Beginning Again, One Story at a Time

I'm beginning again, and I think that is what my mother would want.

Since losing my mother, Doris, I have been trying to understand what everyday life looks like now. Things that used to feel ordinary can take more effort. Some days I have the energy to work on the website or pick up the camera. Other days I need to slow down. I'm learning to leave room for both.

Photography has been part of my family for a long time. Dansby Photography began in 1955, and I still care about the people and memories behind that history. Continuing the work gives me something familiar to return to while so much else is changing.

So I'm starting with the basics. I want the website to be a place where you can find my photographs, read what I have written, and listen to The Flash of Life without having to search through several different pages to figure out where everything went.

I will be sharing practical photography advice, stories behind the pictures, and some of the things I am learning in my own life. Family memories will have a place here, too. After losing someone you love, a picture you have seen a hundred times can suddenly feel very different. I want to make room for those stories without rushing them.

The Flash of Life will continue to bring together photography, faith, epilepsy, identity, advocacy, caregiving, and everyday life. Those subjects overlap in my life, and they affect how I see the people in front of my camera. I want the conversations to be understandable and useful, even if you know very little about photography.

I also want people to feel welcome here. If you are nervous about having your photograph taken, unsure of yourself, living with a disability, or worried that a photographer will not understand you, you can talk to me about it. I know how much a little patience and clear direction can matter.

The business side will move forward in stages. First comes a clear place to read, listen, and stay connected. Then I will work through the forms, booking information, advertising, and portfolio-building plans. I want each step to be something I can actually keep up with.

Thank you to everyone who has checked on me, remembered my mother, or simply given me a little room. I appreciate that more than I can put into a post. I am still grieving, and I am also ready to begin making things again.

You can find updates at www.dansbyphotography.com and the introduction to The Flash of Life on Spotify. I hope you will come along as I get this going again, one story at a time.