The Gift of Being Seen
© 2009 she saw things : jen downer
There is a certain vulnerability that goes along with letting someone into your home to be a witness to your existence.
This past weekend we were blessed with an opportunity to be seen. We welcomed someone new into our home to document us: the subtleties, the connections, the support, the silliness, the four of us.
© 2009 she saw things : jen downer
I first met Jen Downer a few years back through some random online
connections. We had dinner together in Portland and talked about life and creating and kids and special needs and photography. We talked about having her take photos of our family at
some point in the future. Fast forward a couple years and the addition
of a new family member seemed like a really good time to be seen.
To be honest, my first thought about having someone take our photos was this: we take so many photos already; we capture each other as we go about our daily routines; Chris and I are quick to grab the camera before moments pass by - why do we need someone else to take more?
Those first two photos are the reason why.
There is really something amazing about having someone else come into your home with a camera in hand who is willing to casually interact, blend in, and document us as we are. Jen captured things that we just can't do on our own, with a sensitivity to the dynamics of our family that was truly appreciated.
© 2009 she saw things : jen downer (butterfly mobile from Royal Buffet)
When she emailed these first few images to me yesterday my immediate response was that these images were my heart.
© 2009 she saw things : jen downer
Jen and Simon hit it off from the start. I had prepped him this past week that my friend was going to be coming over to take photos of our family. She even got to witness his full production/reading/acting of Green Eggs & Ham. He got to hold her camera and take a few shots.
© 2009 she saw things : jen downer
What a gift.
Thank you Jen, for seeing us.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to tell some new stories.
I can't wait to see the rest of the photos.
Ali, the picture of you, Chris and Anna is heartbreakingly beautiful. They are all fabulous photos! What a treasure.
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Wow. Simply stunning and what treasures for you.
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The photos are lovely and are a wonderful representation of your family. Your friend Jen did an awesome job. I think the name of her website is perfect...she saw things. She things differently or from another prespective than you do.
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Simply breathtaking.
This idea is going on my summer to-do list :-)
I know you love to "live with your photos" so are you planning to enlarge and frame any of these??
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one word about the photos: awesome!
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BEAUTIFUL.
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These photos are absolutely gorgeous!!
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Absolutely. It may inspire a new wall :).
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beautiful photos of your family! i'm so happy for you. and i love seeing the mobile in your home! best to you and yours.
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Ali-
I loved your pic....It was so nice to see YOU in them with your family! :) Beautiful! :)
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Beautiful photos! I love little Anna's smile!!
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These pictures are absolutely stunning, ali. I also think it is so wonderful to have your whole family together in the photographs. For me, it seems like I'm always the one behind the camera and even more rare is seeing our whole family in front of it.
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love it all!
thanks for sharing with us.
i would feel like i'd have to clean first.
i know thats sounds silly. but i could only get comfy then.
way to go ali!
a
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Those are so beautiful.
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What beautiful photos! She did an amazing job of 'seeing' your family. tfs
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Wow, ali...these are just beautiful!
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This is exactly how I fell about the photos that Paolo took of me and Ronan at Inspired! - Thanks for sharing these photos here - I still haven't shared Paolo's pictures yet, other than the one I shared with you, - I will share them soon on my blog too, I totally get what you mean about these photos being in your heart!
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WOW!!! That is about all I can say. You are so fortunate to have had someone to take pictures of your family in your own home.
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Jen is such a sweet, amazing magical lady - she is one of my very favorite people, ever....and these images, well, they're just a gift and a joy.
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these are just fabulous! how cool to have these pictures for the rest of your lives!
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Those photos are beautiful, Ali! My most favorite is the first one and the nursing one. The moments captured there are just precious. Simon is so sweet with his book.
Thank you so much for sharing these with us.
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Although I take many photos I am hardly ever in them. After we lost our son in 1998 I have been resistant to a REAl family photo session, like it would make it too real, even 10 years later that he is missing. I love your photos Ali, how real they are and all that they reflect in your love and connection to each other..."THIS is what family looks like..." I am rethinking the REAL family photos issue, who we are now, even minus our one is worth taking note of and perserving. Thank you Ali for sharing your beautiful life with us.
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I love these photos! Wish I could get someone to take shots like that of my family. We just recently had a new addition to our family a week ago. Lovely family you have.
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Gorgeous!
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You are right Ali when you mention why would you need someone else to come in to take photos when you take a lot already... I too feel the same sometimes.
But seeing you AND Chris in a photo together is the key. Photos together without a self timer :)
And your little girl is just the cutest thing. I love seeing photos of her. Her smile is the best!
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