Today I am re-sharing a blog from a few years ago. Since I launched this new website earlier this year I have been slowly transferring some of my old posts that are still relevant to my business as it is today. Since I launched my new program Gus’ Gift earlier this year I wanted to move over the blog posts about the family that inspired me to create Gus’ Gift. This blog was originally written in Sept. 2016. (Images from their 2016 & 2017 family sessions)
I often take for granted how important my job is, I sometimes even get told that it is “not a real job”. But every once in a while a client comes along that reminds me why I do what I do. A few years ago, when I still photographed weddings, that client was a bride who 6 months after her wedding emailed me to let me know how thankful she was for the portraits of her and her father together. He had died suddenly a few months after her wedding and those were their last family portraits. This year that client that reminded me was a 7-year-old boy named Gus.
Gus was diagnosed with a brain tumor when he was 3 years old. Although the doctors were able to fully remove the tumor his family recently learned that his cancer has returned and that it is only a matter of time before it claims his life. His family had never had a formal family photo session. When his mother Sasha contacted me about the session she said that they would be the only family portraits that they would ever get with both of their sons.
With my own son turning 7 in just a few months I can’t help but put myself in her place for a moment. Just the thought of losing my precious son at such a young age makes it hard to breathe. I honestly don’t know how Sasha makes it through each day with such strength, although I am sure she feels anything but strong at the moment. I have learned that the moments in life when we feel the weakest are usually the ones when we have the most strength.
I wish I had something deep or profound to say here, the fact is that I am really not a writer, I let my images do most of the speaking. I will say to other parents who have never had a family session or haven’t had one in a long time, don’t wait. Life is precious and fragile and children grow so quickly.
If you would like to read more about Gus please visit his Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/GusGreyMatters
To nominate a family for Gus’ gift or for more information click the link below.
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