What’s in a name; thoughts behind a title.
Miracles Respectfully Preserved is the name of my blog and my miniature business, my very miniature business. I made a whole $28 royalty last year, which was a wonderful surprise to me when the 1099s came in the mail. I was a person with “royalties”. This was one minor miracle. Wealth was not the incentive behind these ventures, instead it was honoring my family’s desires that I “do something more” with my nature photography. My loving parents and husband relentlessly encouraged me to share.
First, a little background: For twenty-six years, I was a professional portrait and wedding photographer, of which twenty-two years co-owned an upscale studio with my husband. We closed a studio that succeeded in a loyal reputation of quality portraiture and caring service yet never prospered financially. Nature photography was my personal passion allowing me time outdoors and opportunity for creative play with my skills. Nature and photography continue to renew me.
With the support of my father, I made a book of my “New Beginnings” prairie images collection. Over a two-year period at the Chicago Botanic Gardens, with the aid of a naturalist, I became a part of the prairie. I photographed the prairies over each season, each time of day, under all types of weather. The book began with the forty-five images chosen for an exhibit at the garden celebrating their in-progress prairie restoration work, and included a few other images that supported my words about this unique experience. The book was published twenty years after photography; a miracle.
I labored over a name for my potential new business in the case that someone other than family and friends would have an interest in my book or photographs from the exhibition. It was relatively soon in the name-seeking process that I realized the blessing this experience was for me. It brought me closer to my parents, both strong supporters of my talents. For these otherwise non-verbal supporters, both my parents were outwardly telling me I was special. A miracle. Observations of nature’s renewal and survival and adaptations revealed miracle upon miracle. It soon became obvious to me that in God is where I would find the name for my photography sharing. For several weeks, while attending church, I sat in the pew and wrote lists of possible business names. I am almost certain that the pastor was distracted a few times when spotting me busily writing during his sermons.
Miracles Respectfully Preserved says concisely my thoughts of my nature photography, and for that matter, my photography of any subject. The experiences of being close to nature and the resulting photographic images have been blessings for myself, which I graciously share. I have found a way to be my quiet self and still share my deep awe of God’s blessings.