New Year, New Direction

Last year during an interview with a local newspaper, the reporter asked me what it would mean to me to see the Portraits of Hope project completed. I had not really thought of it that way before that moment. I choked up, and tears came to my eyes, and I replied, "It would mean the world to me."

So, as 2012 was drawing to a close, I took a close look at where I am, where I've been, and where I want to be. I love photography. (And, frankly, I'm a really good photographer. I'm still learning and growing, but that is part of being a better than average photographer. I'm way ahead where I was when I started, and way ahead of most of the "competition.")

That being said, my passion has always been more about people and relationships than about the photography itself. I want my photography to be a blessing to people, to encourage them in their relationships, to affirm the value they place on family. Most people today seem to think, "photography is just taking pictures, and professional photography is doing it with a really nice camera."

With cancer survivors, though, it's different. Their world has been, or is being, radically shaken. They are embracing life and relationships in a new way. And the relationship portraits we've created for many of them have helped to reinforce that.

So, as 2013 begins, my focus is going to be on completing that project and developing a plan and new projects for my new company, Portraits of Encouragement, Inc.

• If you know someone who is a cancer survivor (whether still in treatment, in remission, or cured), I would love to talk with them about being part of this or future projects.
• If you or your company could help financially to complete the Portraits of Hope project, or would like to be involved in future projects, call me. (We may even be able to create fund-raising projects to help someone you know.)
• If you would like me to create senior, family, child, or wedding portraits for you, call my daughter, Elise, or contact her through her website, Photography by Elise. If you really want me to photograph you, call me, and I'll be glad to do so, but it will be as a photographer for her business.

I'm currently serving as president of Professional Photographers of Oklahoma. Between that and the Portraits of Hope project and Portraits of Encouragement, Inc., and working an additional part-time job to pay off medical bills from my own run-in with cancer, I have a pretty full plate.