There are certain things in life I value and things that I don't. If I were to list "things" in my life in order of their value to me, where would portrait photography fit in? Do I value it enough to pay a professional photographer to create of a beautiful image for me? A beautiful image of me? Yikes!

Here's the thing. As a woman, I have given of myself for the past 20 or so years. I have been a Mom, a Wife, a Nurturer, an Employee... My life became what I could do for others. Actually, I identified, and still do identify, with that life. It is who I am. But, somewhere in the mix I lost a little bit of my Self. I understand that this does not happen to all women, but it did happen to me. In the past 10 years, I have found that I love creating beauty as I see it through the lens of my camera. I see beauty when I hike Michigan's amazing outdoors, when I see sunlight shining through the windows of my house, and when I spend time with my friends and family. Seeing and capturing beauty as I do has become a part of my identity. A part of my Self.

So, to answer my own question, after my inititial reaction of Yikes! Yes. Yes, I value photography enough to pay for it. Yes, I value my Self enough to see my beauty captured as others see it. I value my Self enough to make sure print photos exist for future generations to be able to say "That's my great-great-great Grandmother."

Here's my goal and promise to myself: Within the next year, I will book a portrait session with a women's portrait photographer and I will purchase prints.

#existinphotos