I recently moved, and that means there was a day I chose to hang up all of my artwork. As I was getting everything ready, I noticed I had piles of framed photos and photo books ready to be displayed. I knew I had a lot of photographs, but I didn't quite understand the quantity until I saw them all stacked up, ready to be hung. As a photographer, it should come as no surprise that I love photos, but my little unpacking story hopefully resonates with you, as well.
Photos will be the only thing left of you one day. I don't mean to be a bummer. I'm not trying to make you sad, but I do think it's important to remember. Photos are tangible memories. They spark joy, they ignite memories, and they serve as a reminder of how far you've come. When you leave this plane of existence, photos will be what your partner, friends, family and children have left of you. Are you printing your photos? Are you hanging them up? You should be!
As I was hanging up the 5th or 6th wedding photo I have, I thought "is this too much?" Is there such a thing as too many photos? Does my home need to be covered in photos of me and my husband, our friends and our families? Yes, yes it does. My home does need to be decorated with professional and candid shots of the people I hold near and dear to my heart. I want to see them every day.
My bedroom is filled with boudoir photos of me, portraits of my husband, and couple's photos. You know why? Because we are living pieces of art. Seeing our relationship documented makes me happy. Seeing a boudoir photo of me each day reminds me that this body is worth respect and love. Seeing a moment in time where I felt good in my skin lets me know that feeling is possible and I can experience it whenever I need to.
Get your photo taken. Get your photos taken often, and when you do, display those photos! If you download them onto your computer and never look at them again, you're not enjoying them the way they should be enjoyed. It doesn't matter if the photo was taken by a professional or by your mom who hasn't figured out how to turn burst mode off on her cell camera. Let someone document you. You are important. You deserve to be photographed.
