It has now been three weeks since the Christ photo shoot. I am finally finishing with all the editing, organizing, sorting, uploading, etc. that goes along with a big job. And I didn’t even have to do it alone. Brett sorted and organized the pictures into each families folders. Megan edited the two best folders. She created the slideshow with the help of Brett before he left for Canada. Then Kenny added a video clip and changed the music to the slideshow. He also prepared it on his website to be able to make a link so others can view it. It was a huge undertaking but one that turned out far better than I expected.
Just before the kids left for Canada, we had everyone who was involved over for dessert and a movie (the slideshow). People have been moved and inspired by the images,
which is why I am writing about this now. Cheryl Osborn, whose idea this whole thing was in the first place (to have an image of Christ with modern day teenagers) began talking with Chad about what could be done with this. Her ideas are to make this a bigger event than just a little gathering but more like a fireside, a missionary opportunity, a display of pictures showing Christ.
There is another photographer who has a book out now of photographs he has taken of Christ and some of the stories from his life. I think he has opened the market for other photographers to do something of the sort, which essentially is what I have done. It was inspiring for me. What I am doing is a bit different because it is the resurrected Christ.
I spent several hours talking with Cheryl yesterday – she was trying to sell me the idea of making this a big event. I am always, fearful, reluctant, unsure and unknowing. I like my little comfort zone. My thoughts were to possibly do something once a year, during the same time, using the same costume and model, (since he plays the Savior in the Savior of the World play) letting families know we are doing this, having them sign up for the “experience”, then selling wall portraits for their homes. At first I thought about cloning other families in but the experience is far greater than just the image.
Cheryl’s idea is to get a committee together of people who believe in this project and want to be a part of it, giving out assignments so that I don’t have to do this myself. She is good at that. I am not. She would like to have a photo shoot in the fall and maybe again in the spring adding more pictures to be used on display and such. In exchange for their help, I could do pictures of their families with Christ. It wasn’t until she suggested the idea of a committee that I could begin to see the vision. Before, it was just all so overwhelming to me (thinking I would have to do everything on my own). This is her strength. That is why she runs the SUV choir. She is talented at that sort of thing.
With a committee of people on board, the task isn’t so daunting for me. She said to me, “I want to be your publicist. I believe in this project. I believe in you.” Those were such comforting words to hear for me. To have someone other than my own direct familee believe and love it like I do. She also said that she would be highly disappointed if I decided not to do it but certainly would understand. Also, she said that she feels like this has been dropped in our laps and if we don’t take the opportunity to do this service, it will be lost. Other photographers will get on the band wagon and take it from under my feet.
I do feel like that as well. I do think that the Lord has placed this in my lap at this time. I remember the feelings of seeing work done by a photographer at BYU ed week – images of Christ, that I just loved. I took Ken, Meg and Chad back everyday to look at his work. When I first saw it, I stopped in my tracks. I was stunned. I loved it so much! I said to Chad, “This is what I want to do.” It wasn’t but a few months later that Cheryl wanted to have a picture of Christ and teens for the SUV book. And then Christmas morning, I was thinking about an article I read in the Ensign about people that were called as missionaries to paint murals for the new temples, then thinking about doing these pictures and the Spirit said to me, “This is YOUR mission.” It so happened that all fell into place to be able to used the model and the costume. How could I turn my back on this opportunity even though I was so fearful? I couldn’t possibly. I have too much of a testimony to know better. So fearful or not, I had to move forward.
I don’t know what will come of this but I know it will be an experience that I may never get again. I am not looking for glory at all. I want others to get that ‘spiritual high’ like I have had. What I need to do it treat it like a calling. I can pretty much do most any calling, because it is just that, a calling from the Lord. There is something that takes over the fear inside when I am called to a position.
I think I fear people, and rejection from others. I am a people-pleaser and that is why I do everything myself.
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