Why I Love This Photo

Why should you exist in photos?

This photograph always makes my heart stop. Every single time. It hangs in my studio to remind me of my WHY.

Bernt was a dear family friend. He and his wife surrounded my family with love at the darkest moments of our lives. I am eternally grateful to them both.

Bernt was larger than life and like many people that are larger than life, he was not photogenic. Photo after photo that I saw of him, never did him justice. My Mom asked me to bring my camera once when we went to visit Marg and Bernt and take his portrait. His health wasn’t great at the time, so we were limited to where I could photograph him. I chose his favourite chair by his window. My Mom held a reflector for me, and I captured this photo of Bernt. My heart skipped a beat. I knew I had done it. Instantly, I knew it would be a black and white.

Marg has this photo hanging life size in her home. Bernt has passed away and we miss him, but I am so grateful that I have this photo that captured the essence of this man. His resilience, his dignity, his determination, his intelligence and his curiosity are all on display here.

As a professional photographer, the reality is that every portrait I take, will have this kind of power in someone’s life at some point. I have a portrait of my mom taken before she had me. I am quite sure that she and the photographer had no idea what a treasure that photo would be to me so many decades later. 

YOU are worth it. You are worth capturing and remembering. Be visible in photos for the people that love you. Give them that gift.