What Happens When the Fire Comes?

Last week, our fire alarm went off in the middle of the night. Immediately, my husband and I woke up, rushed to check on our kids upstairs, and checked that all was well in the house. It was a false alarm – the sensor upstairs had detached from the ceiling and was dangling down. We climbed back in bed, grateful that it was nothing to worry about (and hoping it would not go off again in the middle of the night!).

After I got back in bed, I lay awake thinking about what I would have done had there actually been a fire. How would I react? Would I remain calm, or be stunned into inaction? What would matter most to me in a moment where I might lose everything?

Photography Preserves Our Memories

As I ran through the rolodex of my things in my head, I first came to the conclusion that as long as my family and my pets were safe, nothing else mattered. Everything else is just…stuff. And while that’s true, I couldn’t shake this nagging feeling that there are parts of me that wouldn’t make it out of that fire. Those parts of me that only exist in photos that aren’t published anywhere online. Photos of my childhood, of my semester abroad in China, the entire album from our wedding.

And while of course life would move on without any of these things, I couldn’t help but think about how photos are some of the only living memories we have of family members who are gone, of the past versions of ourselves that we sometimes struggle to access, of our children when they were so small that our sleep-deprived brains can barely remember what they were like.

Preserving Your Family’s Story Through Photography

Maybe it’s not the literal fire that takes these things away from us. Sometimes it’s a cancer diagnosis, your kids growing up and leaving the house, or the death of a loved one. Life changes so quickly and sometimes without any notice at all. Maybe it’s the proverbial fire that leaves your life feeling a little different than it did before.

In either case, I’m reminded of why the work I do matters so much. Photography is not just about creating pretty artwork to enjoy on your wall (though it is that) or having a memorable and meaningful experience with your family (though we create that, too); it’s also about preserving a version of yourself and your family that is there even as life throws its fires at you.

And the good news is, I always have my clients’ photos backed up in case of an ACTUAL fire, so you can rest easy knowing that I’ll have your back.

If this resonates with you and you want to make sure this season is documented with family photos that will stand the test of time, reach out today. You won’t regret making the time for it.

Not quite ready for a session? Join my email list for thoughtful photography advice, studio updates, and occasional reminders to preserve the season you’re living in.