Seeing the story in your photos...

I'm sure you've all heard the phrase "A picture is worth a thousand words". Well I have a lot to say. I mean, a lot. I take tons and tons of photos! I've always been interested in photography and I don't have to tell you that it has come a long way in recent years! In high school I took a photography class and we used SLR cameras and developed our own film in a darkroom. Now, I have a dSLR (a digital Single Lens Reflex camera) and I rarely pull it out because I have an amazing camera in my hands at all times on my iPhone! I love that documenting everyday moments is so easy, but I do have to admit that when I pull out my "big" camera, I'm always glad I did.

The other day, I had the opportunity to take photos for my Aunt and Uncle and their kids and grandkids. I am not a professional photographer. I have to stress this, because I'm not amazing. I only take photos for family and friends on occasion because I enjoy it. What I am, is a memory keeper. And that helps me to see the stories in the photos.

The thing I love about photos that are mine or of people that I love, is that I see things that others don't. For example, in the photo below, you might see two little kids sitting on cement. I see two kids who were just dancing around. I see two cousins who were having the best time together. I see Ryder trying to get Mae's attention. I see snippets of personality.

In this photo, you may see a happy little girl. You may see that the happy face isn't completely in focus. I see Mae, who loves her Poppy. I see the look of pure joy that is on her face even after 10 minutes of doing the same thing. I see a grandpa who indulged her, and although you can't see it, his smile was as bright as hers.

In this photo, you might see an imperfect family photo. You might see a funny face on a little boy. I see one of the strongest families I know. I see four people who God put together for a reason. I see a little boy who, despite the fact that he's having a really rough morning, is really trying to put on a smile to make his mommy and daddy happy. He really was trying so hard. :)

To me, the beautiful thing about taking these photos is the story behind them. It's a story only I can tell. It's my perspective. The photos on their own might not say the same thousand words that I have to say. That's why memory keeping is so important to me. 

Next time you look at your photos, ponder on them. Look at them and let your mind wander. Dig a little deeper. What can help you tell the story of that photo more completely? I would love to hear from you how scrapbooking (or memory keeping in any form, really) has changed your perspective.