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“What does a beautiful life look like?”
My client posed the question in a text exchange we had before her session. She booked a session with me in search of beauty after her brother tragically died of suicide. His last words were “I want you to enjoy life… I know this world isn’t for me”.
Devon was incredibly thoughtful, kind, and deep feeling and he is so incredibly missed.
We decided to incorporate some of his childhood stuffies and his baby blanket into the shoot so that there was something to honour his life and his beautiful soul.
We ended up getting the most magical frosty day in existence. It was the unicorn of frosty days. It was WARM as far as frosty days go.. There was not a breath of wind. The low lying freezing fog built up the thickest frost we had ever seen. The entire landscape looked like a Christmas card. The conditions could not have been more perfect. We were over the moon.
We met at sunrise for our magical shoot and something happened that we should have expected, but didn’t.
Her wee toddler wanted absolutely nothing to do with the shoot. He didn’t want to wear his boots. He didn’t want to wear his mittens. And, he certainly did not want to be photographed!
If you have or have ever had a toddler, you know they rule the very existence of every mother and father. They have the iron-clad will of a thousand mules, and they do not back down. Lol
Our plans for the most magical shoot of all-time began to unfurl by the minute with every act of dissent. Of course, I am very used to this, as I have worked with many magnificent, strong-willed toddlers (I would like to take this opportunity to shout out to Macoy! LOL) …. None of which rival the stubbornness of my own sweet boy. LOL
We managed to get a couple of minutes of interaction from him, which is what you see here, on his terms, of course. But, we could not, for the life of us, manage to get a single solo shot of this beautiful boy.
I even offered to reshoot the next day to get that one solo shot. He liked day two even less than day one, which is why we have a perfect photo of him crying in this collection! That was our reshoot.
Here is the thing though. I uploaded the images and what I found was nothing short of the most remarkable and utterly magnificent display of the full depth of REAL, beautiful emotion! It quite literally takes my breath away. Every moment.
THIS is exactly what a beautiful life looks like. Sometimes, there is so much joy, you feel your heart may burst. Sometimes, your world falls apart around you and you cry enough tears to replenish the rivers. Sometimes, you float in-between states not knowing how to feel.
Every emotion and experience is equally valid and beautiful. The more you have, the richer your soul becomes. The most beautiful souls I have ever exchanged energy with carry unimaginable sorrow, and joy in equal measure. Their love changes the tide and carries ripple effects out to the soul of the world.
I hope you have a beautiful life.
Love, Cass
2024
workshops and
mentoring
Noelle Mirbella Photography
# 103 3131 Crystal Lake Drive
Grande Prairie, Alberta
T8X 0B7
copyright 2024