A recent catch-up with a group of long-lost primary school friends got me thinking a lot.
Mostly, about my childhood.
More precisely, how I seem to have wiped out most of the growing up years from my memory bank. Whether it’s by choice or not, that’s something I’m still pondering over. But really, does it matter?
You see, that girl (yes, thats me) you’re looking at in the photo, one of the very few photos I could find of myself growing up, was in a hurry to get through her childhood. Sadly, many of those years became a blur.
Know what’s even sadder? We had no family photos. Nuh-uh, none at all. Well, if there were any, clearly no one had any idea where they are now.
What was life like before my parents decided to part ways?
What was I like as a young child in my parents’ eyes?
Growing up, life was a series of hard knocks in every possible milestone for me. But such is life eh. And as it turned out, it wasn’t all a bad thing. It got me to where I am today and who I am today. It got me a beautiful family. It taught me valuable lessons to let go and let live. It taught me the importance of empathy. It got me to what my heart desires – storytelling through photos.
So. What is it about lifestyle photography that draws me into its realm with so much passion?
I think about this a lot and often it comes back to one word: love.
Love in any form.
Love can look like a lot of things, if you take the time and heart to see and feel.
When I see a parent and child moment, it melts my heart. It often leaves me pondering my own relationship with my parents, and wish I had something from my childhood days to hold on to.
When I see a young child lost in a world of toys, books or pretend-play, I feel the need to document the moment – a picture-perfect moment. There’s a reason why they call it the magic of childhood.
When I see an old couple holding hands walking down the street, it makes me smile and grateful that I have a loving and supportive life partner who will, hopefully, walk to the end of journey with me, hand in hand.
When I see my crying child, I step in but not without my camera on standby – yes I’m that kind of Mum but hey you’ll be amazed at the conversation that could happen when he/she sees the photo a few days later.
Most of all, it makes me happy knowing I‘ve made someone’s day through my craft. Knowing that the families who have so kindly invited me into their lives love the photos because I’ve captured the essence of their unwritten stories. A gift for them to keep and pass along. The laughter. The tears. The silence. The mundane. The joy. The love.
Now in my early forties, I’m just starting to get into things. Late start? Perhaps but who cares. Life is extraordinary. I don’t want to miss the boat.
P.S.: Thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll check out my works of love here :) and drop me a note if you'd like your story documented. x
