Are You A Ghost When It Comes To Family Photographs?

Checking the masts on the United States Coast Guard Cutter Eagle (click to enlarge)
Fujifilm X-T1, 18-55mm f/2.8-4 lens @ 37.4mm; 1/600th sec. @ f/5.6; ISO 400
(shot through a very dirty office building window)

Are you the designated "family photographer?"  Maybe you are the person who is designated to take photos when you and your friends engage in memorable activities. Because of your skill in photography do you get asked or even "assigned" to be the one who photographs friends' and family events, children's or grandchildren's birthdays, sporting events, recitals, etc.?  Because of this do almost no photographs of you exist at all of these family events, vacations, etc.?  Do you not get to enjoy all of those events because you feel as though you are "working?"  This happens to a lot of us, including me.

Often what finally happens is that when we go back and look at photographs of these types of events, there is no record that you were even there!  It is almost like you don't exist or missed all of the family events.  My wife and I have been married over 42 years, raised two children and have three granddaughters and there are almost not photographs of me in existence to document me participating in family activities or how I looked over all those years.

Don't lament, be flattered you have been asked to be the one to record these important memories.  Being asked to be the one to record them shows complete trust in your abilities to create a permanent record of your family and/or friends.  That is quite a compliment as, way down the road, besides some very hazy or distant memories, all we will have are our photographs.  So, don't be disappointed, be proud you were the one chosen.

If you don't like looking like you haven't been around, I suggest you set your camera to fully automatic then hand a relative or friend the camera and ask him or her to take a few snapshots of you being at the event.  Let them use the camera for 10 or 15 minutes to record some of the happenings with you in them.  With today's cameras being so versatile (read: complicated but highly capable), you can do what I did.  You can set up the camera to basically be "auto everything" so there is almost not way your budding photographer can mess up taking photos for you.  Also, I would also suggest, that after you make some images of the event, put the camera down and just immerse yourself in it and enjoy your family and friends.  After all, the memories are what is important.

Just so there is some sort of record of how I've aged and changed over the years (and it hasn't been pretty, by any means!), here is what I do.  For the past many years, I have taken a yearly self portrait on my birthday.  I set my camera up on a tripod at the same location in my home, same time of day, same aperture, ISO, etc. and I sit in the same chair.  If the cameras I choose from year to year are of different formats, I choose a focal length that provide equal fields of view.  The end result is that there is now an existing record of how I have changed and old and decrepit I've gotten year after year after year. LOL.   At least they will have a current photo for my funeral!

And, no, I'm not including one of those portraits in this post....

Thanks for looking. Enjoy! 

Dennis A. Mook 

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