Last week, I had the privilege to attend a workshop (Jerry Ghionis) with a few dear friends in the industry .

During the workshop, we learned technical things, but the technical aspect of the workshop was pushed aside as the last segment began. Or as Jerry said, I was moved to my “clarity moment.”

“What is a clarity moment?” One might ask. A clarity moment is the moment when you stop and look around, and realize the things in life that really matter. Suddenly, the busyness of your schedule, the loads of work and editing, the emails, the deadlines, take a back seat; as a loved one walks through the door. That never ending to-do list as you get a call from your mom saying grandpa is not doing well, fades away.

In those times, I believe we have two choices. We can continue to stay buried in busyness hiding and letting work entangle us, or we face a clarity moment. A moment when we stop, and realize how beautiful and special these  tangible moments are. Moments that make you feel something. Not moments spent aimlessly scrolling through a news feed, anticipating the next great hashtag, or snapping the latest selfie to chat.  A “clarity moment”, removes the distractions that so often rob us from creating real tangible memories with those closest to us.

The last segment of the workshop, is where I had my “clarity moment.” He focused the last segment towards the importance of the legacy we can capture as artists, once we take time to educate the client of the “why” behind the “what”.  Why Invest? Why be educated on the photographer you hire?

So many times I am asked the question, ” what are your prices” “what’s included in your collections” “why are you charging XXX when _____ is charging XXX?”  I have a new answer to those questions…. Better yet, I have a new question to those questions…

Have your ever lost someone you’ve loved with your entire being? Maybe unexpectedly, or expectedly? Or maybe there is someone in this world you love more than life itself and can’t bare the thought of them not being there one day when you wake up.  Think of that person, and let me ask you this.

What would you not give to have that one last hug with that someone? To feel their scratchy beard as you hug them so tightly you gasp for breath.  To sink into the arms of that loved one, and to truly melt, knowing it may be the last time.

To hug, yet really embrace the moment of that hug,

one . last . time.

Now… what would you not give to have that moment captured? To have it to remember the person by. They way they made you feel, the memories leading up to that moment, and the future you will hold long after they are gone. A photograph of someone your children may never get to meet. A photograph to hold, in your hands, when that loved one’s touch is no longer there.

What would you not give to have that last hug with someone you love? What would you not do to have it photographed?

blessings, dayna

I lost my dad to Alzheimer’s about a year after my wedding.  Our daddy daughter dance, still brings me to tears, because I know everything that had brought us to that moment. I know of the pain, of the love, and the laughter that what the weight of each tear rolling down my face meant. For my dad, our wedding was the last time he was able to walk on his own. I treasure these images by Rachel Shomsky Photography with my entire being, my soul. I could never put a price on them, because to me, no price would be high enough to capture these moments. To this day, I can still feel the way I rested on his shoulder, as the song “you can let go now, daddy” played…..

“If a something is priceless tomorrow, it should be expensive today”