Why I Take Pictures for Other Families

Jun 24, 2019

2 min read

Updated: Aug 5

As I started picking up my 'big' camera more frequently when my son was nearing his 1st birthday, my husband and mother-in-law kept saying, "You need to take pictures for other people." My inexperience and the obvious gap between where I was and where I wanted to be said 'don't you dare consider the idea!' But the part of me that found it thrilling as I learned and accomplished an element of photography that I had been studying said, 'hmmm...maybe.' Then as I was praying about it and went to read my bible, this verse stood out to me:

"Incline my heart to your testimonies and not to selfish gain." Psalm 119:36.

I felt like it was a direct call to go document the stories that God was working in people's lives around me--to create something that would call them to praise God either now or in the future--to help them to SEE the beautiful blessings He has given. So every time I start to doubt if I should be doing this, I remember this verse and remember that it's not about me, but about noticing and sharing the testimony of God's goodness.

All of this leads me to this family and their story.

I remember sitting in a meeting last year as this momma shared a prayer request while her tears threatened to make an appearance. She asked that we pray they would be able to FINALLY get pregnant with their second child. I thought of her and their waiting process regularly and prayed for them. I remember texting to let her know I had been praying, and her response that she was pregnant! I, myself, was in disbelief! It happened! Now, here we are, awaiting the arrival of their little boy while being full of gratitude for the current state of their family: a precious little girl, a doting daddy and a gentle mommy who is carrying their baby boy.

They kindly invited me to come to their home to take their pictures. Their only request were some photos of them on their back porch rocking chairs.