Mark Denman Photography | Weddings

She never knew me as a photographer, but she knew I would be whatever I chose to be.  I vividly remember talking to my mother saying to her that I did not want to work for someone else for the rest of my life. That was in November of 2006.  She was 21.5 years into her battle with cancer.  Some might have said she was winning.  To see her you would never have known what was going on inside.  She offered two simple words in response to my plight…”well don’t!”  Years of her telling me that I was smart enough to do anything and accomplish anything wrapped nicely into two little words.  

It was not the least of her gifts to me.

At that point I decided to take control of my own life and pursue something that I enjoyed.  I decided to take a leap of faith and pursue a career in photography.  I chose not to tell my mother until I was sure that the finances were in order that would allow me to enroll in school.  By the time I had secured funding, I had less than a month left with her. Unbeknownst to me at the time.  She was in the hospital and desperately weak.  I told her that I decided to pursue another career and enroll in photography school.   She said not a single word.  She smiled… and whatever I was expecting her reponse to be, that smile is more than I could have asked for.  I’ll never forget it.  A life time of instilling confidence, a life time of hope, a life time of encouragement, all behind one gentle smile.  I know that she was proud that I chose to be what every man and woman has a right to be - what she’d always wanted me to be…Happy!

On a bus in London, England

This is the last photograph I took of my mother in December of 2006.  She passed away 5 months later.  It was hand held on a dark bus for about 2 seconds.  When I first looked at this picture, I thought to discard it, but now its more valuable to me than any picture I’ve ever taken.

I wanted to take a minute to pay tribute to my mother with this first post.  Joyce Marie Denman - the reason I am who I am today.  She will always be remembered.