The Obsessive Photographer

My son rushes off excitedly to class with his blindingly white new shoes.

Remember when you were excited to get back to school?  Yeah, I can’t either   Actually I do remember being excited to go back when I was in elementary school.  You got to see friends you didn’t get to see over the summer, exchange stories of family vacations, but mostly to show off those amazingly white new tennis shoes that made you run so fast (and truly believing they did).  Things were simple.  Happy.  A world of sunshine, Elmer’s glue and glitter.

I look at school through the eyes of a parent now, and it’s a completely different feeling. If you’re a parent you’ll understand.  It’s wonderful and a little terrifying at the same time.  I enjoy watching my son meet new friends, who come as easily as exchanging names.  There are a few precious years when children still look at the world through glasses unspoiled by the harshness of the world.  A few precious years when it’s still OK to hold their hands on the way into the grocery store, give them a hug and a kiss goodbye, say “I love you” and actually get “I love you too!” back from them.

Why didn't they have these when I was a kid?!

We went shopping with my son several weeks ago for his “back to school” wardrobe.  I was in shock by how much he’d grown.  Heck, I see the kid every day, when did this happen?  It started me thinking about all of these things, and reminded me of the importance of recording these times.  I have to save them in a memory capsule I can open when I change from “Daddy” to “Dad”, and all the other changes that go along with it.

We all need those memory capsules from time to time.  They ground us, they build a stronger root structure for our family trees, but most importantly they make us smile.  When I showed my son the top photo of him walking he burst out laughing.  When I asked him what he was laughing at he told me “I look like a LEGO man!!” and then continued right on laughing.  I’ll remember that moment when I see that photo.  Maybe it’s three years from now, maybe it’s thirty.  Either way it will make me happy.

Yes, I am a photographer. I would love nothing more than for you to read this, and with tears welling up in your eyes call and schedule me for a three day shoot during your next family trip to Aspen, telling me your private plane is big enough for all my gear.  Yep, that would be great, I’d even carry your luggage for you

What I really hope you take from this is to shoot. Click away like a tourist at Disney World.  Today’s point-and-shoot cameras are incredibly good…get one and use it!  What you are capturing is your family, your life, the memories you will cherish until your final days.  If it’s within your means hire a professional photographer occasionally to capture those moments, and then frame them and put them on your wall.  I promise you, you’ll never regret it.

My son, silhouetted against Tallahasse's Lake Ella.