Happy Holidays

Happy holidays readers! I hope you’ve all been spending a grand time with your loved ones this festive season.

One of the things that will always pop up during the holidays is family photos. Family photos are a great way to show how happy and cheerful everyone is (even if it’s a fake smile or two). “So what about it?” I hear you ask. Well sometimes we take these occasions for granted. We forget that these are perfect opportunities to record who was there and to freeze those moments of joy forever! Those photos will help the future versions of ourselves look back and see loved ones who are no longer with us or think of a person who’s far away, and helping us to remember those past moments of joy and happiness.

I generally dislike being on camera duty for functions where I’m a guest, because it means that I can’t enjoy that time relaxing or catching up with friends, as I would be working and spending time getting candid shots, and shots of the decor, etc. Also it’s usually expected to be free…

As much as I complained about being on camera duty this Christmas, I did remind myself that it was a necessary exercise, especially because I have some family here from out of overseas whose last excursion was about 4 years ago, and who knows when I’ll see them again…? So I sucked it up and dragged all my gear out to my uncle’s place and set up shop.

All the cousins and kiddies, aunties, and uncles all got their turn in front of the camera, and the best bit was catching the happy expressions when seeing the presents being opened.

I guess, after all the commotion, camera duty wasn’t as bad as I’d told myself it would be. Yes, I had to work (for free) and be patient with kids who kept running off, or who just wouldn’t smile, but the work I did was important not just for the people in the photos, but also for those who weren’t there.

I hope you’ll all be recording your own memories and sharing them with those who couldn’t be there to enjoy all the love and happiness!

Here’s a shot of my extended family:

[fancybox_image image_url=”https://justinlee.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Justin-Lee_Family_Christmas.jpg” fancybox_url=”” width=”450″ height=”357″]