Photo of me as a little girl, and my mom, with Prince Charles. Circa 1985. Film photo taken by my dad, Andrew Hauk.

I am reminded everyday how small our world truly is… but back to that thought in a moment.

When I was a little girl I grew up in England and lived there for 7 years. According to my parents, my sister and I used to have adorable British accents but lost them over time once we returned to the States. Big Ben used to be one of my favorite places to see; I was in awe of its size and detail. I would draw pictures of it often (years before I discovered my love for painting and photography). I’ve returned to England several times as an adult, and remember noticing how small Big Ben looked compared to how I remembered it. Funny, how our perspective shifts.

One of my favorite memories of England is captured in the photo above. My sister’s class was going to the parade in front of the palace to see the Queen and Prince Charles. I was too young for school at the time, and my parents could see the disappointment on my face at the thought of missing the prince, so they decided to make a trip down there. Somehow, Prince Charles stopped to see me; I gave him a dozen pink carnations we picked out, he gave me a kiss on my cheek in return. [I can honestly say I've been kissed by a prince!] My dad squatted underneath the ropes to take this photo, and he claims seconds after he took this photo he was escorted back to the other side with the crowd. Surely, security in the 80′s was more lax than it is now.

I adore this photo. It reminds me of this moment. It reminds me of my family. It reminds me of England, and the 80′s with my Snoopy socks. Because of this photo, I can remember how I felt in that moment… almost 27 years later. I’m thankful my dad has a ‘good eye’ and the guts to do what it takes to document and preserve a moment through his lens. It must run in the family.

I was reminded of this moment with Prince Charles in England, because a bride who contacted me this week was also in the Air Force and stationed at Lakenheath Air Force Base; several of her bridesmaids were stationed there as well. I was reminded why I adore photographing weddings. I’m able to document precious moments in people’s lives, moments that significantly impact their life, moments that will forever be part of their legacy; moments turned into photographs that will be cherished years later. In a small way, the same way I cherish this photograph. It is indeed a small world.