Grief shows itself in many different ways. The loss of a loved one, whether they were distant or close, can cause emotions that stir things inside us. Having not one, but two family members pass away in the last few weeks, I am on a mission to help others through this journey by providing a new photography and videography service.
This is what I want to do for you realizing that life is short: Create a meaningful legacy session through photographs or videos.
When I worked at Studio 1401 in Midland, we had a family ask us to photograph their children in their home preparing a meal with their grandmother. I have loved that idea since I first heard it! Was it preplanned and staged? Yes. Was it something they will cherish now and always? Most definitely!
The difference between having me photograph your family rather than film them is that still images will capture moments. There will be emotion. There will be connection. You’ll be able to share them online, have prints framed, canvases mounted on the wall, or we can create an album to tell the story of that sweet memory together.
In an edited video you’ll be able to see your loved ones and hear their voices as the moments unfold. That is definitely something I miss. While I can hear my loved ones voices internally, it's something I can't share with others unless it's an audio recording. My grandmother had that raspy voice one gets from years of smoking. It was unique. (here come the tears) If I were to choose between a photography and a videography session, I would choose the latter in a heartbeat. We can also add music in the background to enhance the final production.
I’m tossing around name ideas for these sessions now. At the top of the list is “Day in the Life Sessions” or "Legacy Sessions". What do you think? Feel free to share your suggestions.
Also, if you're grieving the loss of someone or something, I encourage you to reach out to someone who can help you through a difficult time. If your Pastor is able to listen, I'm sure he'd be able to pray with you and guide you with Scripture. Below you'll find a list of Longview, Texas area resources as well. Of course, you're welcome to get in touch with me. I have always had a listening ear.
Mexican families, most of the ones who are my parent’s age and older, had large families. When we go to family reunions, I know a handful of the people who I’m related to. Take that into account with the fact that my parents divorced and remarried, so I have bonus family.
Sadly, I was only ten when my maternal grandmother passed away and though I loved my Guelo (grandfather in Spanish) dearly, I never thought to ask him about his childhood or how/where he and my grandmother met and how their relationship evolved. The stories I could have learned about went to the grave with them.
When Ancestry.com first came into existence, I was interested in the idea of connecting with family that I may not know about. There was so little information about my grandparents that anyone knew. Fortunately, I was able to locate a brother of my grandmother who was still alive. I was able to reach out to his daughter through social media a few years ago. They live states away, but I would mail him a Christmas card and I even phoned once hoping to learn some family history. For whatever reason, he decided not to share his stories and three weeks ago his daughter informed me that he’d passed in the middle of the night.
Though I never met him, it hurt my heart. I grieved for his wife and his children and grandchildren. I grieved for the loss of the knowledge that is no longer available regarding that part of my family’s story.
My husband was four years old when his biological father passed away; old enough to remember him. He had a little brother who was less than a year old at the time. Their dad’s family grieved deeply for years. His dad had a coworker who stepped in to do things with the young boys. It didn’t take long before a relationship grew between he and their mom. They were now part of a new family. Though he was not my husband’s birth father, he raised him as his own. They are close.
Sunday night we got a call from his stepdad that grandpa passed away. Here it is days later and I don’t think the reality has sunk in yet. Grandpa was one of the godliest men I have ever known. He loved each of his family members - even those of us who married in - like we were the nearest person to him. He was gentle, kind, and had the famous “grandpa jokes” down. I miss him tremendously.
And again, more family stories that could be lost if someone doesn’t ask grandma about what she remembers. My son and his cousin are already making plans to talk to her and record what she tells them this week. It made my heart happy to hear that they took this upon themselves.
There's not a live link to these sessions yet. I'll be working on it in the coming weeks. However, you're welcome to contact me here to learn more.
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