Family Portraits-who cares?

We make a living from doing photography, portraiture and selling enlargements but this clients story is WHY we do what we do: A lady came into our studio recently with two photographs that her family had taken, one of her four sisters and the other of her other sister. Because of illness and distance, the sisters could not be all together for a photograph. This lady asked if we could take the two images and combine them so they could all be together. It was very important since one of the sisters had been very, very ill. Artwork of this type is something both Eric and I can do, and do well. It is great that we can create a portrait of five sisters out of their two images with a little know how and a bit of time. Yes, we charged this lady a minimal price because we have a business to run and our time is important but we got more than money! WE GOT HUGGED!! We love what we do because we can help people. No, it's not brain surgery. No, we are not saving the world but we are doing good, good work and working hard to please and help people. This family may not ever have the opportunity to physically be together again but in this portrait, they are together and we helped them get there.

So what tragedy, illness or death is going to make you regret that you did not have your family portrait taken? In my family, we never took the time to have a family portrait taken. There is not one professional image of us and it is something I wish we had done. Even after we were grown, we didn’t have either the time, or the money. Then one day, it was too late. My dad was gone. Cancer came, went and took him. There was time to take a portrait before he became too sick but we were so devastated by the illness, no one thought about it. So, take my advice. Think about it. It could be the most important thing you do. I try to live my life with little regret. I regret not having a family portrait with my dad and our family.