Friday, December 28, 2007

Celebrating Marriage...and the love for what we do

She clutched the hairbrush tight against her chest and leaned back to examine her progress. Her head tilted left, then right, then left again. "Hmmm..." she said in the lovely melody of a West Virginia sing-song drawl, "I'm not sure there's much more I can do to save you." He laughed his signature laugh and rested his chin in her outstretched hand. It was a good hand...a hand he had taken to have and to hold over sixty-two years ago...and he knew she would take good care of him.



When I was only two years old, barely old enough to even remember my grandpa, he was taken from us suddenly in the night. Two short years later- and many say from a broken heart- my great-grandfather was gone too. So being the ever resourceful little one that I was, I marched myself right up to our neighbor (who also happened to be the town's blacksmith) and informed him that I was officially adopting him as my new grandpa. He reckoned that would be alright, and just like that I was part of their family.

So I thought it was only fitting that while we were home for Christmas, I should take my new husband to meet my adopted grandparents, Dot & Glen. When the talk turned to the wedding I was ready, armed with an album of our favorite shots on our shiny new iPhone. I flipped through the pictures with ease...scrolling, tilting, turning and zooming to my heart's content. It was just about then that Dot glided (she's a true Southern lady, and Southern ladies glide... they never walk) into the other room and pulled out her own wedding picture. Justin managed to grab this awesome moment as two brides looked back on their day. The medium may be different, but the love and the memories are the same.



That got me thinking about this job that we do. Over sixty years later and a *picture* takes her right back there...to the place where they stood and said their i-do's, her mama's lace, and a boy who thought she could never look more beautiful than she did right then. A boy who is still thinking the same thing today. Every time we've stood in the shadows and watched our couples promise a lifetime of love, it never quite hit home with me that sixty years from now one of them may be holding up one of our pictures and going right back to that day.

And this is why we love what we do.

19 comments:

Shyla said...

That second picture is priceless! I love love love it.

I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that that will be you and justin someday. You two have one of those relationships that one looks at, smiles, and says... "if only everyone was so lucky"

Just like that little couple we saw in the coffee shop that one night, you two will be celebrating your 60th anniversary hand in hand and more in love than ever!

Blah Blah said...

Aww.. that's so true about capturing memories to last a life time and this is a true example of it. Thanks for posting this guys!

OHANA PHOTOGRAPHERS said...

i LOVE this post! that totally reminds me of my grandparents, they still hold hands & smooch. both are almost a century young and going strong, which unfortunatley seems rare. awesome post mary bess! have a safe and happy new year!

carla ten eyck said...

beautiful beautiful beautiful and SO true! Thanks for putting it back in perspective! xxoo

Nikki said...

You shouldn't do this kind of thing to pregnant people. We cry. Easily :)

SOOOO sweet. LOVE that picture that he caught. And you're right, pictures are an amazing thing, and I think you guys have SUCH a gift....I handed out the pictures that you guys took of Ava to my family for christmas, and everyone was just speechless and told me the same thing: how I'd cherish these forever. When Ava is sneaking out with boys at 16, going off to college, getting married, or having babies of her own, I can look back on those amazing pictures you guys took of her as just a little toddler exploring your aunt's farm, and it will be like she's 2 all over again. So yeah, you guys rock. :)

Amy Martin said...

What a great post... I love it! It's so refreshing to see love that has withstood the test of time. :)

Happy Holidays!

Mary Marantz said...

awww thanks Shy!! you're the best!! gosh...way to make get all teary!

love you!
M:)

Mary Marantz said...

David & Kimi: Wow!! A century young! That's amazing! I love that they're still smooching after all this time. You guys have a very safe and blessed and happy new year too!!!!

M:)

Robin Dini Photography said...

amazing. thanks for sharing. i love the shot of the framed photograph and the iphone. crazy!

Grazier Photography said...

Oh that is one of my favorite photos ever! I just love it! Enna

Elizabeth and Frank said...

Wow, that is really touching story and a terrific moment captured with you and your adopted grandparents...

Keep up the great work and best of luck in 2008

Frank and Elizabeth Myers

Mel said...

This is a beautiful post. Thank you for sharing it and making me think more about what wedding photography should be about... Too often its about the latest trend or some kind of hype instead of helping couples remember what it felt like (rather than what it looked like), its about recording something true and eternal. I love it, keep on doing it...

Mary Marantz said...

you guys are seriously the best!! thank you so much for all of these awesome comments!! you make my little heart so very happy!

Jessica Del Vecchio said...

What a fabulous amazing post - I just loved it! And what gorgeous pictures.

Cristina said...

Love the post, love the photos!

Unknown said...

WOW!

That's amazingly powerful.

Thanks for sharing!

dougphoto said...

those are really powerful.

VanaBanana said...

I am so behind on blog reading, but those pictures made me cry! Just beautiful!

jennifer said...

i just found your blog and had to comment on this post. i just love it!!