Just as I️ was finalizing Hartstein Photography official details and began writing my comeback email to my past clients, the whole world seemed to change in an instant.
Soul Searching
When I️ realized that it would be awhile before I️ could photograph births in the hospitals, I️ began to do some soul searching. Why do I️ do what I️ do? What is it that I️ love about births and Fresh48s that I'm just not as excited about with other forms of photography?
My current mission statement for Hartstein Photography is, "to be one of Michiana's leading "Belly•Birth•Baby" photographers, creating lasting memories of life's most treasured moments to be enjoyed for generations to come through a personalized experience and high quality products." And likewise, the Vision of Hartstein Photography is "for every new life to be celebrated and cherished through the telling of their story in time-stopping imagery."
First of all, there's a need for Belly, Birth and Baby photographers. These are moments that are important and special to families. Once in lifetime moments. I️ photograph these beginning moments in the life of a family, because there's a need. But that's only where it begins. There is nothing like being in the room when a new life enters it. Oh, the emotions alone. I️ love the story telling involved with a new baby. There is a beauty, something soulful about these moments. I️ can't get enough of them. "Every baby deserves to be celebrated and cherished through the telling of their story in time-stopping imagery". That says it all for me. I️ couldn't agree more. That is a driving force in why I️ do what I️ do. "Creating lasting memories of life's most treasured moments to be enjoyed for generations to come..." This is what got me thinking. Generations. There is something there for me.
Besides being a certified professional photographer and an accomplished coffee maker, I️ would also call myself an amateur genealogist. I️ love studying family history. I️ have a wall of Hartstein/McKie/Duval/Bowling/Morey family portraits, from generations back, going up the stairs in my house and I️ add to it whenever I️ find a new one. I️ was admiring a portrait of my grandmother as a child hanging on my wall and it hit me. This is what I️ should be doing next. Heirloom Portraiture. Beautiful, high quality heirloom portraiture - timeless and worthy of being passed down through the generations.
As I️ started to explore this thought, I️ soon realized how easily I️ can take what I've already been doing historically - bellies, births and babies - and kick it up a notch to be able to offer something that not many other photographers are offering at this moment. I️ am very excited to get started and to begin tackling some of the obstacles that are presently in my way.
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