Recently, one of our brides asked us about the source of our business name and I realized that I have never blogged about the origin of Idalia Photography. So today, as Mother’s Day approaches, I thought I would share the back story as to how we came up with our business name. Naming a business is not easy! My first thought was Alexandra Elvir Photography because Jay and I weren’t married yet, but I didn’t want to use my maiden name knowing that I would be changing it one day. I thought of other options, but nothing seemed unique or meaningful.

And then I thought about Idalia, a name I have always loved. Idalia was my mother’s middle name. When my mother got sick, never could I have envisioned a life without her, let alone have envisioned a life as a photographer. As I became accustomed to these two eventual realities, I decided that Idalia was a perfect way to memorialize a woman who inspired me to, in the words of Thoreau, advance confidently in the direction of my dreams and endeavor to live the life which I have imagined. Because professional photography was the result, naming our business after my mother only seemed right since we strive to capture love and life in a way that will honor those we love most on the days we remember best.

There are really only two ways to remember someone best. One way is through sharing stories with people who knew them. And the other way is through cherishing photographs. When I see this image every day that hangs in our hallway, I am reminded of the importance of those I love most. When I reflect upon that fleeting moment captured in black and white, I am reminded of my inspiration for becoming a photographer. So this weekend, as we honor and celebrate the special women in our lives, we encourage you to pick up your cameras and capture the moments that might one day hang in the hallway. If you’re a mother, allow yourself to be captured by those who love you most and have a wonderful Mother’s Day!