There’s something personal on my heart that I’d love to share with you today. I read this morning about how we are “already more than halfway through the year,” but I admit that I feel like this year has had the impact that three years combined could have had. Suddenly, in the wake of losing my Mom, I am photographing differently.
At a wedding days after her passing, I saw a grandma dancing with her granddaughters. It hit me as I watched her smiling and twirling those little girls. Those moments are just precious as the big ones.
I always knew these moments were special, but now everything holds a bit more weight.
![Rachel Yearick, Wedding Photographer smiling in black and white photo](https://rachelyearick.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/branding-1-of-1-4-683x1024.jpg)
Now I don’t just take a few photos to capture the moment; I intentionally pause to see what the moment might bring. Maybe, within those 10 seconds, before I am back to the bride and groom, there is “THE SMILE” that only a grandma can have with a granddaughter. It’s so easy to rush by and only capture the “main subject,” but there may come a day when the main subject wishes for more photos of the ones who made them the main subject and “why” of their whole life.
This doesn’t mean I go out of my way or force anyone to have a photo taken they don’t want, but in the back of my mind, I am always trying to put myself in the bride’s shoes. Yes, she will treasure every photo of her and her groom, but I know that many will treasure every photo that captures the authentic love of their mother (or father)! And wow, do the moments go by fast.
![Rachel Yearick, Wedding Photographer looking down in this black and white image.](https://rachelyearick.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/branding-1-of-1-5-1024x683.jpg)
“We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words — to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory
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This is such a beautiful, heartfelt post Rachel. My grandmother was a special person to me – as are all the special moments captured in a glance. I am glad you get it!
People are lucky to have you as their photographer.
Best Wishes
Terrie
Aw thank you so much for these sweet words, Terrie!