A return to celebrations!

 

 Am I the only one to notice a huge surge in events?  You know, real events where you meet and talk to people?  2022 began with a rise in COVID cases and a return to masking in many places. Now that cases are down to a fraction of the winter's level, I find myself attending in-person events, both business and social, at a frenetic pace! This week, I had events scheduled  every day and the rest of April looks similar. As well as networking events, a lot of people are planning celebrations! All those weddings and anniversary parties that had to be cancelled in 2020 and 2021 are being scheduled for 2022. Venues are booked solid well into 2023. 

Photo enquiries are picking up, too. Spring is supposedly here, although Mother nature seems to be pranking us with the snow squalls! Next week brings Easter and Passover too; families are planning get-togethers to celebrate the holy days. Last year, I took studio portraits of my grandchildren on Easter Sunday when they were all dressed up. As they get older, I seem to see them in sports uniforms more often than nice clothes so I'd like to make it a tradition. With all life's busy-ness, I think it makes sense to arrange a photo session around a time when all the family will be together anyway. If you are planning a big birthday, graduation or anniversary party this year, have you thought about hiring a photographer to come and record the event, so that you can be in the pictures too? I have recorded fancy parties in a hired hall and family celebrations in a backyard. One family celebrated a 50th wedding anniversary with a family reunion at a state park; I spent the weekend with them, recording the fun memories while they just had a good time! Another client arranged her own birthday party and had me take portraits of all the family groups, including multi-generation sets of twins, studio-style, against a backdrop. The memories these pictures preserve are priceless!

We can't look into the future and know whether another COVID wave is coming, but, for now, the celebrations can take place, families can gather and businesses can network. Let's take advantage of every opportunity to gather in person and renew our human connections!