A Memory that Creates a Smile
Unfortunately, we have all been to one - a memorial.
Recently my wife and I attended a memorial for a friend of hers, and yes I would say a friend of mine too. Crystal was one of those friends you have from what seems like a different lifetime but whenever you run into them while out and about, they would greet you with a warm welcome and a big smile. I did not know her well but my wife loved her and that was good enough for me.
The last time I had seen her was . . . wow . . . 9 years ago now. Infinite Eye was MUCH smaller then and I was just starting to offer headshots as a service, and I mean JUST. I had a sports client, Randy who had asked about me doing headshots for him. I of course said yes as the guy was amazing and I wanted to help him out. Plus I did want to start doing headshots and thought that would be a good opportunity.
So I booked him in and planned to set up in my own living room. I soon discovered that to get enough space for my studio lights, backdrops and everything I had to move all of our furniture out of the living room. This was done on my own as my wife was out running errands. I distinctly remember thinking “Oh man, this sucks! I would love a studio space!” :)
Once everything was set up I needed models to pose for me so I could dial everything in, so I waited for my wife to get home. She soon arrived home but had someone with her. It was Crystal. Being a creative person herself, she was more than happy to check out what I had created. I proudly gave a sweep of my arm showing the lights, backdrops, camera and such, all ready to go.
Then I asked if she wanted to pose for me a bit. At first, she gave me a polite “thanks but no” saying she “wasn’t dressed for photos” but then, to my surprise, she agreed. Don’t know what changed her mind but she just suddenly accepted. She stepped in and these images here are what we created.
The images we captured blew me away!!
She looked so relaxed, so beautiful, so much who she was, it amazed me that she took such amazing images. I would later understand that headshots are a combination of a subject’s trust in the photographer and eye and skill of a photographer. It is what we now call “team effort” to create a generally great headshot image.
Fast forward to today and it is hard to put into words what these images I took of Crystal did for me and my business. It had a large impact on me and my focus of what headshots can be for people - images that bring out beauty, inside and out.
At her memorial, I was honored to see that they used a number of images from her headshot session with me in the slide show and the main image at the front of the room. I believe that there is no greater feeling for a photographer than when people are grieving the loss of a friend, family member or loved one and they look at an image you were able to capture and it makes them smile. That makes me happy inside.
With me not knowing many people at the memorial and my wife walking around saying hello to everyone, I was able to sit and think about her and what little I knew about her when it occurred to me - Crystal was the very first headshot I ever did. Even before my family, even before Randy, Crystal was the first. Wow - heavy stuff to realize at that person’s memorial service!
Thank you Crystal for trusting me and saying yes when you did not have to. Those images have enriched my life and I hope the lives of your friends and family. Safe travels my friend.
