Who remembers 2020 and the two weeks we thought would change the world?
Living in our Monterey California bubble, we were pretty well set on having a few weeks off from school and post-graduate work. We, like much of our small neighborhood, stuck to our homes and going out for walks in the perfectly mild weather. I kid you not when I say that we had a view of the bay from our bathroom. We were being blessed with this mini vacation in thee middle of paradise and were very excited to spend this time together.
Quickly two weeks became one month which then became what felt like forever. The walls felt like they were closing in on our tiny 1700sqft duplex and I swear my kids were plotting their escape daily. I mean, I think I can speak for many of us when I say that we were all over it by May, yeah? Yeah. Just then, one night after a socially distant backyard Bible study with my gal pals, one of them who is now my mentor and the most amazing photographer gave me the best advice.
"Just take a picture a day. It doesn't have to be this big thing. Just challenge yourself to take one picture every day."
In doing this and keeping with this advice, I began to find that what I loved most weren't the posed, "everybody look at me" photos. I found the most joy and beauty in the candid real life moments that told the story. I was posting to my social media platforms and my family and friends were beginning to see that this project becomes my passion and I began being asked to bring my camera along to snap some photos then not knowing that my first asked-gig would be my sweet Grandfather's memorial.
A military man, a policeman, a cowboy from Tennessee. My dad and his sister had asked if Id be sure to bring my camera along with my when I flew back for the service. Someone passing away brings the reality of memories being all we have now and as I stood on my grandparent's deck with family all around there to tell stories of my grandpa my grandma said to me
"ID LIKE TO HAVE PICTURES OF ME. I DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES OF ME WITH MY GRANDKIDS."
So I did just that. I gave us all the memories I knew all too well we would all be grasping for one day. My grandmother and her youngest granddaughter. My Aunt and her daughter. My sister and her oldest daughter. The siblings. The moment we all said good-bye. I decided in that moment that that was the gift I wanted to give to families. The forever keepsake photos. The picture of your wedding dress to pull out when your first daughter is trying it on. The picture of your family to remember their little hands and faces when they grow up and begin their adventures. The last picture of the family together before you received your diagnosis and everything changed.
I began Milly James Co. to bring the forever memories back to life every time you thumb through your photo album or show off your coffee table book. I began Milly James Co. to give you all the opportunity to relive the little moments that one day will be the biggest and best memories.
Chat soon,
Maggie
