I never knew Beth well. In high school I had one single class with her. I knew who she was and I believe she sort of knew the same of me. I remember being in awe of her beauty. She seemed to belong to the "popular" crowd; where as I was a theater kid. I would see her at school occasionally but not in the way you really take notice. More like part of the experience.
Dylan was one of my good guy friends in high school. We first met when I lived with my grandma while my parents had a house built. Dylan would later refer to the handful of us kids who grew up in that trailer park as "trailer park kids". I was only briefly in that category but it was long enough for him to make a definite impression. When we reconnected later in high school he was much taller but still that goofy kid. I know it's so cliché, but Dylan was the kind of person who always put a smile on my face. He was the high schooler who was always goofing off, a not so serious trouble maker. He was always incredibly sweet and kind to me. I felt drawn to his relaxed nature.
For me, it was a bit odd when Beth and Dylan became a couple. At this point, I wasn't speaking much to Dylan. We exchanged a few random facebook messages from time to time. I now know he would always tell me what he thought I wanted to hear. Never anything bad, only good. I followed Beth and Dylan's relationship as well as their lives as most people do nowadays: on facebook. I watched good go to bad, then to ok, then seemed to be good, back to bad. My heart ached for my friend but he was an addict and there wasn't much I could do.
Years passed and one sad day I received heartbreaking news. As I get older more and more lives are cut short. But this was the first time someone I truly love and cared about was taken away. Dylan was gone, but there was something else I couldn't shake. Where and how was Beth? On December 3rd, 2014 I sent her a message, she didn't know me, but I wanted her to know I had her on my mind.
As time passed I continued to follow Beth's activity on facebook. Her addiction gave her many bumps in her road. I watched her move states; it seemed that she was sober. I watched posts that gave me hope; maybe she was healing, and suddenly I saw she was to return back home. It was then on August 17th, 2016 that I saw her post. I had been pondering photography. I was looking to do something different. I opened facebook and her post jumped right out at me; she had reached one year of sobriety.
My heart beat with an exciting idea. I carefully constructed a message. I wanted to gift Beth a photo session. I wanted to document and celebrate the difference a year can make. When she excepted, I couldn't stop thinking and planning. The week leading up I was nervously excited. The day of her shoot, the weather was perfect. The sunshine followed her every step, she was washed in light. She was clean and new. Her life after one year was just her beginning. I felt such an honor to photograph her. She was nervous at first but soon I saw this kind, goofy energy peak out. In these moments I saw the girl my friend had fallen for. I know Dylan would be so incredibly proud of her now.
This session is one of the most meaningful I've done. It's not something that's commonly photographed. You can't google search "Sobriety session" and find photos. But, it's my hope that one day you will. If there's one thing I know, it's that life is so incredibly short. Those struggling with addiction; who make the choice to get sober have one of the toughest battles ahead of them. Their triumph should be recorded, celebrated, and shared. Addiction can hit anyone. Addicts often fall off the sober wagon. I think both addicts as well as their families should have good, beautiful moments captured. If I can give a struggling human being something to hold on to; a photo of hope to look at, and a family an updated memory of their loved one... then I think I'm putting my skill to good use. This documentation through photography feels right but mostly it feels like I'm honoring a lost friend.
If you or someone you know would be interested in a Sobriety session please contact me at k3photog@gmail.com. I would love to gift recovering addicts and their families an hour session for $50.