I love this story.

These six people have been friends for more than 30 years. Some of them met in college. Somehow, in all that time, they have never managed to take a group picture. Last year for her birthday, Sally said all she wanted was a photograph of all of them together.

The group routinely meets for dinner several times a year. They invited me to join them at one of these gatherings to help grant her birthday wish.

I love this image. It’s a small moment, just friends relaxing and laughing together. Celebrating friendship.

We took the opportunity to photograph the friends in small groups too. One thing remains consistent throughout: genuine affection shines in every frame.

Many of us think we are not photogenic. We are too self-conscious and ill-at-ease in front of the camera. Here’s a tip: nothing brings out our beauty like being surrounded by people we love.

These images hang on the wall in Sally’s home and she tells me they make her happy every day.

We think of hiring a photographer for the big events. But often we are most ourselves in the smaller moments. Don’t forget to give those their due. Let me know if I can help.

So . . . who are those special folks who add richness to your life? Gather them around you. Relax. See? You’re beautiful!

Welcome to my new blog! On these pages I hope to share thoughts about photography, suggest ideas for moments to capture, and perhaps engage in a conversation on those topics. I’m glad you stopped by.

Today I want to share with you two photographs that are very dear to my heart, even though they are portraits of women I never met.

The first is my father’s mother, my grandmother, Ethel Maw Brown. Ethel died when my father was just a boy. She was a schoolteacher before she married Lester Brown in 1915 and I think this portrait was taken during that time. I love her straight-ahead gaze. I see my younger daughter Hilary’s eyebrows there, three generations later.

The second is my husband’s grandmother, Grace Jones Armstrong. Grandmother Grace was gone by the time I joined the family, but those who knew her still smile when they speak of her. My older daughter is named for her. I gave my Grace a framed copy of this picture when she left for college. They share a sparkle.

Both of these portraits were taken nearly 100 years ago, and both are in frames on the walls of my home. That connection — to family, to the past — is very important to me.

These days our digital cameras make it so easy to take pictures. Most of us have an abundance of snapshots on our hard drives and memory cards. And that’s good. But I wonder if our grandchildren will see any of them. Technology changes, computers crash, and let’s face it — sometimes we forget to back up.

I love the idea of leaving a trace, of being part of the generational connection. And so I believe there is still an important place for the framed portrait. Not all of our snapshots are frame-worthy, so sometimes it’s good to be intentional about it. If I can help you capture your dear ones at this moment in time, I would love to set up a photo session. You can see my portfolio here.

Do you have a favorite photograph displayed in your home? What does it mean to you?