Experience Highlight: Mumme Family
Love Deeper.
I am hoping this post comes across God would want it to. Not because there's anything bad about it, but because sometimes people can read things and assume intentions based on their own insecurities, and not focus on the purity of what is really there. I say that because I am completely in awe of this incredible woman and hope she knows how much she is appreciated by me. Stacy Mumme is someone I felt completely disarmed by from the moment I met her. She had a warmth and understanding few people in this world care to reach, and for that, I am grateful I got to know this human. She made me want to be a better person, mom, wife, and stepmom. As someone who has succumbed to self-righteous behavior in my past, it was extremely humbling to see how this woman has navigated life and come out with such love and joy in her heart for others. How did I learn all this?
I love getting to know my clients' desires for their family portrait before we do the shoot. I have never really been good at just showing up to "take pictures" in the park. I'm too heart-guided for that. I think God knows that and sends me people who are willing to allow me into their space and get to know them. Stacy came to me with a desire to "finally" get a portrait of her whole blended family. During the first phone call, she was so very excited. She kept saying everything I had to offer sounded perfect. When asked about her family, she mentioned her and her husband's children and said she think of them all as her own. We set a date for her in-person planning session and she told me she was looking forward to meeting me. 💗
The planning session is geared to be an introduction to each other, and a purposeful meeting to plan the purpose and look of your portraits. This includes filling your endgame needs, reaching a style, location, and communicating wardrobe tips. I love this meeting because it helps me get a vision in addition to inspiration for the capture.
Stacy walked in and I immediately felt the kindness in her bright smile and beautiful eyes. She was a strong woman with a glowing presence. She was both vulnerable in connection and secure in her presence, which was a beautiful mix that I felt at right at home in. We talked about her family and I got the details such as names and ages of her children. Having a love for them, she naturally shared about each of them, highlighting their strengths and what she loved and liked about each of them.
It was the love that struck me. It made me happy to see her want so much for herself and for them. This portrait had been a long time coming, and she told her husband she was finally going to do it. He seemed to think she was crazy, but it takes a certain kind of crazy to make it happen, I think. She had a goal and she meant it. I have no idea what obstacles she may have had to jump, the love she had to show in the years leading up to it, or the tears God kept while composing this piece, but I am amazed. I'm in awe of how God aligned the universe for her. He is faithful to her and she is faithful to Him. They did it together. She got ALL of their children and grandchildren there. It takes love and selflessness in many people to do that. I was proud of all of them.
The shoot was amazing. Michael and I took the time to photograph the large group in two separate locations. We also captured every individual portrait a few times with different posing. Stacy had a fantastic gallery to choose from.
During her ordering session, she had help narrowing down to her favorites. With a large family, you have a lot to think about. Wanting a portrait of each individual and some smaller groupings, and of course, the large portrait for her home. Stacy was so excited about the images!
One of the statements made while dwindling down was, "We can just take more pictures and get it cheaper later. This isn't the last time. We can do it again."
I am not a pushy salesperson. I don't argue. I help clients until I see them making a mistake, and I give them things to think about. When the statement was made, I realized it was about budget more than memories of this moment. That's ok and I understand. It's ok until it's not, and that will make more sense in a moment. I help my clients better afford their images by offering to split their payments or they can choose our interest free financing option. Why? Because I know THIS memory is precious and cannot be replicated. Even tomorrow. In the past, I was accused of selling people on memories when it wasn't that serious. A young dad once said, "we can just get more pictures of her (1 year old baby). We don't need these specifically. You're just trying to trick us into buying." Needless to say, that couple walked away without any pictures of their family that I captured that day. He wasn't going to "fall" for my "schemes".
With wisdom, comes the knowledge that we can't take any moment for granted and even the tiniest of nuances are captured when you freeze time. I would never wish for the moments to vanish on anyone. I would never want this to be someone's story. But, "more pictures later" with the same people would never happen for Stacy again. Less than a month after this shoot, they would lose a beloved member of their family to a tragic accident. Words cannot express the pain that must be for their entire family. I cannot imagine it. I wish it never happened.
Jayson was a handsome young man with a bright future in the armed forces. His motorcycle accident was a tragic loss to all his family and friends. Like the others, capturing his portrait was fun and full of love and promise. I enjoyed every minute!!
As photographers, we dread the call. We don't want things to change, but we know they eventually will. Our whole existence and career is centered around the fact that things change and nothing ever stays the same. That's why we photograph and capture moments. Because change happens. People grow and change every day. We exist to capture the moment now because tomorrow is never guaranteed. This is where I don't want people to get this post wrong. I'm not guilting anyone into doing anything. But I do wish people could understand what it's like being a photographer selling memories that are often taken for granted.
When all you have left of your loved one is a photo, it oftentimes becomes your most treasured possession. It's easy to take the moment and any person's existence in a photo for granted when they're standing right there in front of you. I know I have before, and I still do a lot. When my dad passed away, I didn't think it was possible. He was the strongest person I knew! We had a large group family portrait done the year before, and I didn't buy a picture of him by himself. Any one of us could have, but we didn't. We took the moment for granted, and I regretted it later. When I reached out, the photographer who took his picture ultimately couldn't help me after years of back and forth messages. I should have bought it when I had the chance. Stacy knew better than me at the time of my family's portrait (way before I was a photographer myself). She purchased the image of Jayson above, and one of each of her kids. She worked it out, and I am glad she did. When they needed it processed a little bit faster for his celebration of life, it was my pleasure to do so.
Stacy was appreciative, and left Michael and me a glowing 5-star review. I can't express the gratefulness I feel for being a witness to great kindness and love. I love what I do. I did for Stacy what I do for each one of my clients. I want the best for them. I want them to be proud of themselves, their portraits, and their families. I want their family bonds to be strengthened with this experience and the portrait on their wall in their home. With the strengthening of each family, society as a whole becomes stronger as it leaks down into each individual member, then into the people they touch. I will never consider this just a "job", and I will never allow someone to convince me I'm being a "trickster" for selling portraits of single moments in time. It will always be the way I give back to the Universe and sew love into it. I hope to inspire families to love their family deeper, and give acceptance a chance, as Stacy has inspired me to do the same.
Thank you to the Mumme family for allowing me to share my thoughts on this wonderful experience of photographing you. You are all in my prayers. May God wrap you in His everlasting peace this Christmas, and may hope for the future spring from our Wonderful Counselor to fill the hole in your hearts. 🎄
