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Living less than two hours from home, I have the opportunity to escape to the house I grew up in whenever I want. Some semesters this happens more often than others; often it depends on the amount of laundry I’ve amassed or whether a family function is happening.
When I do make the trip, it’s always nice to be able to see my parents and younger sister. The latter, though, is as busy as I was when I was in high school, which translates to having one free day out of every 14. She might even have fewer blank spots in her calendar than I did, because she inherited an athletic ability that makes her talented in sports such as basketball and tennis, where I wasn’t as successful.
This crammed schedule means my time with her on the occasions I do go home is limited — much to the dismay of our mother. So, I was not surprised one Saturday when mom quietly asked me if I would mind hanging out with my sister. I agreed but I remarked on the lack of much to do around my hometown.
“Well, maybe you guys could do a photo shoot,” Mom said. “Moriah’s been wanting to for a while.”
It was true. My 16-year-old sibling was an avid watcher of “America’s Next Top Model,” and it had given her ideas. I said something along the lines of a less-than-enthusiastic “Oh, OK,” and glanced outside.
It was evening and the sun was starting to set on a perfectly clear horizon. Though I’m new to the world of photography, I still knew that it was one of the few “magic hours” for those in the profession. In addition to this, the field behind our house was filled with golden-yellow weeds. I thought for a moment, then yelled in the direction of my sister’s bedroom. “Moriah! Put on that red dress and come outside.”
Grabbing the camera from the kitchen table, I strode into the field and was met by my sister a few minutes later, looking both confused and eager. “What do I do?” she asked. “I don’t know,” I said. “Let’s see...”
An hour later, I had 128 photos of my little sister, grinning, running, holding a cat, looking pensive, leaning against a shed, laughing and jumping...
And I’d learned something. This job — this life — isn’t about being serious and constantly businesslike. It’s about making connections. Meeting strangers and learning more about the people you know — enjoying both your work and your play.
It’s about having fun with what you’re doing ... even when you’re originally only doing it because your mom told you to.
