The art of professional portraiture took hold back in the 1800s when people would sit for painstaking hours to ensure that their loved ones had documentation of their moment in history.
Today, while the portrait style may take on an entirely different tone and the sessions are far more comfortable, the tradition of personal documentation still holds. In fact, in her article, "Photography of Children" that was published in American Demographics, Judith Waldrop reported that more than 70% of households with children who are teenagers and under continue to regularly enlist the services of a professional photographer.
In a study performed by Fujifilm about the value of photographs, 28% of the respondents reported that their most prized heirloom is a photograph. 97% shared that they would be "distraught if their family photographs were destroyed."
But, why? Why do we as a people place such value on the portrait?
I think that Eudora Welty answered this best when she stated, "a good snapshot stops a moment from running away." Our minds simply cannot capture every memory or action or facial expression of our children and our loved ones. Our minds are limited in what they can hold; however, with a photograph in hand, we are able to recall, to bring back the days of toddler giggles and the personal style of our teen, to re-live the history of our family.
The portrait captures the essence of family and of your personal history to be forever remembered and cherished.
Kim's work is on display in her gallery at http://www.KimCrenshaw.com.
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