School Photo Season

This week I picked up my camera for the first time since I lost my Dad, it was scary and exhilarating and I feel so much better for doing it.

It was for the annual school photo day at my school and as crazy as it is to get good photos of more than 60 children, with their siblings, their classmates and their teachers...it really is so much fun. The weather wasn't brilliant but the cloud cover meant there was actually lovely light for taking the photos outside amongst the autumnal colours.

My darling Dad

My Dad was an amazing man. He was kind and fair, he could make anything grow and flourish in his garden and he overcame with considerable dignity more illnesses and challenges in the last years of his life than was ever fair for one person alone to face. He had an entrancing twinkle in his eye and a fantastic sense of humour. He always put himself last and would do anything and everything he could do to help someone in need. A big man with an even bigger heart.

My Dad also taught me how to take photos, he introduced me to the wonderful world of capturing moments and preserving memories. He was never far from his camera and looking through his photos in recent days reminded me of so many happy times we shared as a family.

My darling Dad passed away at the end of August.

He'll be with me


He’ll be with me,
Of this I know.
In the evening light,
When the shadows grow.

He’ll be there when the stars are bright,
Walking with me in the still of night.
His arms will be too far to hold,
But the love I have will defeat the cold.

No length of time will dim his smile,
I’ll see it when I sit a while.
All the years he was there for me,
Will stay locked safe in my memory.

Right now it hurts, it hurts so much,
To know his hands I’ll no longer touch.
To know his voice I’ll no longer hear,
But I know somehow he’s always near.

He’ll be with me,
Of this I know.
In the evening light,
When the shadows grow.

We’ll meet again,
Somewhere down this road.
One day, we’ll share,
All the hugs owed.

My highs and low,
He’ll watch from afar.
Pushing me on,
My guiding star.

My darling Dad,
Who went to sleep.
I know he’d say,
Now, do not weep.

Look on, look up,
Don’t be down hearted.
Nothing has ended,
Because I’ve departed.

The pride, the joy,
You gave to me.
Will never fade,
They’ll always be.

He’ll be with me,
Of this I know.
In the evening light,
When the shadows grow.

We never lose the ones we love,
Some watch over from somewhere above.
The laughs, the fun, the games we played,
The love, the care, they never fade.

But.

For now it’s time to say goodbye,
I cannot promise not to cry.
So go now to the endless night,
I love you Dad. Dream sweet, sleep tight.

Jo Jackson

Sweet siblings ~ Family Photography

A little over a week ago I was lucky enough to photograph 1 year old Saimi and her big brothers.

We had a lot of fun in their garden, the boys running around while little Saimi pottered among the flowers and watched their noisy games.


Kind words

I will hopefully be posting 'properly' soon but, in the meantime, I've been wanting to share a few lovely words that Heidi and Erkko sent my way following their beautiful wedding in July.


© Jo Jackson. Design by Fearne.