I have a tattoo on my arm of an hourglass, reminding me every day that our time on this planet isn’t guaranteed. I’m so incredibly grateful for the photos that have allowed me to get to know members of my family, their histories, and their time on this Earth, as well as documenting the growth of my beautiful daughter and her first few years spinning around the sun. Because of this, I’m the friend who urges other friends to document every event, to take photos of occasions and ordinary days, takes photos of friends and families, and has become known to my friends’ kids as “Emily With The Camera” . Life is not guaranteed, and in these scary times, I hope you are all holding your loved ones closer than ever. Photos capture a moment in time. Our realities. Our time together.

I hope you have the photos taken too. Days, weeks, even years from now you will see yourself and the people you love as more beautiful, more real and more brave than you ever remembered, and that’s a pretty incredible feeling.

And if you’re not in a position to invest at the moment, but would love to be a part of giving back, please feel free to nominate an essential worker that you’d like to see receive a complimentary family photo session, in the comments or by e-mailing [email protected].

I know this will eventually pass, and we will be gathered together again. Until then, in this time of grief and fear, please keep cheering each other on. Your love and resilience are powerful.

*All photo sessions to take place (of course!) when physical social distancing guidelines have been lifted.