Taking Advantage of Some Snow | Sarnia/ Lambton County Portrait Photographers

It was a snowy Saturday. A couple of my children had been asking me to do some new portraits of them, so I willingly obliged.

While her brother was at work, Beans got dressed up and braved the chill air for several poses. Then her brother arrived home and promptly changed into what he wanted for his session.

They dress up nice :o).

Because we remember moments, not days...

Why Photos are Important | Sarnia/ Lambton County Portrait Photographers

If you read this blog you know that our catch phrase is "we remember moments, not days....".

I know for myself that there are very few days that I remember, but I do remember snippets of days. Some of the reason I remember those moments in time are due to the fact that over the years we have taken tons and tons of photos.

I fight the blues bad in January. It is a month where I hardly touch my camera in regards to family life and where we do very little client shoots.

The following is a letter posted by  photographer Jeanine Thurston on her blog Fototails Photography. She has given permission share it.

July 2nd, 2011

Jeanine - 

Today I am writing for a couple of reasons.  I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind.  I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.
You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby.  I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family.  After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you..  Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.

That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.

On Sunday I called and cancelled our session.  Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip.  This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things.  My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor.  It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly.  I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice.  It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.

I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat. 

Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me.  The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them.  Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it.  If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth.  I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.

My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos.  I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.

Karen L.

Heartbreaking. This, my friends, is just one of the reasons why I take pictures. Time is short. Sometimes we don't know how short. Don't let the expense of having family photos take away your memories. It's only a piece of paper until....

I'm going to go pick up my camera now and take some photographs.

Because we remember moments, not days...