My Father-in-law started a project several years ago with hours and hours of old home videos. He wanted to find the meaningful moments and transfer them to an accessible format that could be easily watched today. I’ve seen many old photographs of my husband’s childhood, but the videos gave my imagination another dimension into his life before me. Watching old videos like that is a gift that’s hard to describe.

However, there has to be someone behind the camera. In most families, that’s usually the 1 person who cares enough to pull out that camera and document those memories. So that person, unfortunately, is never seen, so it’s really only part of your family story.

Technology has made it easier for us to document our lives on a daily basis, but without intentionality, someone is always missing from those photographs and videos. 

My guess it, that someone is you, mama. You have thousands of day-in-the-life photos on your phone, but they document your children and they don’t document YOU! It also means you are watching much of your life from behind a screen. When I come into your home to capture core memories in your family’s life, I have the wild privilege of showing you all that you are and all that you do. You are worthy of attention and recognition and adoration. You are worthy of being seen; and as moms, we often forget to take time to really SEE ourselves. These photographs are created to hold significant meaning to you now. Years from now, they will hold significant meaning to your children. When you pull out boxes of old photographs, do you ever notice you are looking for your mom, or your dad. These are the photos we truly cherish.

I had the opportunity for Allison Redmon to create a Family Film for my own family. I can’t describe how special this film is. We are only a few years removed from its making, but my kids ask to watch it frequently. It captures so much about who we have been as a family, and shows ways we have grown. The best part about it? I’m in it. My kids get to see their mom! With each year that passes, it becomes more meaningful to us.  

Check it out.

I have worked hard to learn how to create meaningful documentary photographs and  cinematic family films so that you have another way to remember your lives. It’s a gift and an honor to be able to do so. If you haven’t documented your own extraordinay, ordinary life, I believe it’s time.