Recently, I was asked to critically look at my work and evaluate why I photograph the way I do. I think this is a really hard thing to define, but here is my attempt:

My life has been shaped by nostalgia driven, in many ways, by loss. Recently, I was tasked with putting together the slideshow for my grandfather's funeral, and looking back through photographs that were our best way of telling the story of his life made me realize just how much I cherished every. single. glimpse into his life.

I believe photographs are meant for the living. They're meant to be reminders of joy-filled moments... falling in love, growing families, graduations, birthdays, gatherings (basically, cue that montage from "Up" where he looks through the album she made him... you get the picture.)

Your stories are sacred. I believe in a smiling photo where everyone is looking at the camera, because those Christmas cards and cover photos are a valued ritual in our life. But I also believe in a moment that's not over-posed. In laughing, squirmy kids that you might roll your eyes at now but that you will look back on with fond eyes when you're watching them take their senior photos. In celebrating that "holy crap, we're really having a baby" feeling that just calls for spinning around with joy.



I vow to hold your memories as sacred as I hold my own, and I will notice all the tiny details for you and document them for later so that you can be busy living in the good old days.