Mamas Are The Most Genuine Memory Keepers
I had a conversation with a mother of three about photography. She received a gorgeous new camera for Christmas from her husband (obviously, he's a keeper!) and was worried about learning how to use it. Not only that, now she finally had the tools she needed to document her child's life. This is awesome, but also kind of a lot of pressure to put on yourself.
Think about it, we are the keeper of all their childhood memories.
When we all look back on growing up, there are specific moments that we remember. Moments where something special happened, or when you went to a new school for the first time. There could also be that time when your Grandpa had a backyard full of bird houses and told you so much about them. How about when your Grandma made amazing meatball soup and no one else's even compared? You look back at and you treasure specific moments, but you probably don't have photos of them. What would you do if your parents didn't document some of the things that were important to you?
Memories are moments in our lives, and they need to be celebrated and treasured for what they are.
They're how we learn lessons, and they make us who we are. Without these memories, what do we have?
We have a unique opportunity to do something with the memories we’ve been given.
We have been given a chance to tell our children that we love them, to be thankful, and to use laughter.
It's always later on when we realize just how important treasuring memories really is. If we, as humans, experience a sudden loss, we hold onto captured images as if we can still hear a laugh or see a smile. We treasure photographs of our little ones in their first few days as a newborn. We watch them as they grow up and get older, and we move forward with them.
I am SO not trying to make you feel guilty here. If you've got little ones and you're feeling overwhelmed, here are two steps to take. First, set the date and time on your camera correctly. You will thank yourself later! Second, learn more about how to take great photographs.
As those images get off a camera and get into your photo albums, you get to relive that memory again and again. Your little ones will feel so important knowing that you put them up of a wall. They will be overjoyed to know that just one single moment of their life was treasured, celebrated, and kept.
Isn’t that what we all want? To know for ourselves, to have our children know, to have our deepest friends know that even just a moment with them is enough. That in all of who they are, they’re loved so much.
I don't know what I'd do without my DSLR. It allows the vision I have in my head to come to life in front of me. It gives my children the ability to go back in time and re-live their childhood many years from now.
Learn how to document your kid's lives like I do. Sign up for our next Photography For Mamas course today!
Karen’s Gear: Nikon D750 / Nikon 50mm 1.4 / Sigma 35mm 1.4 / Nikon 60mm 2.8 / Nikon 70-200mm 2.8 / Expodisc
Please note: These are affiliate links, but Karen promotes only the products she truly loves.
Hi there, I'm Karen Byker from Grimsby, Ontario, Canada. I'm obsessed with newborn baby yawns, giggling kids and fancy flavoured tea.
As a mama of four beautiful children, I understand the chaos of every day, but I have learned to cherish and enjoy every moment. I believe we should be able to enjoy this life we chose.
I've been a professional photographer since 2005. I've helped hundreds of mamas to slow down, pause and use photography as a reminder to take a breath.
I'd love to talk with you about documenting the beauty through your chaos. Let's chat!
