Photography has always been something I’ve enjoyed, but over time, life got busy, and my camera stayed in the drawer near my bed. I was never a professional photographer by any means! I simply loved capturing moments, especially with family and friends. But somewhere along the way, I stopped taking photos. I snapped the occasional picture on my phone, but it wasn’t the same.

Recently, while cleaning out the office at my house, I found something unexpected- an old digital camera. It wasn’t just any camera; it belonged to my grandma. When she passed away, her belongings were split between her children. My dad placed the box of her things in the closet, and it remained untouched for a few years. The camera wasn’t perfect, but it was in decent shape. Curious, I tried to charge it, not really expecting much.

To my surprise, it turned on. As I scrolled through the memory card, I found something even more shocking— old photos of my grandma and her friends, snapshots of her life from long ago. I remember that she always carried it around, taking photos of my cousins and me at graduations, dinners, and other events. However, these photos were different; they captured a version of her that I had never met.

Holding that camera, seeing those photos, something clicked. I realized how powerful photography is- not in its perfection, but in its ability to capture life as it happens. My grandma clearly cherished these moments enough to document them, and now, years later, they were still here, telling a story I never would have known otherwise.

Finding the camera gave me a unique opportunity, I could pick up where she left off. I would keep the camera, not just as a sentimental keepsake, but as a way to reignite my passion for photography. It felt only right.

I’ve started bringing her camera with me, snapping photos of friends and family, not worrying about getting the “perfect shot” but simply capturing life as it unfolds. I want to be able to look back years from now and remember these moments just as they were. The little things-

I want to be able to look back years from now and remember these moments just as they were. The little things—the way my family gathers around the kitchen table, the way my friends laugh at inside jokes, the ordinary moments that make life beautiful.

Finding my grandma’s camera reminded me why I loved photography in the first place. It’s not about having the best equipment or taking professional shots. It’s about preserving memories, about holding onto pieces of time that might otherwise slip away.

So here I am, camera in hand, ready to start again. Not for likes, not for perfection—just for the love of remembering.

Written By: Paige Muttillo | Marketing Manager | Catholic Cemeteries Association