To my beautiful assistant, my first and only mentee, and my session companion, Esmé (or Esmé Dear as I would call her during photo sessions). Words are funny- they can mean everything and they can mean nothing- but in times like these words are one of the few tools we have to share, to offer comfort, and to let light in. I will never be sure if you liked my term of endearment, but from the giant smile on your face I can assume you were ok with the word. And dear is such a suiting word, as you truly were and are dear to everyone’s life you touched. I can see this with great clarity through words that have been shared by loved ones, by hearing other’s memories of you.

It is quite funny (another perfect word here as you were heartwarmingly funny) how lives can intersect at just the right time, and how the impact of such an intersection can effect us in ways never imaginable. I had met you a little over a year ago, when I photographed you with your mom and sisters (their session can be seen here http://www.stephanieredcher.com/2014/07/09/gratitude-is-the-memory-of-the-heart/). I was immediately taken back by your maturity and your poise. As I was ever impressed, when I saw your mom in the Fall and she informed me of your newfound passion for photography I knew you would be the perfect assistant. And so it began, and though I had planned for you to only come help me during my busy back to back sessions, I soon asked you to join every session on my books. Once I was exposed to your desire to learn, to practice, to create art, I knew I needed to teach you.  And though I generally didn’t need help for some of those simpler sessions, I wanted you to have every opportunity to practice, and so I would invite you to come along and what I saw happening in front of my eyes may just be one of the greatest gifts I will ever receive. Your talent was evident, your passion was undeniable, and the way you saw the world and its beauty was a breath of fresh air for me. There were several occasions when at the start of a session you would stop me to say “look at that baby’s eyes… they are amazing.” I was rushing, distracted, fumbling, not seeing what was in front of me, but Esmé Dear…  you did. You saw the baby’s beautiful blue eyes- you had such a gift to see the beauty. You were warm, kind, and had such a gentle touch, as I observed during our last session together when you swayed a baby to sleep.

We had many conversations together where we discussed light, inspiration, life, teen idols, goals, your adoring family, ideas for the future of Esmé Page Photography, and my lessons for you. How I wish I had taught you more and taken more pictures of you; how I wish there was more time. But I know holding onto the words of wishes like these can only lead to feelings of anguish, and so I let these words leave me, and I choose to be left with your light, your beautiful spirit, your photography. I can only hope the pictures you left us with will be seen as a gift- I believe you will live on through your art. Her inspirational website can be found here http://esmepage.smugmug.com.

Silly me, I thought I was the teacher here, but this too is a funny word, because in the most fulfilling teacher-student relationship, it is the teacher who is taught the most. I will forever hold you in my heart, and will be reminded daily of your lessons for me- to give, be kind, to truly see the beauty around me. You will deeply be missed by every life you touched. You are so deeply loved by everyone, especially by your unconditionally ever-supporting and accepting family, I felt and observed this myself.

“May the words of our mouth and the meditations of our heart Be acceptable in thy sight here tonight.” from The Rivers of Babylon

In the words of her beautiful, loving and ever-supportive mother “Cling close to those you love.  Hold fast that love is the answer.”

 Esmé Catherine Page April 5, 2000- March 29, 2015