My name is Joy Swan, owner and founder of the Joy of photography. I have 21 years of professional experience, an Associate's Degree in Photography and was a volunteer for NILMDTS for 7 years.  I take great pride in my work and feel honored to be a part of the creation of memories that will be treasured for years to come. Life is so precious and we never know what it's going to hand us, which is why photos are so very important.

 

Here are a couple quotes that I absolutely love:

 

"You make a living by what you get, you make a life by what you give." - I live by this quote. I make a continued effort to volunteer and donate to my community.

 

"What you have caught on film is captured forever...It remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything."

("caught on film" sounds like a thing of the past, but that's how I learned, on a 4x5 with bellows!) 

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Above you will see my family; my husband Lucas, son Gavin, daughter Aliah and our new addition, Payton.  Lucas and I have known one another our whole lives.  Our moms have been friends since they were 12!  I used to spy on him playing baseball with my brother in our backyard when we were kids!  Who would have thought some day we'd be husband and wife?  Lucas and I started dating in 2005 and got married in 2012.  With love we welcomed our son in 2014 and our daughter Aliah in 2016 and our daughter Payton in 2021.  To say that I am blessed would be an understatement.  I am living the life I never thought was possible but always dreamed I would live.  Like any family we have our challenges; after all we do have 3 kids!  Which is why I have an understanding and appreciation for families.  Having a family isn't always sunshine and roses but when you have a positive mind set anything is possible.  I can't say enough how blessed I am to get to do what I love for a living.  Thank you to everyone that makes it possible!

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Please take a few moments and read this letter that was sent to a photographer from one of her clients. 
Jeanine -
Today I am writing for a couple of reasons. I have some quiet time at the moment and need to get a couple of things off my mind. I will leave this for my husband to deliver to you when he is ready.
You photographed my wedding, you photographed my first pregnancy and my first baby. I contacted you awhile back to photograph my 2nd child and family. After getting prices and realizing I would want all of the pictures as we love your work – I decided against spending $500+ – which is what I normally spend for portraits and prints with you.. Please know it is not because I don’t value your amazing eye, or how much we love the experience.
That week that I decided to NOT do a session with you, this is how I spent some money.
On Sunday I called and cancelled our session. Monday I went out and got my hair cut ($39+tip), and colored ($65), Thursday I had my nails done ($24), my family went out to dinner at a somewhat expensive restaurant for no particular reason costing us $79 + tip. This was just 4 days since canceling our session, already totaling over $200 for un necessary things. My nails only lasted about 2 weeks, my hair is gone, and seven weeks passed when I got the phone call from our doctor. It was not something I expected and the cancer has spread very quickly. I will be leaving my husband, my 6 year old girl and my now 2 year old – not by choice. It is very hard for me to talk about it which is why I need to write you.
I watch your Facebook page and your posts about the value of a photo and if I could give back all of those things that I purchased this few weeks after I cancelled my session with you, knowing what I know now, and have that session, well… I would do it in a heartbeat.
Now my time is done and there are no more chances for me. The next time someone cancels a session – my wish is that you forward this letter to them. Time is fragile, it is gone before you know you had it. If you charged $200 for one print it wouldn’t be enough for what it is actually worth. I cringe to think that my priorities were a manicure over a memory to pass onto my babies and husband.
My love and thanks for what you have given us from past photos. I am so sorry that I did not see it as more than paper until now.
Karen L.

Remember this story next time you are thinking about putting off having professional photos taken.