kim kruer photography » Life in Pictures

Baby E will celebrate her first birthday soon.  It has been a privilege to follow her, photographically speaking,  for the past year.  I was looking back at all of her pictures as we prepare to create a keepsake album and make final selections for wall decor  and prints. Only the best of the best, the absolute favorites will make the cut.  By best, it’s not always the most beautiful image that makes the cut.  It’s the shot that captures the true essence of E at that very moment in time. It’s the shots that we painstakingly labored over to capture.  It’s the quick shot that was stolen without anyone knowing. It’s the shot that screams you matter, you are important, I LOVE YOU!  It’s the shot that shows impatience, frustration and cries, “Change my dirty diaper, I’m hungry, I want to go HOME!”

When I saw this shot,  I was thinking…Will they remember her hair?  ALL of that lovely dark hair? Will they  remember all the milestones of her first year of life through the images we have created?   Have we captured it in a way that they will forever treasure this past year in pictures?  You see, I take my job very seriously.  It’s not about the adorable smile captured while three crazy adults try to get her to smile in that certain way she always does…  It’s about relationships. It’s not about the precious clothing carefully chosen.  It’s about LOVE.  It’s the story of  Melissa and Danny, parents for the very first time and all that encompasses.  It’s about E.  Sure three crazy adults, and adorable clothing all  play a part, and quite frankly if that didn’t happen, we might not have created such amazing, frozen in time, fabulous images that will be treasured for a lifetime.  We work together to create a authentic classic images that will stand the test of time. We capture memories,  print those memories and proudly display them on our walls.  Notice how I say, “WE?” I am not the reason the images are amazing, and fabulous.  WE are! I am just the lucky one who gets to go along for a brief moment and enjoy the ride.  And, what a ride it has been! I also know how to use very fancy pants  equipment, and have acquired  a few other necessary skills to create technically sound photographic images. How lucky I am to click the shutter at such amazing moments!

When I  thought of doing a first year shoot, I was thinking…Wow! That is a LONG time and a ton of  work.  I am happy to report it has been a ton of work. Lots of time spent in the studio with E trying to create a story representative of her first year. Lots of time selecting the very best images and editing in a way as to not invade the person she truly is at the moment.  I am sad to say it was NOT a long time.  In the blink of an eye, our children are OLD.   OLD and much wiser, they think, than their parents.  I love capturing those first  weeks,  the innocence of childhood, and the rebellion of the teenage years. I truly hope you are doing the same.  Will you remember?