I believe growing up under the influence of a dedicated photographer is one of the most spectacular experiences one could encounter.

For as long as I can remember my mother was practically joined at the wrist with a camera.

First day of school? You could find her waiting at the front door to snag a photo of the kids. Birthdays were non-stop click, click, click of the powerful button on top. Going to the park? “Can’t forget the camera!” Driving to another part of the state? A trip that would take 3 hours on average would take about 5! Simply because of the amount of photo ops that would be taken advantage of (and maybe some traffic).

Any chance she had to take a picture she would take. When I was younger I didn’t think much of the images but as time goes on I realize how much they hold, and how valuable they are! I’m not sure if my Mom knows it, but she has personally taught me so much through her passion for capturing moments that I would not learn any other way.

This, to me, is the most valuable lesson: Time is not to be wasted… I don’t believe we are anywhere near successful time travel, so as far as we know time is not something that you can get back. But, with the convenience of digital photography today, time can be captured. And all of these memories,  that at that instant,  are just our everyday experiences which may not mean much to us are saved…

With the simple click of a button, everything in that frame is frozen in place and saved for you to keep.

Proof… real proof that you accomplished learning to crawl, or lost your first tooth… Proof that you were the kid with the coolest skates, or maybe even the one still needing training wheels to keep from falling off the bike. Simple tasks that we often only encounter once in our lives; there they are… in the picture… that clearly depicts everything that was.

Although we aren’t able to physically go back in time, when you see a picture of the past, whether it be 10 years ago or 10 days, you know you were there, you know how it felt to be there, how it smelled, you suddenly remember what happened in the photo, what you were doing and thinking. All of those things kept in distant memory come closer with every detail.

I remember going on several school trips where mom tagged along. (Partially to ensure safety for baby totlings), but mainly to take pictures. At the time I thought it was a silly thing to do, especially since no other parents were involved, but NOW, I could not be happier to have had her there. I will always have the pictures of our cute little 4-H group going skating for a “reward party” and pictures of friends and I in front of the fish at the Audubon Aquariums and I have no one to thank other than my mom, the photographer.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I write this  in hopes of sharing a bit of my appreciation for my very own mother and her love for photography with potential readers. I hope to continue to write about lessons I learn through photography as  I am taught by the greatest I know:)

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~Peace for now~

-ThePhotographer’sFille