I have a confession to make. I suffer from a typical mum-tographer syndrome of not having enough photos of me with my child.
However, it took me a while to sum up the courage to book a photographer to come and take documentary photographs of us, at our home. Every time the doubts would creep in and I’d start panicking a little.
Scratch that, I’d start panicking A LOT.
I’d think things like:
- my house is so small
- we have so much mess
- it’s a neverending DIY project
- it’s not yet decorated quite the way I’d like it to
- our life is boring – what on earth is there to photograph?
- my photographer is going to judge me – my house, my looks, my extra pounds and my parenting skills.
But you know what?!
None of that is true.
Our house is our house. We live in it. So what if it doesn’t have perfectly coordinated accessories tastefully scattered on half-empty bookshelves (I love that look by the way – but our shelves are always chock-full of books, and I haven’t yet figured out a way to have both).
My kid doesn’t know any better, he hasn’t spent hours online looking at Pinterest-perfect homes. It’s his home, with his books, his computer, his toys, his garden – and his parents.
Our life is our life. It has exciting bits and the boring bits. It has happy bits and the sad bits – and the frustrating bits too.
All of them are worth documenting and remembering. Today, we spent all day indoors; me catching up on sleep after nearly 24 hours without it, my son – watching TV and playing computer games, as that’s the only way I can get a snooze.
But the day before, and the day before that we’ve been out exploring and learning things, walking the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland or exploring the nearby caves. Tomorrow we are heading to Royal Albert Hall for a tour and a show. The day after, and the day after that as well we’ll probably spend the whole day in our pajamas again, not doing much of anything. That’s how we roll, and it doesn’t have to look a certain way in order to be worth remembering and preserving.
I’ve been a family photographer for over 8 years now and I don’t judge any of my clients for the state of their house, or if they happen to have a bad parenting day. Why on Earth would my photographer judge me?
What I’m saying is: I get you. I really, really get you.
Letting someone who essentially is a stranger into your life and into your home can be scary. That’s why I take care to get to know you a little better – and to give you an opportunity to get to know me – before our photoshoot. That way by the time I knock on your door first thing in the morning you’ll feel less anxious. And 30 minutes into our shoot together you’ll forget I’m even there.
All that would be left for me is to capture your life. As perfectly imperfect and uniquely yours as it is.
And as to that family photoshoot of my own? I’ll be sharing the results – and my thoughts – next week. Stay tuned!
