Celebrating Family: A photoshoot
Over Easter weekend I photographed my family and our kids spending time together. My grandmother treated us all to a 4 night stay in Bodega Bay, California. We rented a beach house next to a golf course and every person who attended brought a special element to share. We realized that this may have been the last family event that we all would be together, and so it was important to me to have it documented.
A few people I love have passed away recently, leaving me to become introspective and vulnerable to the aspect of death. In the other half of my website, I talk about my experience with addiction and bulimia because it is a crucial part of my life’s journey. My most recent blog is directly about a recent loss of a friend and how I experienced that in recovery. One thing I reflected on is the difference between a sudden loss and a loss of a loved one dying slowly. A sudden loss can feel quite traumatic making grieving painful and incredibly difficult, where there is an element of control and planning when someone gets a diagnosis. The beautiful gift in this beach house Easter trip was the offering of ceremony and time spent together with a deeper underlying understanding. Each family member brought food, favors, fun elements, games, toys, comfort commodities, love, appreciation and joy. We laughed, and cried. We celebrated the kids first Easter together by practicing traditions of dying eggs, setting up baskets, sharing candy and treats. We stayed up late commiserating and remembering times past.
Not everyone experienced the trip this way. Some threw back a few too many drinks, some endured the trip from one moment to the next. But for the most part, this trip was a true collaboration of the heart. It was what we chose to make it, and mostly we were able to have uninterrupted time together. The funny thing about family is that they aren’t chosen (at least when we’re down here on earth) and so its a combination of people who sometimes only have that in common. These events can sometimes become sticky as personalities clash, so to preserve the integrity of our connections, we look to the past to remind us of why create these times in the first place. This is why I photograph. I want to honor the moments and memories of those I love, so that when the time comes to let go and say goodbye (either suddenly, slowly, or planned) we have these sparkling moments to hold close that depict the wholesome truth of our choice to be together.
Above is a gallery of a few of my favorite photos from the trip, for a more complete gallery of photos you can visit my Flickr album dedicated to the trip. What moments have you created to honor a loved one? Do you have a favorite story or event inspired by impending death? Memories and stories are welcome in the comments below.
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