People often say they want to freeze time. It sounds like a cliché, but for me, it is the reason I get out of bed every morning. That desire to hold on to each stage of life is the heart of what I do. It is why I became a photographer.
Today, a simple drive home turned into something much heavier. The Judds’ “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days),” Jason Aldean’s “Amarillo Sky,” and Carrie Underwood’s “How Great Thou Art” all played in a row. It felt like a direct hit to my heart. Music has a way of pulling you straight back into the memories you try to hold onto.
I Grew Up in a Time Worth Remembering
As a kid, I loved flipping through old photos. Not the ones on a phone or computer. I mean real, tangible prints. The kind tucked into albums or boxes, curled at the corners and worn from being loved.
Weekends with Grandma and Grandpa Junk at the River House were everything. Breakfast always meant Toaster Strudels, Sunny Delight, and milk in a bag. Saturday nights were for church, followed by dinner that was always Kraft Mac and Cheese with hot dogs. Only Grandma and Grandpa could make it the right way. They were famous for it.
Time at their Iowa farm meant cousin fun, bare feet, and freedom. It was quiet, simple, and full of love. Those memories are stitched into my soul.
Trips to Kansas City with my other grandparents were just as special. Grandma C always kept her cookie jar filled with fudge striped cookies. Grandpa would load us into his blue truck and fly down the interstate with the boat in tow. I swear we barely survived the ride. But we always ended up fishing or at a ball game, full of snacks and sunshine.
When Photography Became Personal
In 2016, my world shifted forever. My Aunt Jill passed away the day after Christmas following a long battle with cancer. Just ten months later, her son, my cousin Justin, died from the same disease.
Justin and his wife had just welcomed their fourth child, a beautiful baby girl. I took their family photos shortly after she was born. At the time, none of us knew that one of those images would later be used in his obituary. We thought we had more time.
In his final days, I wanted to do something meaningful. His daughter was turning one, and I knew how much he wanted to be part of that. So I set up a full cake smash session in their garage. We decorated and made it feel just like any other birthday session. Justin could not leave the house, but he watched everything from inside on FaceTime. He saw her dig into the cake, make a mess, and smile. He was there. And now that moment is frozen in time.
When Aunt Jill came home for hospice care, I brought my camera. I did not enjoy taking those photos, but I knew how much they would mean to our family. I documented her final moments surrounded by love. I will never forget it. Little did I know how much the photo of her and Justin would mean just a few short months later.
Why Printed Photos Mean So Much
All four of my grandparents lived long enough to love on my boys. That is something I will never stop being thankful for.
Grandma C and I had weekly FaceTime calls. She wanted updates on my business and always asked how many babies I snuggled that week. She loved gossip, told me constantly how proud she was, and made me feel like I was doing something that mattered.
Grandpa Bob loved to tease me. He told everyone that I used to cry in preschool if someone even looked at me. Now, I spend my days yappin’ it up with strangers and posing families for a living. He thought that was hilarious.
When I flipped through one of these photo albums today, one image stopped me cold. It was Grandpa Bob turkey hunting. Just a couple weeks ago, my oldest son got his first turkey, and in the background of that video, you can hear a cardinal singing. To me, that was an angel wink from Grandpa.
That same set of albums revealed something else. A photo of Grandpa Ed that looked exactly like my oldest son. Same eyes. Same smile. Same posture. It felt like looking through time.
A Christmas Gift I Will Never Forget
This past Christmas, my parents gave me the most meaningful gift I have ever received. Photo albums filled with pictures of both sets of grandparents. There were baby photos, wedding portraits, goofy snapshots, and memories no one had seen in years.
In one photo, my Grandpa Ed is standing on a dock in Canada with my mom and me. I was maybe five months old. That same dock is where we now take our kids every summer for fishing trips. Grandpa Ed is the one who gave me my love for fishing. It is not just a photo. It is a full-circle moment.
When I saw those albums for the first time, I was not emotionally prepared. I ugly cried right there on the floor. Those pages held everything I try to give my clients. Proof that love was here. That memories mattered. That family is forever.
We Grieve More Than Just Loss
This career is about more than saying goodbye. It is also about grieving the stages we leave behind.
The newborn days are a blur. Then they are gone. The toddler years are chaos. But one day, you realize no one runs up to hug your leg anymore. No one lifts their arms to be held.
My boys are only ten and twelve. But I already miss the versions of them that do not exist anymore. I wish I had more photos. Not just of big events. Of the little moments. The ones that feel ordinary until they are not.
Why I Became a Photographer
Photography is not just a business. It is my way of keeping people close, even when they are gone. It is how I honor my past, celebrate my present, and preserve the future for other families.
If you are still reading this, maybe this is your sign. Book the session. Take the picture. Capture what matters now before time moves on.
You bring the people. I will bring the camera.
And I will treat your session like someone’s legacy. Because it is.
If you’re ready to document your family’s story, I’d love to hear your vision! Click here to connect!
I have had the pleasure of donating my talent to families dealing with grief and am always asked how they can repay me. I don’t do these random acts for the money, and I always tell everyone if they feel inclined to pay, please donate to one of these two places in honor of my family:
or
https://www.iowadonornetwork.org/
