I want to share a true story that moves me to tears every time I recount it.

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A few years ago, I was asked to photograph a wedding. Although I have a particular passion for creating family portraits, capturing weddings is always a wonderfully emotional experience. Often, it's the first time the entire family has been together in years, and the couple is likely at their absolute happiest on this day.

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Typically, I meet with the bride and groom three times before the wedding to review the details of their special event. During the second meeting with one particular couple, the bride broke down in tears. Her father had been diagnosed with brain cancer, and the family feared he might not live to see the wedding day, let alone walk his daughter down the aisle.

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I suggested arranging a family portrait session at her parents' home in Bowie as soon as possible. The bride and her family embraced the idea, hoping to capture these moments while her father still retained some outward appearance of health.

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The family portrait session at their home, including the ailing father, went smoothly. The bride's mother was especially pleased with the portraits and thanked me for creating such cherished memories for their family to keep forever.

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The wedding itself was perfect. Happily, the father did walk his daughter down the aisle, but he was visibly ailing and unable to pose for more than a couple of pictures that day. The family was profoundly grateful to have taken the family portraits earlier.

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Tragically, before the newlyweds could even review their wedding photos, the father passed away. They had come so close to not having photos that included him. This experience underscored for the family that the one thing that can never be replaced—and that we must hold on to—are the memories we share with those we love.

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This story encapsulates the reason I became a photographer. Creating photographs that hold such profound meaning for people brings me unparalleled fulfillment as an artist. Life is incredibly short, yet it's a wonderful gift. The memories we preserve of moments with our family will last forever.