In Perpetuity (in per-puh-TOO-uh-tee)
The Phrase That Made Me Pause
Recently I came across an interview with Jamie Lee Curtis where she shared advice her father once gave her when she started acting.
Her father, Tony Curtis, told her something simple but powerful. He reminded her that whenever a camera captures you, whenever something is filmed, it can live in perpetuity.
Forever.
That phrase stopped me for a moment.
And it made me start thinking about photography.
How Photographers See the World
Each photographer sees the world differently. The way I see a moment, a face, a beam of light, or a story will never be exactly the same as the way someone else sees it.
That’s the beauty of photography.
Our images are our interpretation of the world around us.
A Personal Reflection
This year, in 2026, I turn 61.
Photography has been part of my life for many years, and like many photographers, I’ve spent a lot of that time exploring where I belong and what direction my work should take.
There are moments when you question yourself.
Am I doing the right thing?
Am I creating the right images?
Am I working on projects that truly mean something?
Every photographer goes through that search.
Over the years I’ve created many images, but there are a few that I am especially proud of. The ones that feel like they truly represent how I see the world.
Those are the photographs that matter to me.
And I hope that years from now, someone might look at one of those images and say:
"I knew her."
“Change”
This image is one of those.
It holds many firsts for me. It was my first time creating a double exposure image. It was my first time working with the MMIW movement to create something meaningful. And it was the first time this piece of work was recognized with an award.
I received the Pat Elsenbarth Award - Best in Class from the PPOC Professional Photographers of Canada 2021.
Sometimes a photograph becomes more than just an image. It becomes a moment in your journey, a moment when something clicks and you realize you’ve created something that truly represents who you are as an artist.
This photograph became one of those moments for me.
The Habit Many Photographers Fall Into
When many of us first start photographing, we take pictures and put them out there quickly. We’re excited, we’re learning, and in today’s world of social media there’s constant pressure to post and share.
Sometimes we put images out there simply because we want people to see our work.
But we don’t always stop and ask ourselves an important question:
Is this an image I’m truly proud to stand behind?
The Green Ribbon vs Blue Ribbon
Someone once explained photography to me using the idea of green ribbons and blue ribbons.
A green ribbon image works. It’s fine. It does the job.
A blue ribbon image is different. It’s the photograph you are truly proud of, the one that represents your vision, your craft, and the photographer you are becoming.
As photographers we can take thousands of photographs. That’s part of learning.
But the images we choose to share with the world are the ones that represent us.
The Reality of the Internet
Years ago photographs mostly lived as prints, in albums, on walls, or in books.
Today the moment we post an image online, it begins to travel. It can be shared, reposted, copied, and passed around in ways we can’t control.
And once it’s out there, there’s no pulling it back.
Most images are seen for a moment and then disappear into the endless scroll of the next day.
But strong photographs are different.
They stay.
They get shared.
They get remembered.
They become connected to the photographer who created them.
The Legacy We Leave
And long after we’re gone, those images may still exist, quietly showing the world how we saw it.
That’s what in perpetuity means.
So take as many photographs as you want. Experiment. Explore. Learn.
But when you decide to share an image with the world, take a moment and ask yourself:
Is this the photograph I want to represent me?
Because one day someone might look at that image and say:
"I know who took that photograph."
And that image may still be out there
in perpetuity.