Behind Those Smiling Eyes

A picture is truly worth a thousand words. There is so much that's both seen and unseen when you look at a photograph. I'm captivated by the story a portrait tells and love being able to bring to life that memory that's truly meant to be captured. I always think it's interesting that the people that hate taking pictures are the ones that are the fastest to secure their favorite side (um my husband) and they are always the ones that look the absolute best in the photo (hmm)! I really do believe that the steps leading up to the photo are just as important as the photo itself! My sister n law prepares her family weeks in advance for their family photos and if you know their family every last one of them is gorgeous so really you may ask yourself why so long to prepare? I think it's all very relative to our expectations and perceptions and sometimes just not wanting to let a moment be just that, "a moment in time" whether we look our best, our worst or just mediocre. Many photographers strive to focus on the eyes and I do as well because that's where the true story lies! If the moments leading up to the photo session have been tense or anything less than peachy the eyes will often reveal that! If you're anything like me when you look back at some photos you know what it took to get to that moment and that is what capturing these memories are all about! The photo slightly nudges us to remember the journey to that moment and ultimately the moment itself is not the star of the show but the memory that we are reminded us of is!