Kameron Bayne Images :: Signature Photography :: Studio News

As a AseraCare Hospice volunteer, today I had the privilege of documenting a dying man’s final wishes and photographed him in his military uniform.  In the process, I met his wife and could clearly see they had a beautiful marriage.  I spend a lot of time photographing the beginnings of love in the form of engagements and weddings, but today I witnessed the results of a lifetime of such love.  She was tender, sweet and joyful as she served and cared for him.  Although preparing for death can be hard and painful, for them, it seemed it would just be one more step in loving without regret.

My brother and I photographed a destination wedding in Maui, Hawaii this past week.  Here’s a taste of the island in January (Jordan is the talent behind most these shots!).  I know it was only 10 degrees here in Omaha (and for most of the country) so we tried to bottle up some sunshine and bring it back home for everyone.  Cheers!

Burnout is a serious threat to many photographers and creative professionals. Somewhere down the road they stop loving what they do. Creating art turns into “just work” with no perceived escape and sadly, they slowly die inside. Over and over again, I’ve been told the remedy is simple: take time to create art just for you – invest in creating your own personal work. Sounds easy, right?

Once a week, I try to do just that.  But it is much easier said than done.  Every day, more “responsibilities” unexpectedly call or demand attention. Part of which is just life and thus unavoidable; but I’m learning a much larger part is the mindset in which these “interruptions” are handled.  This week, our four-month-old suddenly became sick for the first time (it’s heartbreaking to hear him hack a cough with little tears in his eyes!) and we had to take him to see the doctor.  Fortunately, he was given some medicine to help him breathe and should recover in a week or so.  I guess what I’m trying to say is that even in the midst of a stressful day, I still saw beauty present all around me.  I’m glad I brought my camera for a few quick shots to remind me what keeps my love alive.

If you’ve ever read the childhood book “Go, Dog, Go!” then you might understand why people randomly exclaim, “It’s a dog party!”  I wasn’t familiar with the book and had no idea why my wife Heather would say this phrase every once and awhile.  That is, until this Thanksgiving weekend when I found Grandma exclaiming this same sentence while reading to Justin.  It was a favorite childhood memory of my wife’s family that is now being passed on to a younger generation.

Justin woke up from his nap all happy and talkative.  It’s not that unusual, but to my surprise, he had a lot more to be happy about today.  He managed to free an arm and two legs from his SwaddleMe bundle (i.e. the burrito wrap) and I have no idea how he did it….  He seemed pretty proud too. Mighty impressive, son.   

Occasionally, I get an opportunity to photograph for AseraCare Hospice which is an organization that seeks to give dignity to the dying.  Each time I volunteer (even though it’s hard, uncomfortable and even painful sometimes), I am put back in touch with the profound realities of how short and how important our lives really are.  Today, I met a man who loved horses all his life (one of his prized possessions is an old portrait of him with his favorite animal) and a couple who brought their own horse by to visit all the patients.

It’s amazing how a simple act of petting a horse can bring about a great deal of joy for one man, his children and all his grandchildren.  It’s a joy that’s contagious.