For over 2 years, I had been trying to get this new client into the studio. Everytime we ran into each other she’d say, “we need to get in and get a family portrait done.”
For over 2 years I had been talking with the mother of this family about coming into the studio to get a family portrait done. Each time the mother and I talked, she was very interested in doing it but there was always a reason to wait (one of the girls was missing a tooth, to much going on, etc.)
In the fall of 2010, this mom said, “we really need to get this family portrait done. It has been years since we did one.” She asked could I call and bug her to get her to sit down with her calendar and schedule something.” So I did and a date was set. The date came and Gregg came down with the flu. Being conscious of not wanting to get a whole bunch of people sick, we canceled the shoot. I tried and tried for the rest of the year to reschedule them, but there schedules with work, the girl’s activities and just general family life were to crazy.
I truly spent a year agonizing over not being able to get them rescheduled. I hate disappointing people, I am a pleaser, and I know they were disappointed that we could not make it work.
Fast forward to the fall of 2011, this same mom and her husband are now talking about getting that long awaited family portrait done. They discribe to me exactly what they are looking for, a more relaxed outdoor portrait with their girls. Since I own a studio they wanted to know if this was something we’d be willing to do. I said, of course. Our specialty is studio portrait, but that does not mean we do not do portraits outside. Again, I am tasked with bugging her to get this on her schedule. And so we did.
Many of you who may be reading this are wondering why am I telling this story… this family’s portrait was taken on November 27th, the husband, Harold Monk, passed away of a massive heart attack only 9 days later. He was only 42.
Am I telling you this to scare you, NO! I am telling you this because it is important to slow down if only for a few minutes to document your family. Not just in snap shots at parties or holidays, but a real family portrait done by a professional photographer. You’ll never regret it, because you never know when that image will become priceless.