Helen Joy’s Photographer Blog

Helen Joy George 8/26/15 Helen Joy George 8/26/15

married in the clouds | michael and jill`

On the 4th of July, on a beautiful cool morning at Ceasar’s Head State Park, Michael married Jill and their families joined together as one. Jill used to come to Ceasar's Head as a child with her father, they scattered his ashes there after he passed away, Michael proposed to her there and so this was the exact spot that they wanted to get married.

These two have a quiet, strong love.

I’ve been photographing Jill and her extended family for years and last summer she had an extra sparkle in her eyes and her cheeks were youthful with a happy blush and then I met Michael and it all made sense. Michael is strong and protective and the way he wraps Jill in his arms makes me just sigh with happiness.

The day of the wedding was perfect. This overlook is usually crowded and I was worried that tourists and the hot weather would make it hard to photograph well and even then I was wondering how they would pull it off. But Ceasar’s Head was in the clouds that morning and a dewy drizzle covered everything in the most beautiful and sparkling haze. The groom and his men wore kilts and I swore we could have been in the highlands somewhere. It was straight out of a fairy tale.

One thing I loved about Jill was her unfaltering joy as she waited to walk down the aisle. It was raining on her wedding day and she was not just dealing with it, she was dancing!

For a few seconds after they were declared husband and wife, the clouds parted and you could see the outline of the mountains. And then the beautiful fog rolled right back in as if it was a soft embrace around the day.

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Helen Joy George 8/25/15 Helen Joy George 8/25/15

the need for community

A few weeks ago a couple of friends suggested we take our kiddos (13 to be exact) camping for a night. Sometimes, actually often times, the wind up and let down of such events don't quite seem worth it when you're elbows deep in getting everything together...and then there's that moment when cell phones don't work, when distractions are gone and all that's left is the beauty of the outdoors and the company of those around you. And then you breathe in and sigh a huge exhale of something that doesn't come around often...contentment. I was feeling the beauty of community so strongly. So much that I broke out my big camera instead of relying on my phone to capture it. When I got home and saw the images I just felt so strongly that these are pictures of community. Children draped on people who aren't their parents, watchful eyes, playful parents, distraction free, tweens cooking breakfast and that sense of everyone pitching in. And it felt so dang good. Real, raw conversations took place and children were let loose to discover and dream and I thought, why don't I get here more often? Why don't I make the effort to arrive at this simple place more often?

In many of my conversations with dear friends lately, the main theme between them all is the longing for community. I realize how very special it is to have it and I feel very grateful that we are surrounded by the kind people we are surrounded with, but I also realize that community is also allowing yourself to be loved and lifted and cared for, and returning and doing the same. I think it is just as much asking and allowing as giving.

I wrote this for myself and for anyone else who has that longing for more.

Also, our pastor has been preaching on community the past few weeks and how we were created for it. If you have the time, I very much encourage you to listen.

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Helen Joy George 8/10/15 Helen Joy George 8/10/15

24 minutes with Thompson

As a photographer, I have been witness to some of the most incredible and intimate moments of people's lives. Joyful weddings, births, moments of treasuring up the feeling of family and home. And every time I am just spellbound with the honor. I frequently capture these moments with tears streaming down my cheeks and a smile on my lips. And then I met Thompson.

2 weeks ago, I was able to witness and capture an entire life. 24 minutes with Thompson.

Several weeks ago, Thompson's mama wrote me an email inquiring about having pictures taken of her son who would be born with trisomy 13 and would not live very long, if he was born alive at all. This type of photography is something I do fairly frequently with Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep but I had never photographed a baby born alive in these type of situations. Since this was during my only free month without being on call, I didn't feel it was fair to my family to guarantee that I would be able to be there, but somewhere in my heart, I had a peace that things would line up and I would be able to be at delivery. It worked out for Lindsey and her family to come up to my mountains to do a few pictures of her carrying Thompson. This was important to me because I wanted to meet them before I was at the birth and death of their son and because I wanted to capture the joy she had in carrying him because even just through email, it was so evident.

5 days after these photos in the river, I got a call that she was 10 cm. This was her third baby and I knew that her second baby had been a fast labor. I jumped in my car and just prayed and trusted that I would make it in time to get all the moments I could. I started my trip (50 minutes from her hospital) with my gas light on...and I didn't stop. I arrived and ran through the halls with my camera in hand, to arrive 5 minutes before birth. What a gift!

As soon as I was in the room, I was struck by the peacefulness of it all. There was no steady heartbeat in the background, only silence. I'll never forget Lindsey commenting before she pushed that she felt that Thompson was already asleep. Tears poured down her cheeks as she prepared to meet her son, knowing that he had most likely already passed on.

Two quick pushes and tiny Thompson was born...and he cried...and we all cried and shouted with joy. He was born alive! For the next 24 minutes that tiny boy was cradled and whispered words of love, for he was so loved. For the next few hours I witnessed loved ones pour into the room and cradle him too. I witnessed his grandmother loving bathe every part of him while singing "Jesus loves me". I witnessed his strong father wrap his strong arms around his wife and tenderly hold his tiny son.

Those hours were sacred and I just will never forget the strength and love it took to put aside grief and instead rejoice over life, no matter how short it was.

Sweet Lindsey,

Your grateful spirit, strength and vulnerability make you quite a shining light. So grateful to know you and your beautfiul family. Thank you for carrying and birthing your beautiful boy with such grace and gratefulness. And thank you for allowing me to share Thompson's story with the world.