Everyone knows someone who avoids the camera. They conveniently turn away, disappear, or make a face whenever a camera is pointed at them.

I get it. Most of us are uncomfortable having our picture taken. But it isn’t always about us, is it?

This week’s episode of Longing to More will challenge you to rethink your perspective and see the bigger picture of why you should allow those photos to be taken.

Guest, Michelle Maupin Barrett, shares her story and explains how tragedy completely changed her thoughts on portraits and why she thinks everyone should stop hiding from the camera.

Find Michelle at Michelle Maupin Barrett Photography.

In this episode, my guest, Michelle Maupin Barrett, shares the story of the tragic death of her husband and then the loss of her mother to cancer and how those two events helped her to realize her mission to capture the beauty of people for those they love. It is a story you won’t want to miss.

She talks about how people have been convinced that to be humble we determine we aren’t worthy and how that is not what God wants us to do. Instead, he wants us to accept our bodies the way he created them.  He didn’t create them to be anything but beautiful.

She confidently states, “My superpower is that I believe that women are beautiful. I honestly believe my camera captures that.”

She shares her favorite scripture, Psalm 91:4, and how God gave that scripture to her at a critical time in her life and how it has carried her throughout her life since.

He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler. (NKJV)

“Tell them that when someone points a camera at them to just look at the lens and smile. Because someday they won’t be here and we won’t have anything to remember them by.”   She knows because her mother was one of those people who always avoided the camera and now that she’s gone, they didn’t have ay good pictures of her. Michelle’s mission is to prevent others from the same fate.

She reminds us that when our mothers and spouses are gone, there’s nothing that can replace them but the photos help carry the memories on.

Be sure to check out her work on her website and the beautiful photos she’s taken throughout my website at vonajohnson.com.

Also, be sure to check out her Front Porch project (and if it is still active) to get your photo taken see them at Michelle’s Website here.

Her show special is a free 8 X 10 archival quality print for anyone who uses the code vona2020.

Be sure to listen, you’ll be glad you did!