Having Portraits Taken is a Luxury
I just finished a five day conference virtually. Usually at this time of the year I am off to Nashville or another location to attend one of the largest photography conferences in the country, but this year it was held virtually.
There are a few positives for having a virtual conference and I am very thankful to PPA for all the work they put into it. The one positive is that all the classes are available to watch until the end of the month, whereas before, you had to pick and choose. If there were two classes at the same time, you had to choose which one to attend and you missed the other one.
As I was sitting there at my desk watching these classes, though, I began to dis engage. I thought about all your kiddos who had to endure sitting in front of a computer trying to stay engaged with their teacher. It was tough. So, my hat is off to all of you, parents and kiddos who have and/or are going through this.
One of the things that was said over and over again at this conference was this-"Having portraits taken is a luxury, and it is not a need". This is a true statement, but, I believe it is not JUST a luxury. I believe it is very close to a need depending on what you value.
What do you value?
For example, "needs" are usually classified as food, clothing and shelter. Do you NEED to put your child in sports? Do you need to sign your child up for music lessons? Do you really NEED that gym membership?
I think you can see where I am going with this. The very BASIC needs are food, clothing and shelter. Those are three very important parts of our existence. But, there are so many more!
And I believe last year proved that statement. The mental and emotional health of many people was severely affected. Statistics have shown that. So, yes! Those extra things are NEEDS. They are important to the mental and emotional health of many people.
And, those are the things that many parents value. They valued seeing their kids involved in other activities. They believed that those activities contributed to their children's growth as humans. So, they were needs.
In keeping with that, I believe that having a portrait session is just as important. Not necessarily the session, itself, but the experience and the end. I value seeing your family connect. I value seeing your children feel great about themselves as the spotlight is on them. And, I value seeing your portraits decorating your home with the love you share.
Portraits in the Home
What do I mean by "portraits in the home"? I do not mean having a usb of digital negatives sitting in a drawer. Your kiddos cannot see that. I mean having a tangible, printed piece hanging on the walls of your home. I mean having a custom album on display so your kids can pick it up at anytime and see and remember the time you spent with them.
Studies show that having visible portraits of your family and kids in the home strengthens your child's sense of belonging and raises their self esteem. Both are important for growth. So, as much as you value having your child in a sport, music or other extra curricular activity, start placing value on having their imagery on display in your home. Start placing value on having family portraits decorating the walls of your home rather than a landscape purchased at a box store. Think about the fact that long after the sport or music lesson is over, or even that vacation to Disneyland, you will still have these memories and beautiful portraits on display every day for as long as you want to keep them there.
Once the lessons and vacations are over, all you have are memories in your heart, which is priceless, but eventually, without something tangible to see, those memories will fade. So, for me, making sure you have portraits in your home on display is a NEED.
Don't delay.
If last year taught us anything, it is the importance of how fleeting life can be. It was a tough year, and I believe even more strongly that having a family that loves and supports you is the most IMPORTANT and VALUABLE thing you can have in your life. So, do not put off having a portrait session because you need to "wait until your hair grows out", "lose weight", "have more time", or whatever reason you are thinking of.
The time is now. Make time for it. You will not regret it.
We are here for you.
We are here for you if you would like to take that next step and learn more about having MORE than just digital imagery living on a usb, social media, or computers. All those items are fleeting, they do not last. Reach out to learn more about how we can help you create something truly beautiful and magical for your family.
0 Comments