As I sit and ponder about a person who recently passed away and all the images that are being posted on social media of him. I wonder why we don't take the time to actually take a great image of ourselves or our loved ones. Hiring someone to help take a photo or just taking the time to learn a few things about light. 

I think about the products we buy,  for example buying a new fridge, we want one with a water dispenser, an ice maker, a big one to store our food and has ample room so we get in and out with ease. We shop around for the best quality, best price, do our research and finally decide on fridge that costs $2,000.00 or more. It is a fabulous fridge, nice and big, 36 wide!!! You shine it up everyday, clean it weekly, go for ice and water just to admire it. You fill it with beer(for the gentleman), wine(for the ladies). You take a photo of it, post it to social media share photos of you in front of that great purchase. Now would you enlarge that photo? Make it a 11x14 or turn it into a 36 inch print? Why not you paid over $2,000.00 for that fridge the print will be worth something someday, Right? You value that product you bought why not frame a photo.

Photos of us and our loved ones are just like any other products we buy, they have value. What would you pay a photographer who kept all the photos of a photo session after a loved one has passed.  What would that image be worth to you? I know it doesn't  bring them back and they can't be replaced like a fridge can. An image of the loved you can hang on your wall and look at each day, admire, remember them for their sense of humor, laughter, the gift of their presence they brought to others. Maybe today buying a photographer's products and services may not mean anything, maybe you don't like being in photos, and maybe we think it is not relevant,  but tomorrow is never promised and will be worth everything to someone.

 This week I am reminded of my Grandmother who passed away a year ago at the young age of 98.  I dug up a photo I took of her on her 95th Birthday celebration. She rarely smiled but on that day, at that moment she had the biggest and best smile ever.