Time Capsule Sessions – Oregon Lifestyle Photographer
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.”
– Andy Bernard (The Office)
It all started when…
My own grandfather(whose nickname was Puzzy or Puz) was approaching the grand age of 100 and I began to feel a sense of urgency to document and preserve the little things about him. The small details that were unique to him and that my family would miss so dearly once he was gone.
When I approached him about spending an afternoon with him, with my camera, taking photos while he did whatever he did that afternoon, he said “Why would you wanna do that? Why would anyone want so many pictures of me?”
He was resistant to the idea and through a little bit of insistence that it was a personal project and he’d be helping me and reassuring him I wouldn’t interfere with his plans, he agreed.
I went with him to the Willamette Art Center where he liked to throw pots and work on pottery projects. It took him a bit to get used to me following him around, but then he got into his groove and so did I.
I didn’t direct him. I didn’t pose him. I didn’t really even talk to him very much.
I JUST WANTED TO OBSERVE AND PRESERVE.
And I knew I wasn’t taking earth shatteringly epic images.
BUT I KNEW I WAS DOING MY FUTURE SELF A FAVOR.
I was looking at this day through the eyes of my grandchildren who would never get the chance to spend a day with him. Who might one day eat out of a bowl with his name etched into the bottom. I was taking a slice of his ordinary and simple life and wrapping it up to keep and pull out someday in the future. Like a time-capsule that had been buried with the forethought of giving the future a glimpse of the past as it was.
IT waS ABOUT NOTICING WHAT MAKES THIS MOMENT IN TIME SPECIAL AND WORTH REMEMBERING.
Maybe you are in one of those moments now.
Maybe you want this precious, fleeting time encapsulated.
Maybe you want to invite me into your home, into your quiet and intimate spaces, not to disrupt or direct, but to observe and preserve.
And by trusting me with this moment, you give a gift to your future self.
To your future grandchildren. And when you are able to look back at this time, at the simple and the sweet, the tiny details and the big picture of it all, you can see it all with fresh eyes.
WITH EYES OF GRATITUDE
AND PEACE
AND AWE
AT JUST HOW INCREDIBLE THIS MOMENT TRULY IS.
How it works
TELL ME YOUR STORY
First step is to have a conversation about what this time means to you. We’ll make a plan for when and where the session will take place and I’ll prepare you so that you know what to expect from my presence and exactly what to do to get the most out of this process.
I DOCUMENT YOUR DAY WITH REVERENCE
At first it will feel strange, but we’ll soon both settle into a rhythm and we’ll allow the day to be whatever it becomes. You’ll know all the images will be in black and white and just for you and your family only. I won’t have you “redo” anything or pretend. I’ll take a documentary and hands off approach to ensure genuine and honest images.
THE REVEAL
The first time you will see any of the images will be at the in-person reveal where you will see a wall of printed photos ready for you to take home as well as a custom designed printed album already finished and telling the story of the day in beautiful black and white photographs.
WHO IS THIS EXPERIENCE FOR?
Anyone on the edge of a big change or shift. This could be the end of childhood, end of life, before a big move, before retirement or surgery or putting down a pet. Or anything making you want to save the little details of your day. If you are willing to open yourself up to the vulnerable place of being observed and photographed in this way, you will be grateful for this experience.
WHY ARE THE IMAGES IN BLACK AND WHITE ONLY?
By shooting in black and white I’m removing the distractions and focusing on the people, the light, the emotion, the contrast and shadow and give the whole body of work a consistency and a historical and classic look.
WHY PRINTS AND AN ALBUM?
Have you ever found a shoebox under your bed or in your grandmother’s attic with old prints from years ago? I want you to have that type of experience, hold the prints in your hands, flip the pages of the book and see it as a story and a physical experience.
CAN I HAVE THE DIGITAL IMAGES?
Yes, but not right away. Part of the experience is delayed gratification. I will deliver the full digital gallery a full year after the session. When all those little details have started to fade from your memory, when the uniqueness of that moment in time is even more clear to you because you’re now in a different time, the gallery will be delivered so you can once again, open that time capsule and notice new and meaningful moments.
CAN I GIFT THIS TYPE OF SESSION TO SOMEONE ELSE I THINK MIGHT BE DESERVING?
Yes, often times we aren’t aware of how precious the time we are in is until it has already passed and it is too late. Give this gift to someone you feel might not realize how beautiful the moment they are in is.
WHAT IF THERE IS SOMETHING I DON’T WANT YOU TO DOCUMENT?
I am not looking for ways to embarrass you. I will only go where you invite me. These images are for you, you are in charge of how vulnerable you’d like to be.