as young as we used to be. We don’t always have time to do our hair, make-up or even shower. Our kids are way cuter than we are, so it feels natural to just take their picture and stay out of it.

I started to think of all the times I have looked out at others through my own camera lens. The countless hours spent pouring over the delicate details of a newborn's soft skin or a child’s joyful smile.  I know all the reasons I love being behind the camera, but am also painfully aware of the reasons I hate being in front of it.

It’s safe to say, I take a lot of pictures of my kids. Pictures of them smiling, eating, bathing, dancing, swimming, sleeping, playing…you get the drift. Out of the thousands of pictures I have taken over the past 5 years, I can probably count the ones I am in on one hand.

I am everywhere in their lives and nowhere in their memories…at least their tangible ones. Someday I won’t be here.  I don’t know if that someday will be tomorrow or fifty years from now, but I do know that I want them to have pictures of me. I want them to see the way I looked at them, the way I looked with them. I want them to see how much I loved them.

I knew it was time to step out from behind the lens.

I met Erica in college and have admired her work for years. I knew before Mira was born that she would be the perfect photographer to capture this time in our lives. Ten days after Mira was born, we reunited in her home where she took the most breathtaking pictures of a sleepy Mira, Ellie and our new family of 4. Upon leaving that day, I told her I wanted to have pictures of our family on the beach when Mira turned 1. In the haze of having a newborn, that felt so incredibly far away.

Then, Summer came around again.

Our first scheduled session happened to be about a week after Mira’s decompression surgery, so we had to cancel. Our second scheduled session was during a 100+ degree heat wave in July and the idea of traipsing through the sand while carrying an already sweaty baby didn’t appeal to any of us. On our third scheduled session, we arrived at the beach and were greeted with a downpour. It felt like this just wasn’t meant to be.

Then, right on cue as we stepped onto the boardwalk, the skies cleared, leaving us with a cool breeze and a sky the softest shade of pink.

Thank you Emersen Rose Photography for these priceless images. Thank you for your patience, your kindness and your incredible talent.

Thank you for putting me back in the picture.