My children and I love not just taking photos but also looking at photos. We love looking at our old photos, my childhood photos and my parent's photos. Even while visiting at a friend's home, I am never bored looking at their coffee table photo albums, even if I don't know half of the people in them!

I think we can all agree that one of the most addictive aspects of the social networking site, facebook (and the most time consuming) is perusing the online photo albums of friends and families. I don't think it is about being nosy or even just being naturally curious. I really believe, without getting too philosophical, that photos connect us, that they create an immediate emotional experience and they even validate us.

Old photos show us not just how we have changed but we see how much we have grown, not only in stature but in character and wisdom. These are only personal thoughts as we look at photos of ourselves from years ago. Some photos even reassure us, as life progresses, that not all awkward eras, relationships and experiences were in vain.

 We are also all familiar with the funny conversations and comments that holiday/familyparty/wedding photos always inspire. Suddenly everyone is reliving the experience, recalling the events, feeling the emotions as though you were returning to that day, for just a moment.
 
Beyond snapshots, portrait photography is truly timeless. With sharper artistic images to view, long after we are gone, our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will have the clearest image of who we were. They can look at our photos and ask questions while trying to look into our eyes and see themselves.

Family portraits are especially precious today as our busy lifestyles pull us in so many varied directions.  I hear from so many clients that they would love a family portrait but it is next to impossible to get everyone together in the same location at the same time.

Much praise for the foresight of the mom who organized this photo session. All the grandchildren were together on Long Island for about a week this summer and she knew it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not that they will never all be together again but as children have the nerve to keep growing and changing so dramatically from year to year, she knew this would be a photo opportunity that would never come again. A beautiful teenager, 2 sisters and two sets of a brother/sister pair made for a very special session. Add the backdrop of balmy summer evening in a field and the Great South Bay at dusk and you have preserved memories, created conversations and given a gift to the future. You have captured a time that can never be recreated.
 
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." - Corita Kent