Behind the image :: Storytelling through Photography

Some pictures take your breath away in the emotion they show. Others, through the details of the image, tell volumes even though you can’t see the person’s face. And others yet, by location alone, carry a rich story and so much meaning (think memorial sites, like the 9/11 memorial or Vietnam Memorial).

One of my mentors discusses this often, and I feel it’s a cornerstone of my approach to photography. A picture is a picture, in some senses, but when it tells a story, and captures the internal light of who you are :: well, then, we’ve uncovered a whole new level of making beautiful pictures of you or your loved ones.

This image I made yesterday struck me in particular. My little boy loves music—listening, dancing, creating in every sense. He’s always enjoyed playing my childhood piano, but until recently didn’t take much interest in making “thoughtful” music—it was more of a contest to see how loud he could play! Yesterday he sat down and asked for music to look at while he played, just like I do when I sit (albeit not often) and hammer out a few notes. And this image resulted ::

In so many ways, this image says so much. Even though very little of the image is in focus (on purpose), you still get a great sense of who he is, aspires to be, and what he’s doing.

There are so many stories you can tell in our sessions together :: the things you enjoy doing together, and the places you love most. Making beautiful images comes from the moments when life isn’t perfect. But the wonderful thing is that it is perfect, because it’s what makes you (and the people around you) truly unique and tells the most intimate stories about your lives together, in a way that no other medium can capture. And I’m blessed and happy to capture those stories for you to share.