My perspective about candid shots changed after the loss of my granddaughter, Kaylena. She passed away in 2020 at two and a half years old due to cancer. After she was gone, I realized that nearly all the photos we had were posed photographs, with very few candid ones. We will never see her again, and photographs are all we have. Without them, memories could begin to fade, and that is something I fear deeply.
Because of this loss, I now value candid photographs more than ever. I want images that show who my grandchildren truly are—how they move, play, and exist in real moments. I never want to lose them, and I want to preserve their reality, not just a posed version of it.
Candid photographs capture moments and tell stories rather than create something that is not real. They hold joy, vulnerability, and the raw emotions of everyday life. These images feel honest and lasting.