Laughter

While sitting at my computer, alone, in a quiet room, at times I will hear laughter escape. I want to turn and see who entered the room. I feel as though an old friend just entered, one whose loud voice I had not heard in a long time.

I recognize the sound. It bursts out, without any forethought, popping onto the scene, stealing my attention. Oh, what a welcome visitor!!  Interrupting the silence and the mood, an indicator light goes on reminding me that laughter is still a part of life,  regardless of circumstances.

Many of you make me laugh. Your e-mails, your notes, your messages all bring that once very familiar sound back again, sprinkling my life with wonderful, happy moments. You give me the gift that this image portrays, 2 sisters, laughing uproariously, while trying to get composed for a shot. I am glad they didn't.

This was their parent's favorite image. It depicted their daughters truly and accurately. Capturing a brief moment in their childhood, they can look back upon these moments and savor them all over again.

We all need pictures of ourselves laughing, I have decided. Laughing with our spouses, our children, our grandchildren, our parents, our friends, our family, reminding us of the joy we share. Those are shots that I am going to be looking for more closely.  The unexpected moments, the between "takes", the intimate relationship shots of shared secrets, shared laughs, shared joy, shared tears during a session.

Clients don't normally buy these images. They don't view them as a portrait. Maybe I didn't either. I feel differently now. These are very valuable and treasured images, the kind I want to be able to hold onto, to cherish.

The girls' parents were so wise. They knew that this was their true reflection.  Thank you, to these adorable sisters, for reminding us that these moments are what comprise our tossed salad of  life. To the parents, Christy and Eric, for teaching a photographer, how priceless this shot is, for many reasons. Thank you!
" When the laughter is light and the memories are many, but the time is too short...you know you're with a friend."  - Anonymous