I have to admit—I’ve been a little slack when it comes to blogging my shoots.

I used to blog almost everything, but lately, I just haven’t had the time. I’m no longer staying up all hours trying to get it all done. The images get delivered quickly, but the blogging has taken a back seat—except for weddings; I still blog most of those.

Sometimes, though, I want to share more than just a few photos on Instagram. It usually happens when a session hits a little closer to home or we’ve had a deeper conversation. Maybe there is a different feeling about certain images. 

But it got me thinking—I don’t have to limit my blog to just sharing shoots. Maybe it can be a space to talk about different aspects of my work. Lately, I’ve been reflecting on the emotional side of what I do.

When I meet with couples or families, I’m always up for a bit of a chat. I like to ask questions and people generally open up to me. This leads to some deeper conversations, whether it be about health, jobs, troubles with wedding planning, lots of different things. But I learn a lot and I enjoy getting to know people. 

Photography isn’t just offering a service where multiple people could do the same job and deliver the same result. The images I create are unique to me—shaped by where I was standing in that moment, what I was looking for, and how I anticipated what would happen next. It’s about being present in the atmosphere—listening, observing, knowing when to step back rather than push for a shot.

A big part of this job is reading people—understanding their body language, sensing if they’re comfortable or not. I think that’s something I’ve gotten pretty good at over the years.

Many jobs are purely transactional, and that’s completely fine—I’m a business offering a service. Not everyone is sentimental and not every shoot offers an emotional aspect. But being more of a people photographer, to me, is so much more than a simple see ya later transaction. I know I shouldn’t get emotionally attached, but how can I not? I’m capturing moments that mean the world to people. I go through your images thinking, “Oh, she’s going to love this one of her boys,” or I’m giggling at a child’s expression, or tearing up because I captured the most beautiful photo of a mother watching her son or daughter on their wedding day. There are so many images that spring to mind that I absolutely adore because it’s such a precious moment preserved. 

I use my own personal experiences to relate to people and their stories. I use the love I have for my children when I’m shooting a wedding and can appreciate how a parent is feeling. They are such a big part of the day and aside from the couple, they are just as emotional, maybe even more so. 

I’ve photographed so many weddings and through social media have seen many people lose a parent or family member after their wedding day or family session. It always warms my heart when they use a photo I have taken of that person to share. I’ve had clients pass away and that’s always hard. 

I had a few shoots last year that tugged at the heartstrings. But over the years I’ve been a part of many weddings where I knew the couple had gone through tragedy and when such things are mentioned during the wedding, whether it’s a tribute during the ceremony or talked about in a speech, it’s an honour to be there and listen to their stories. 

There’s been ceremonies in nursing homes to have a sick parent or grandparent there. I’ve shot a ceremony at a bedside. 

I’ve photographed beautiful children with disabilities or illness. What a privilege to meet these little warriors. 

I photographed the most special elopement last year knowing the bride’s Mum had terminal cancer. Did I take more photos of the Mum than I typically would? You bet I did. Did I intentionally hone in on her as she watched her daugther marry with the biggest smile and proudest look – of course. And when she passed, her beautiful daughter reached out to me to show me the the photo they used on her Order of Service at her Celebration of Life. I’m so humbled that at such a sad time, my beauiful bride reached out to me to show me it was one of my images used. 

I don’t post everything I shoot. Not every shoot is for social media or the web. Some shoots make me have to put on my big girl pants and hold my shit together. Last year, I photographed a beautiful lady in her thirties who had terminal cancer. Her thirties. I photographed her, her loving husband, her teenagers, her baby. Although in pain, she smiled and smiled.  After the shoot, her husband had to run an errand so I sat with her and talked. She told me about her cancer, the symptoms she had, the way she was brushed off and how she felt let down by our medical system, the things she wanted to get done before she died. She had not long been diagnosed and now she was terminal. How do you cope with that? How do you cope leaving your children behind? 

For the time after, she was constantly on my mind. I wondered how she was doing. She had prints included in her session, and on the day I was going to message her to ask if she had chosen her favourites – something told me not to message her. That was the day I later found out she passed. Exactly three weeks from our session. I thought she had months, not weeks. 

How can us photographers not get emotionally attached? 

It’s a different kind of business I’m in. So incredibly special. So when you book me, know that I’m not a transactional photographer. That I will do what I can to preserve the most special moments for you. 

Thanks for putting your hearts in my hand and trusting me to capture joyful times and even the ones are little less so. 

Jodie. 

With permission from the bride, here is a few special moments of her beautiful Mum on her wedding day.