What is Photography?
Photography is the process of recording an image. It documents moments in time or communicates a message to the viewer. They can help create memories - what happened? where it happened? and when it happened? And using photography allows us to create records of these past events which may otherwise be lost forever.
Today in a more digital age and with huge advances in camera phones, thousands of images are created everyday. But are they just a snapshot of a moment or something we will cherish as a loved memory?
As I am a person of a certain age, photography played a huge part in my childhood, my children’s childhood and my grandchildren’s childhood. Many of us still have albums full of photographs and treasured memories and just looking through them can bring back a wealth of memories, emotions (sad and happy) and feelings as strong as they were when the photograph was taken. They communicate to us moments in time and moments in our lives. It is those family photos that become most precious.
In a digital age, unless we save them on hard drives or to the Cloud, they are in danger of being lost forever and if they are saved on these hard drives or the Cloud, the process of looking at those precious memories becomes harder. It will never be as easy as sitting down in a comfy chair and looking through albums.
As a photographer, my role is to help you preserve those memories in the best way I can. So for family shoots it could be in a more controlled space such as my studio, or it could be somewhere special to them on location. They could be wanting a photo shoot to celebrate an occasion, to record a happy event or to bring distant members of one family together.
WE TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AS A RETURN TICKET TO A MOMENT OTHERWISE GONE.
This last year has seen me busy with client shoots who have chosen to record special family memories. One such family was where the American branch of the family came across to the UK to visit the English branch of the family, so for them it was a coming together of distant relatives to create a happy memory of the whole family together in one place, and I was very happy to be part of this occasion and take their photos for them.
Hopefully they will look back over the years and take pleasure and joy from those photographs and memories.
I recently attended a funeral of a much loved friend and as we celebrated his life at the service, many tears were shed as we watched his life play out through photographs. This is the power they have. We can connect with the images, remember him and his life and look back with fondness and love.
Lifestyle photography can be a powerful medium through which to record treasured memories. Maybe the day you bring your new baby home, your children playing in the garden or helping you cook in the kitchen. Could it be a teenager spreading their wings and leaving home, so you want a record of their time with you at home before they leave on their own big adventure. Or maybe you have grandparents staying and you want a memory of that time you all spent together. There are many reasons why it is important to have these precious memories recorded and it is my job to help you record and save these milestones in your lives.
Those memories can be looked back on over the years and if they were sad, hopefully in time through the images those emotions will become softened and you can reflect with joy.
If the images were to record a happy event then looking back over those images over the years can transport you back to that very moment, you can hear the laughter, feel the joy and experience the love.
What ever the reason you choose to have a photo shoot, the important thing is that you are creating memories, to be treasured and held in perpetuity for all to view.
Laura x
December 2023
