Katherine Payne Photography: Think May.......... Think Memories

Happy May,
For those of you who remember May Baskets, that fun event is where you quietly took a special basket to the door of a special someone, rang the door bell and ran like the wind (like a surprise Valentine). If that special person caught you, you got a kiss. Run from a kiss.... must be a kid thing.... ☺ Maypoles, Beltane and other celebrations of Spring.

The cycle of life is bringing new babies, baby chicks, baby horses, baby cows, babies, babies, and more babies. The flowers are starting to make their appearance and the gardens are all taking shape. Lawn services are ramping up blowing out sprinkler systems and trimming back the winter dead from the trees and bushes. The winter is fading away and outdoor activities are starting up. Kiddos are playing outside, riding bikes, playing soccer, running with the dogs and whatever makes them giggle and smile.

Mothers' day is 5 short days away. I've been busy doing that "spring cleaning" and celebrating the birth of a new grandson. With all the exciting new activities and events going on in our lives we also have the realization and loss for our loved ones who have passed away, be it your parents, grandparents and sometimes sadly your own children. It is easy to procrastinate getting that family portrait scheduled, waiting until the time is right, or the money is fluid, however; the cycle of life doesn't promise us time. We all don't have that expiration date on our foreheads like the milk carton on the shelf of the dairy counter. I recently received a call from a client who was so struck in their grief because they always wanted a family portrait of the entire family with the Parents, Grandparents, Brothers with their wives and children, and their own family, unfortunately tragedy struck, this client said "Life Happened" and her brother lost his life while serving in the military and now that wish for the complete family portrait died with Mark. During our call, she asked if I could "photoshop" Mark into the picture or maybe add him somehow to make the portrait complete. Yes, that is an option but as I reminded her that adding Mark to the picture doesn't put him in the picture, yes his image could be there but everyone in that photograph will always remember that Mark wasn't there, that it was the photographer's magic to put him in the picture. I reminded her that Mark lives in their hearts and memories and in the faces of his parents and his own children. I told her that the time is not lost, its never too late. Perhaps too late to capture the complete picture she has painted in her mind. However; think about it a step further, Mark wouldn't want the family to not gather, not get that family portrait because he is no longer here, that would be more crushing than I can even imagine. I gave her some amazing options to not limit the session to just a "Large Group Portrait" but include individual family units with her brothers and their families, her parents, her grandparents, the kiddos and yes, her family, even with Mark missing from the image, he is alive in their faces. Proud of the sacrifice that he gave his country and family, yes we can capture images including a framed portrait of Mark in his dress blues. Yes, we want to celebrate and capture our memories, because our memories are still being made. I lost my mother nearly a year ago and I wish I had those special family portraits too, but like my client, time just didn't allow me that luxury to capture perhaps that once in a lifetime portrait, I had painted in my mind. I have lots of images, lots of memories and a lot more being made every day. Often I think my family would like me to "STEP AWAY FROM THE CAMERA". ☺ LOL

We are a visual world, our memories stay strong, but sometimes fade; the details of the day drift away and what brings us back to the moment are our photographs and portraits. Like our memories, we gather and collect them over time and our families grow and loved ones pass away and the walls of our lives are like the branches on the trees.

With spring cleaning as we freshen up our homes for the summer season, I hope you consider capturing more of your memories with photographs and portraits, add those new images to your family collections.

As a professional photographic artist, I love to capture images; I would love to capture your images and help capture your memories to last a lifetime. I am a person with a passion and if you want it to happen, just ask and there are always ways to help make it happen. Don't think of your family portrait that you didn't capture as this image. We have financing available and methods to help you.