Just Take the Photo

We live in a world where it’s easy to overthink photos. We wait until our hair is styled just right, until we lose those “extra” pounds, until we’re wearing the perfect outfit. We hesitate, we delay, we say “not today.”

But here’s the truth that hit me hard this past week: when you’re gone, your loved ones won’t care about your hairstyle, your weight, or your clothes. They’ll care about the memory. They’ll care about seeing your smile, your presence, the spark in your eyes.

The reality hit me hard last week as I searched for photos to honor my best friend’s ex-husband, the father of her children, at his homegoing service. It stopped me in my tracks, reminding me that I’ve often avoided the camera myself—convincing myself I didn’t look the way I wanted, that I should wait until I felt “ready.”

But the reality is: the people who love us don’t see us through that critical lens. They don’t pick apart our bodies or focus on our insecurities. They see us. Whole. Beautiful. Worth remembering exactly as we are.

So let me encourage you, as I encourage myself: just take the photo. Don’t wait until you think you’re “enough.” You already are. One day, that photo might be the treasure that gives your loved ones comfort, joy, and connection when they need it most.

Life is fleeting. Love is what lasts. And sometimes, love looks like a single photograph that holds a world of memories inside it.

So don’t hesitate. Smile. Snap the picture. Be remembered.