One Reason why Photography is Important!

[Julie DeGuia]

This is an 8x10 layout I put together quickly for a friend. I was over at her house taking a portrait of her for a magazine article and we got to talking about her dog and how the dog was old and almost time for her to pass on. I quickly said "Oh, then we should get a picture of the two of you together!" and at that my friend started to cry. Not being much of a dog person I sometimes forget the attachment people have with their pets. We did end up taking the pictures of them and I am so glad we did, and that I was there that day to create an image she will cherish forever.

As it turns out, they put their dog to sleep later that SAME day. I brought her this 8x10 in a frame a couple days later.

Photography is such a wonderful vehicle to capture special moments and I am glad it is such a large part of my life. My son asked me one time "Why is taking pictures so important to you?" It made me a little sad at the time b/c I took it to mean "Why do you spend SO much time with pictures on your computer," because I was sitting at my computer when he asked me that question, but besides loving taking lots of pictures of my own kids, here is a great reason. So I can be there when my friend says goodbye to a companion of 14 years......

Julie

http://www.designerdigitals.com/digi...hp?photo=89064

[shellb]

That is such a touching story. So true about photography. I hear a lot of rude comments because I take so many pictures. That is some good wisdom to hold on to just for those occasions.

[Lynn Grieveson]

What a lovely photo, and what you say is so true. Your friend will treasure this.

[susiecw]

Julie, yes photographs are important. When I went through my divorce, I scanned and printed ALL our cherished family photos and gave a set to each of my daughters and to my ex-husband, because those pictures represented family, love and fun. And, for 27 years we were a family. Now, I take so many pictures of my grandkids, that my son-in-laws think I'm a little querky, to say the least. But, I want these children to remember all the little things that make up their lives...the people who love them, their homes, their pets, their "firsts," and their families. The timing of your friend's picture made that photo even more precious to her, I'm sure. And, really, who knows when a certain photo taken becomes the one that will be the most meaningful.

Thank you for this thread. Susie

[nirecreations]

Ok so I am crying. That was so sweet what you were able to do for your friend! Thank you so much for sharing. My mom passed away several years ago and was famous for dodging the camera. I am sad now that there are so few pictures of her. I constantly have my camera in hand and what you said is really the reason!

[dugarner]

Julie, what a sweet story. What providential timing that you were there that day!

Susie, yours is a touching story, too. How wonderful that you had the foresight and the heart to provide all those memories for your ex-husband. That had to be at the least an emotional experience, reliving all the memories through the photographs.

I often think about what my family would be left with if I died today, and would it be enough? I don't think it's morbid, it's just introspective.

Since I'm not happy with the quantity (or quality) of picture-memories I'd leave behind (not too many in albums, and a lot shoved on a hard drive!), I'm always encouraged to move on and continue documenting our time together. It's a great motivator for photography and for scrapping!

Sarah

[Kayleigh]

What a beautiful photo & heartwrenching story ... thank you for sharing it with us.

[audrey77]

All I have of my dad and I are pictures... He died when I was a teen- so photo taking is really important to me.

[MIDA78466]

What a beautiful story. She is so lucky to have you as a friend. I don't take enough photos--thanks for the reminder.

[KarenA]

Such a sad & wonderful story.

Julie - this story is a great reminder to keep taking those photos.

I recently lost my dad and while I was spending some time down with my mum I took photos of the vegetable garden my dad had growing at the time of his death.
Even though I felt a little silly taking those photos (my family are used to me taking lots of photos though!) I am so glad I did. Every time I look at the photos, so many memories come flooding back. My dad always, for as long as I can remember had a vegie garden.
You can never take too many photos, even - what may seem at the time the silliest things.

Karen

[esther_a]

OK, I have tears in my eyes, too. How wonderful that you were on hand just in time to capture that relationship. Such a lovely thing to do!

[carollee]

Julie, what a wonderful story, and that's the exact reason, to capture a moment in time that will fly by in the blink of an eye.

I have a similar story. I was at a BBQ with friends at a lovely lady in town who we adore. She had a gorgeous old corgi. I spent most of the evening taking photos of Zac to the point my husband annoyingly told me to come join the friends. I don't know why I felt compelled to take all these photos of Zac, but I had a lot of great ones. I got the photos back in the mail developed the next Friday and when I got home my husband told me that she'd had to put Zac down that day. She was devastated. I quickly gathered the photos and took them straight around to her, it included pictures of Zac by himself and her and Zac.

She was overcome because I had no idea she wasn't a camera person (who knew those types of people existed??? ha!) but over the course of about 12 years she only had 2 pictures of Zac and they were bad ones taken with her mobile phone. Now she had some to frame. I'm so glad I did that.

Julie, you just keep on doing what you do, all of us. That's an absolutely gorgeous photograph, wish you could come here and photograph me with my pupkins!

[KarenA]

Forgot to add in my above post.......
Julie that is a beautiful lo and photo.

Karen

[hendon]

Beautiful story and lo Julie. Thank you for being such a thoughtful person.

[sam ellis]

awwwww being a dog person myself this is such a special story.tfs

[beehive50]

A lovely layout, a fabulous photo and such a dear story... thank you for sharing, Julie. And, for the great reminder to keep doing what we all do.

[KerryMac]

Oh, what a touching story and such a wonderful gift you've given your friend. There is really nothing that compares to the power of a photograph to record a memory.

I lost both of my parents when I was young and then my dear sister 5 years ago. I was filled with so much grief when my sister died and didn't quite know what to do. One day I sat down at my computer and began scanning hundreds of old family slides, photos and negatives. I got so caught up in this activity that 6 months passed by in a blink. I had scanned, restored, printed and archived so many wonderful memories and in the process unwittingly worked through the sadness that been weighing me down for so long.
So for me, photography is a kind of therapy, and since I'm a photographer now, I have a very strong desire to make sure I record my customer's lives with as much passion as I do my own.
Thanks for starting this thread, Julie. Your friend will always cherish that beautiful photo.

[psulions21]

That is so nice that you were able to give your friend such a wonderful memory. Photography is definitely a way to catch all those little moments that can so easily be forgotten. I have thousands of pictures of my children and they are only 4 1/2 and 3 1/2. One thing I will tell all of you, no matter how much you love taking pictures, always make sure you are able to get in some of them or you will regret it down the line.