When you first look at our facebook page, or our website, the first thing you see is an image of a beautiful family sitting on a yellow chair. It is also the one at the beginning of this blog. Four adults-Mom, Dad, sister, brother. How do they look? What words come to mind when you see that image?
When we see someone from the outside, often pain and hurt are on the inside. Does that show in this image?
When we see someone from the outside, often tears of grief and sadness are flowing through our hearts. Does that show in this image?
The reason I ask is this. We stress the value and importance of family portraits in the home. We believe in the power of print. Why? And, why should you care?
You should care because of the stories I could tell you about people who did not have anything printed of their family in their home because their images lived in their computer. One day their computer crashed along with ALL of their most precious images. I could tell you stories of families whose images lived in their phones or ipads, and one day, they were stolen, along with all their cherished images.
What do you think those people felt? Has that every happened to you?
And, lastly, I could tell you stories of people who not only lost images, but lost loved ones and had nothing left to remember them by.
These are certainly heartbreaking stories. The Slas family, though, is different. They knew their beloved father, husband and friend was short on time. They believed and hoped he would make a recovery. Either way, they were going to celebrate his life with them through portraits.
Last year, we visited Cantigny Park in Winfield, IL, which is near Naperville, IL, for those who have never heard of Winfield! We spent time together enjoying the morning and making sure they had an experience they would not forget.
One year later, this year, they lost their father, husband and friend. The time was and still is extremely difficult for them. But, through it all, the one thing that they are extremely grateful for are the beautiful portraits of them in their home. Every day when they look at those portraits there is a 65% more emotional attachment to that memory (than looking at it on a computer), plus they see those portraits every day and are constantly reminded of the love that the family shared with their lost loved one.
That is part of the healing process.
Losing someone you hold dear is a pain that goes beyond words. The healing process can take years and in some way, it is ongoing. It never stops. To all those who wish you had a portrait with your loved one before he or she was gone, we feel your pain. To those, who keep saying, "Oh, we have to get a family portrait taken. I will look into that tomorrow". Tomorrow might not come. And, to those who are ready, please give us a call. We strongly believe in the power of print and how it helps not only with the healing process, but just in your life in general.
In honor of this family, we place their portraits in a special place on our website and in our studio. They are front and center to remind them just how loved they are, and to remind others of the power of print. It will be awhile, if at all, that we change out the image of this family as the front and center one on our website. They are a reminder to us and symbolize to us how priceless the love of a family can be.
To the Slas Family, we are so grateful we know you. We are so thankful we had this very special time with you. Just know you are always "in" our hearts-we are thinking of you and feel your loss. You are important. You are valuable and you are loved.
2 Comments
Aug 26, 2019, 8:29:23 PM
Linda Bell - Your words mean more than I can say, Holly. Truly, my honor to know all of you. Knowing that you can see his legacy and presence in your home now and that your beautiful portraits are helping in your healing process touches my heart more than I can express.
Thank you for giving me this great joy.
Aug 26, 2019, 8:08:25 PM
holly - Linda Bell, you are the most selfless person I have ever met. You have been an angel to us, we can't thank you enough for what you have done and are doing for us as a family. Because of your generosity and caring heart, not to mention talent, Ed's legacy lives on and is present in every room of our house. Our grief, sadness, emptiness and devastation will never go away but because of you, we have our portraits in our home on our walls helps our healing process. Thank you for being a part of our lives.