A couple I met in Portland a couple of years ago once showed me a picture that they had taken on the day that they had declared bankruptcy.  They lost nearly every thing they had that morning and with tired eyes behind over sized sunglasses, they stood outside the courthouse and captured that moment.  It wasn’t pretty…it wasn’t happy…it wasn’t back lit with the perfect sunset.  But it was real and it was part of the story that they were living together.

The day that I got married – almost nine years ago – was the last time that my husband and I had our picture taken together.  We’ve had the odd photo taken at a family wedding or various photos with our kids…but as far as actually putting ourselves in front of a camera…there is no record of that nine years that has gone by.

We’ve travelled…bought homes…had children.  We’ve endured tears…experienced laughter…tackled adversity.  We have witnessed each other’s lives and yet, there is no photographic evidence of the years shared between us.

As a photographer, this breaks my heart.  Because – as a photographer – I know that what I see through the lens may be two people with a decade of marriage under their belts.  But to the couple on the other side, it’s a reflection of a life only they can recount.  A life only they have experienced.  A life only they have shared.  And that matters.  It matters now…it matters a year from now…it matters a lifetime from now.  It matters that two people who have lived out dreams, heartbreak and commitment together…are able to step back and say “that was us – for better or for worse – at THIS time in our life”.

Tara and Barry spent a gorgeous Spring evening with me a couple of weeks ago doing portraits for their first anniversary.  One year in and they are already recording the beauty of their life together.  And as the snow melted around us and rush hour traffic buzzed in the distance, they shared a bit of what that life has been like so far.  And as we continued to walk…and as their story continued to unfold…I decided with intention that – from this day forward – Steve and I would document this life.  Our life.  The only life we have.

We would live out our story together…we would share our story together…and sometimes, just as pieces of it tried to fade away…we would capture our story together.

Tara and Barry…this life your living is a beautiful one.  Thank you for inspiring me…thank you for choosing me….thank you for sharing it with me…