How Photography Affects Our Lives
One of the hardest challenges we face as professional photographers is trying to convey to potential clients what photography truly means, and how important a role it can play in their lives. We use phrases like “treasured memories“, “moments caught forever“, “family heirlooms” and the like in an effort to impress upon people what the photographs we create for them should mean to them.
We all know that the memories of every stage of our lives are critically important; from birth to toddler to school, becoming a graduating senior, to getting engaged, married, celebrating a family reunion or anniversary. Yet, how many of us find that our clients appear impervious to these descriptions? From what I learned today, I believe it isn’t because they don’t get it or don’t understand what we mean - it’s because they don’t attach a sense of urgency to it. They can always put it off until the spring, the fall or when “things” aren’t so busy. They know a portrait of their kids would be great to have, but life is too busy right now etc.
But, what if they couldn’t put it off? What if there would be no “later”? For the most part we sail through our lives comfortable in the knowledge that there will always be a tomorrow – however, sadly, for many people there is no tomorrow…
The reason for this post is a video that I found this morning and, as I watched it with tears in my eyes, I realized that the reason our work as photographers is so important is to be able to preserve a moment of joy in someone’s life, because that moment will soon be gone like fog on the breeze, never to return. Dominic had a very simple wish and, through the overwhelming generosity of many other people, his wish was granted. The real beauty of the story of this brave man is that his was not a wish for something he wanted – but rather a wish for something he wanted to give – true selflessness.
I will now let the video speak for itself, and would like to thank the amazingly gifted Rod Evans for allowing us all to see this. I’m sure he won’t mind my sharing this with you here.
Dominic’s Dying Wish from Rod Evans on Vimeo.
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