As a child, my family once moved into an old two-story house in the country. My father, who built and remodeled homes for a living, did some renovation work on that old house. In the process, he recovered some old photographs in the walls – tintypes or possibly daguerreotypes (apparently there is a difference). Well, I remembered being fascinated by the tin portraits and serious expressions on the faces. But mostly, I wondered about those people. Who were they? Did they live in our old house many years ago? What was life like for them? Why were their portraits in the walls of this old house instead of in the hands of their descendents? I think that was when I first became interested in photography. How fascinating to capture a fleeting moment in time and keep it, maybe forever!
1940s wedding portrait
I am reminded of the awesome responsibility I have to help the families whom I photograph get the portraits they want, to preserve their family history. These portraits will be framed and hung on the wall, placed in albums, and distributed to relatives. Over time, some will be damaged, forgotten, thrown away, left behind - maybe even inside a wall for some little girl to wonder about someday.
2008 engagement portrait
2008 family portrait
But, in the hands of the family, these portraits can become more and more valuable as the years go by. They are proof of your roots - that the new baby has Aunt Sophie’s eyes and great-grandpa Frank’s nose. They are a record of where we come from. They are, for better or worse, family – a fleeting moment in time of our family history.
