There are few things more valuable than photographing your mother…

There are few things more valuable than photographing your mother. I’m not talking about a snapping a quick shot of her wearing something beautiful or of her doing something funny. Really photographing your mother. To allocate a measure of time, to set up a space, to choose the outfits and help with her makeup. It is an experience that too often this time is spent when they can no longer interact with us and us with them in this realm at least.

She was dressed and ready and the scene was set. If I’m to be completely honest, deep down inside I felt a bit nervous. I am sure that not a single week has gone by in over 20 years where I having taken a picture. This was nothing new for me. Yet, as I prepped to photograph my mother, I felt an anxious feeling looming in the pit of my stomach. If I had to take an introspectively look at this feeling, possible reasons why I felt this way could have had roots in me still having the inherent need to please her, or perhaps to not have her be disappointed in me. 

As we progressed through the shoot, an interesting phenomenon occurred. My mom, the matriarch, the powerhouse, the survivor, the warrior, the champion was not only growing more and more comfortable with the idea of being photographed, she was also growing increasingly comfortable with exhaling. As I coached and posed her, I saw a side of my mom I have never, ever seen before. She showed me a vulnerable, delicate and simply precious side I may not ever have been fitting to show me before. Afterall, she was mom, we needed her and she delivered, always. During that shoot, she began to trust me in a way that I’ve never seen her trust me before. With her trust, I rose to the occasion. I took charge, lovingly and delicately of course, but I was in control. I saw my mom, my role model and icon of personified strength and resilience I’ve always known, show me yet another side of who she was. A tender, delicate flower. It was then that I realized we had even more in. common than I’ve ever known. I love you mom…