Why I Photograph My Family

My family has always and will always be important to me, and I've always found it interesting to learn about my family history. Hearing stories of my dad and his brothers from my Grandma while we flipped through old photo albums, or watching old home movies with my Great Grandparents while Great Grandpa told about his various trips always intrigued me.  Walking through my grandparent's home and seeing the new and old photos on the walls, table, or refrigerator always made me feel warm inside.  I didn't realize until much later in life the value of the old photos and albums we would flip through and the stories and memories behind those pictures. And today, as a husband and father, I realize those old photographs and the stories behind them were snapshots of the life and experiences that shaped us.

As a photographer, I have the ability and means to help preserve my family's story for generations to come.  Why would I not want to preserve and share the moments of now to share as special memories later?

When I photograph my family, I want to capture a photograph that depict life as it is at that moment. Sometimes, it's simply my son painting or playing, or singing and dancing in his birthday suit, because that is a view of our daily life. Other times, it's because I feel like it's my responsibility to get the extended family together for family photo that will preserve the moment of the family gathered to enjoy food and fun together.  And still other times, the camera is out and I had no intention of photographing my family, but a moment happens that I just can't let pass by.

Of the hundreds, no, thousands of photos I take of my family, I post some to Instagram and Facebook to share with friends and family, others I archive for later, and still others I print to hang at work or home. Of these photos, my favorite ones, aren't always to the best composed or sharpest photos, but they're the photos that have the most meaning to me.

"If you want to learn what someone fears watch what they photograph."
-Unknown-

It's my hope and goal, that one day my wife and I will be able to sit down and flip through our own photo albums with our family and relive the memories we preserved in these photos: the silly antics of a toddler, the attachment we had to our pets, and the joy, craziness, and laughter of family gatherings.

​I want to create a record of our living,
a legacy of memories so to speak, for now and for later.

"You take picture of me and Charlie, I sit here"

As a husband, father, and as a photographer, I see the importance of preserving our special moments and memories of today.  I know how I feel going through old photos and reminiscing about the events and people in the photos, and I want to be able to share those same feelings with my family later.

My family is important, and so is yours.  For the same reasons I photograph my family, I would love to partner with you to preserve your family's special moments and memories for the future.