Taking a break from the normal portrait session previews, I am sharing a photo of me today. Don't worry, we will get back to beautiful brides and adorable little ones very shortly. This isn't something I do often but I wanted to share this photo of me that my husband took while waiting for the ceremony to start at Saturday's wedding. I'm sharing it because it is the perfect example of what I always talk about with in the moment photos. I'm not posing, I'm not smiling, I'm unaware he's taking my picture. When I first saw it I wasn't sure if I liked it.
But I have to imagine that this is a good example of how my husband sees me everyday. Between conversations. Between smiles. This is me. And he thought it was photo worthy. I got to thinking of all of the not so portraity portraits I have taken of him. Ones I know the kids and I will love forever. I thought of the portraits I see of old family members in albums from before I was born. How the best ones are always the ones where they weren't smiling straight at the camera, but were captured naturally, mid-living. I thought of all the times someone has expressed to me the importance of a photo I have taken because it was one of the last in the subject's lifetime. It made me think about how blessed I've been to be able to be there for those families and deliver those once in a lifetime moments to them.
So when we do sessions and get a behind the scenes shot that doesn't have time to be fussed with, please do not worry that your hair isn't just so or your smile isn't just right. Because those who love you think you are beautiful in every moment, every day, not just the picture perfect ones. Just as you love them. Every moment is worth celebrating in it's own beautiful, natural, imperfect way.