I didn't find photography.
Photography found me.
And then it healed me.
I started as a writer.
For 10 years I worked on one book, Beauty Restored: Finding Life and Hope after Date Rape. The heart of this book was a message of hope to women and their loved ones. I wanted them to know they were not alone in their pain. The book is based on my own painful experience of being date raped in college.
Almost ten years later, on March 20, 2001, the first day of spring, I birthed two babies: my beautiful firstborn, Pascaline, and Beauty Restored. When Pascaline was three months old, we hit the road, and for the next 18 months I did over 50 National TV shows and radio interviews. While my little one slept in the backs of churches and colleges, I was up front sharing my story and hoping one woman would feel hope again.
After two amazing years on the road, I was pregnant with our second. His name was Aidan, our little fire. While in Tennessee for a week-long speaking tour, I started experiencing abdominal pains, and three weeks later our baby Aidan's heartbeat stopped.
After losing Aidan, I couldn't speak publicly or write, and I sought refuge in my partner, Brian, and Pascaline's love. During those times of grief, I picked up a camera. Pascaline's innocence was precious from every view point. I found myself working to capture her story: the times she couldn't stop giggling, the times she curled into the safety of daddy's arms, the times she slept, the times she was fussy and frustrated, the first time she played with a yellow balloon...
Friends and family started noticing the photos and asked me to photograph their kids. Soon brides were contacting me for their weddings. I had gone from speaking to 800 women and sharing my story, to finding healing behind a camera. Life had taken this unexpected turn, and now I was given the privilege to artistically capture another woman's story on her wedding day. Photography had found me.
A new chapter of life has unfolded, a chapter of writing other people's stories through images—stories of new beginnings and moments of choosing to trust. Every time Brian and I shoot a wedding, we see these moments: a grandmother reaches to squeeze the bride's hand, a groom whispers in his bride's ear, the bride giggles, a father cries while he dances with his daughter. What could be more worthy of capturing than these moments?
Brian and I have a creative team of three associate photographers who do wonderful work alongside us. In the coming year, our studio and clients will be featured on VH1's Fabulous Weddings. We are also proudly sponsored by Pictage. And for two years, our studio has been one of fifteen exclusive advertising photographers in grace ormond Wedding Style magazine.
Our images of weddings and children have been published nationally and have won international awards. Alongside our joy for photography, we have rekindled our love for speaking. Together, Brian and I travel nationwide, speaking at photography expos and conferences. We also lead workshops not only for professional photographers but for parents and scrapbookers too.
Our latest news is that in February, we finished filming a DVD series for parents who want to take better photos of their kids. We are thrilled to have this available for all our parents in April 2007!
But the most wonderful thing of all—we have a new member in our family, our little Blaze, chubby feet and all! Each day I find that my pain over my losses is still with me, but the joy is growing just as deep, if not deeper.
For More Information: Me Ra and Brian's principal wedding coverage begins at $10,000. Lifestyle portrait sessions of family and children begin at $1200.
Wedding coverage by any of Me Ra Koh Photography Associate Photographers begins at $6500.
To see our portfolio visit, Me Ra Koh Photography.
For the latest press, the release of our DVD series, and photography tips for moms, visit Me Ra Koh Photography Blog. |
