This past week I was away in Las Vegas for the Annual Wedding and Portrait Photographers International conference (WPPI) at the MGM Grand. It’s a week for photographers to get together, learn, laugh, network and hopefully walk away with more skills than they came with. Every year I go there is always something that leaves me thinking “this is going to elevate my photography skills”. And this year was no different. The one class that interested me the most was my Plus Class with the incomparable Bambi Cantrell. She is a master photographer and is recognized around the globe for her couture and dramatic images. However, I was also introduced to something even more jaw-dropping than her beautiful portraits, and that was the Album “Legacy” by Dawn Shields. This album caused an amazing amount of controversy because of it’s content. It was an album designed by Dawn Shields that reflected her family’s history. Her dad. His sordid past. Her family legacy.
I have never ever seen an album that has made my heart thump so deep from within my chest. This album moved me, scared me, and thrilled me.
I invite you to watch this with an open heart but with caution. This isn’t about weddings, or engagements or rainbows and puppy dogs.
So why am I displaying this album on my blog – a blog that is meant to celebrate love, marriage, adoration and life? Because albums are meant to move, to remind, to draw emotion to the surface of a story from the past. It doesn’t matter what the story is, this is what the album serves to do. It’s been so long since I can recall seeing another album that has had this kind of impact on me that I couldn’t help but share.
To really get the full impact of this album watch it in HD and in full screen mode and please feel free to leave your thoughts below.
Because I don’t want you to feel only jaw-dropping and stunned disturbance, I wanted to include another video by Dawn Shields. This is a fusion video that incorporates both video and still images. This one is much more inspiring, but no less tear-jerking. What a breathtaking story! If this little girl doesn’t inspire you and give you hope, then you must be a rock.
Dawn Shields is easily one of my favourite story tellers. The above two examples are reasons why. She inspires me to push harder in my story telling. I want my couples to feel the type of powerful emotion that I feel. I want to tell your story of your day. If you’re interested please contact me and I would love to setup a time and talk more with you.
by tlaw
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