Because Life is Always Changing: The Importance of Taking Photos
As a photographer, I often find myself on the frontlines of life’s most meaningful moments—the ones that make us laugh, cry, and reflect. Over time, I've come to believe one thing with all my heart: take the photo.
Because life is short. Because people move. Because things change. And because we want to remember.
This week, I found myself thinking deeply about just how quickly life moves. Two of my clients, who I've photographed for years, are preparing to move away. It's a joyful new chapter for them, but I couldn’t help but feel a little sentimental. We've documented many photos together. The idea that they won't be just a short drive away anymore reminded me how grateful I am for the images we've captured together—little time capsules of a life well-loved.
I also found myself thinking of my grandfather, whose heavenly birthday was this week. I miss him dearly. His voice, his stories, the way he always made you feel like the most important person in the room. I treasure the photographs I have of him. Some are posed and formal; others are blurry and spontaneous, but they all hold something priceless: presence. Proof that he was here. Proof that he mattered.
And all around us, change keeps coming. New homes, new jobs, babies growing up, goodbyes and hellos. The studio has changed. My own life has shifted. The world is still catching its breath in many ways. But even as everything moves, photographs have this quiet power to hold us still for a moment—to remind us where we came from, who we love, and what we want to remember.
Not only do we need to remember our family and friends, but also our pets—those loyal companions who share our quietest moments and biggest milestones. We need to remember the places we’ve lived and loved, even as they grow and change—because change is inevitable, even in the towns we call home and the businesses we’ve come to cherish. A familiar street corner might one day look different. A favorite shop might close its doors. But a photograph can preserve the feeling of “then” in a way that words often can’t.
I remember in high school, taking my camera with me on every ride to school. I’d snap photos out the car window of the roads we traveled daily—gas stations, old diners, small brick buildings I passed without a second thought. I’m so glad I did. Many of those places have since been demolished or replaced. But the photos remain, like little postcards from my past, reminding me how it once looked, how it once felt.
So if you’re wondering whether or not to schedule that session, take the selfie, or snap the candid photo of your kid dancing in the kitchen—do it. Don’t wait for things to be perfect. Life isn't perfect. But it is beautiful. And it deserves to be remembered.
Take the photo. Because someday, you’ll be glad you did.
📸❤️🌻
