Beautiful Things
Today's blog post is inspired by a dear one who needs something beautiful in her day today :)
Maybe that's you, too. Maybe that's all of us.
This morning I was watching a video on Instagram (Seattle Newborn Photographer @neyssa_lee_photography), who challenged me to journal about my "Why?"
Why am I a photographer? What triggers me to pick up my camera? There are a lot of ways I could answer this question and I've tried to answer it many times this past year.
When I reflect on it really deeply, thinking about all of the different things that draw my attention, there's one common thread:
My biggest WHY is to inspire and encourage. I do this by telling stories about beauty and light.
Sometimes the light will hit something or someone in such a way that captures my eye and causes me to pause for a minute... and I have this desire to capture it. But again, WHY?? Why not just look and enjoy and think to myself, "Ah... that's nice."
Great question. I'm still trying to figure it out. My answer may change over time. One thing I do know is that if I don't somehow document things that are important to me and my life's journey, I'll forget, because life is chaotic and crazy... and I need reminders every now and then. I know others need these reminders, too.
Why document people and families? What do people have to do with beauty and light?
Everything.
I love this definition of beauty: "The quality in a person or thing that gives pleasure to the senses or exalts the mind or spirit."
I do my best to capture that quality. That's where the story is. That's what inspires people.
That "quality in people and things that gives me pleasure" is what keeps me hopeful in this fallen world. It keeps me centered and balanced. It restores my perspective. Remembering and looking for beauty enables me to climb up and out of the muck and mire. I hope that my sharing of beauty helps others to do the same.
God always seems to bring me beautiful things in just the exact moment I need it. And it comes in countless ways! Nature's beauty is a given. But more often than not, I find it in people, relationships and moments of connection... someone who says the right thing at the right time... a stranger on a podcast in a different part of the country speaking directly to my heart, a book I'm reading or a song that comes on.... these things are difficult to document with a camera, but they inspire and encourage me. And I want to do the same for others using the gifts I've been given.
Beauty is often easy to capture... in nature, weddings, newborns, laughter, diversity... the joy in doing things we love and spending quality time with people we love. This is what I focus on in my photography sessions.
But sometimes, beauty is harder to recognize. Sometimes, beauty is found in the patience and perseverance in the midst of suffering. It's found in empathy and compassion.
Beauty is found in the realization that we are deeply loved and cherished just as we are. It's in vulnerability and coming alongside a soul in darkness.
Sometimes, beauty is found through honesty and tough love in relationships, even when it doesn't "feel" good at the time. It's found in humility, saying "I'm sorry" to my son when I've overreacted or mishandled a conflict, and the forgiveness or hug that follows.
It can be found in pain and in healing.
Beauty is what happens in the life and growth between the sowing and the harvest, physically and metaphorically, and then again in the nourishment that the harvest provides to the body and soul! It's in the journey, then making it through to the finish when you didn't think you had it in you.
There's so much more to be said about it, more reflection to come on another day, perhaps in another blog. But if you've made it this far, here's some "beauty" for you to enjoy, from my perspective :)
Thanks so much for reading! I'm Kristen Amber, and I'm a photographer specializing in business branding, families & newborns. If you need pictures, I'd love to hear from you and learn about how I can serve you!