Second shooter....

When I upgraded my camera, I couldn't decide what I should do with my old one. Should I keep it? Sell it? Save it for my oldest son to learn on? My husband actually expressed interest in picking up photography so I handed it over to him, wished him luck and kinda hoped he would lose interest. :) Not because I don't want him to learn...just because the thought of teaching him was a little overwhelming. Over the past several months, he has helped me out by being my "second shooter" at a few family events.

First was his sister's amazing day at the Bountiful temple. Such a beautiful story...such an amazing event to be a part of!

When we got home, I looked at his pictures and was a little confused with what I saw. I didn't want to criticize him. Didn't want to seem ungrateful for his help...but I was hoping for images I could use for "the client". Ya know....those moments I might have missed. Little candid moments, expressions of their loved ones, etc. Instead, I ended up with a whole lotta ME! Me shooting, me "behind the scenes" if you will. Me, (in the picture above) pretending not to notice the other group of people trying to push me out of the way. Thinking their wedding was more important than my sealing! I liked to think he took so many pictures of me because he likes me. Because I am his wife and he wants pictures of me. What ever I believed his reasons to be at the time.... ...It became kind of fun to see what went on while I was shooting. I go into a world that involves only my subjects. I don't see anything else but them and their surroundings. So...when I see pictures like the one above, I didn't realize the great lengths people go to, to help me out. I also didn't realize how stupid I look when I get on the ground in a dress.
I also realized that I was missing so many moments that I would never have documented. I really love to interact with my subjects. I really love being in the moment as well. No one has ever captured that. No one has ever made me a part of something that I love so much.
Until now. Until my sweet husband has taken a job as my second shooter. After a shoot yesterday, as I was viewing the images, I finally asked him why he takes the kind of pictures he does. I said "Honey, I was kind of hoping that you could capture those moments I might miss." He simply stated "I do." It was a huge "ahh-ha" moment for me. He gets it. He sees that, which I don't. He sees that several years down the road, I will get to see the moments I missed on camera. Me, interacting with our children. Creating memories that I hope they will always remember ME for. The sweet moment where he gave me his jacket because I was so dumb and forgot my own.

The sweet moments I get to be with them. Play with them and capture them.
The moments I didn't notice because I was so into my photo capturing world.


He gets me. He knows exactly what he is doing. He is the the best second shooter for me.

He has captured more than I ever have. He has captured my sweet, beautiful babies interacting with me. Working hard to please me. Cooperating with me. Captured the moments I would never see. The ones I would have forever missed.