Senior Portrait Session Leads to Random Act of Kindness

Random Acts of Kindness – It’s not Just for Friends

In a fast paced environment like Carmel Valley, and in an age when 1 day service is painfully slow, we tend to grab what we need and run.  I know I’d rather get it from Amazon than jump in the car if I can, but there are still times we connect with those who provide products and services … or do we?  Do we notice the people who make that latte, set up displays at the grocery store, or look after our health?

Personally, I’ve run my portrait business over four decades, and moved Keane Studios to Carmel Valley in 1993 – that almost makes me a pioneer!  That time has seen changes in photography – 1 week processing gave way to 1 day processing at Fotomat.  1 day was replaced by 1 hour, and now we simply reach for our cell phones when we want to grab a snapshot.

You’d think with so many time saving devices and services, we could slow down a bit – but has that hap­pened?  Are you saying HAH!  Fat chance?  It seems like everyone is running around with an enormous to do list, filling an immense calendar, and we just don’t have time!  Or do we?

We were reminded the other day how just a little moment as we go can humanize us again – a random act of kindness if you will.  We are in the midst of photographing the seniors of the class of 2015. Last week, a mom came in with her senior son during his senior portrait session, carrying this little rose and a thank you card.  We’d taken the time to help her through the process of setting up her son’s session, and she wanted to express her gratitude.  WOW!  It made everyone in the studio feel special!

Every business is run by real people.  When you take your kids to school, one of the parents may be your den­tist. When you go to the Little League game, you may not know the coach owns the dry cleaners.  There are real people who run those practices and businesses.  Take a moment to connect with them!  Let them know they’re appreciated.  If they make a mistake – let them know.  They want to be better.  And maybe, just once in awhile, drop off a little thank you for being part of YOUR life.
______________________________________________________________
Bill started photographing weddings from his dorm room at the Claremont colleges back when Nixon was president and film was the only way to record images.  A great deal has changed since 1968, but his fascination with photography, and ultimately the stories of the people he has photographed, has made every day of his 40+ years as a portrait photographer, as interesting as the first.  Bill considers himself very fortunate to be involved in what I love doing every day.

As I was growing up, my parents always made portrait photography part of our lives, as it had been when they were growing up.  As my own children grew, I developed a deeper appreciation of how important those photographs had become in my life.  There was the picture of my uncle and the horse drawn delivery wagon he drove for my grandfather’s business on the unpaved streets of Berkeley; the portrait of my other grandfather smoking a pipe as he fished on the bank near the family home in Morris, Illinois; there was my mom as a six year old child model in Chicago; and then there were my own baby pictures, and memories of family vacations.  Because my parents passed away when I was in my 20′s, these memories of my family have become my own link to the past, and a way my family now can connect with their history.  Of course, it’s also kind of fun to remember that my hair used to be dark!