You may or may not wonder exactly where the name “Carry the Light Photography” came from.  Why didn’t I just go with “Rebecca Dotson Photography”?

This name has a whole lot more meaning to it than just the name of my business.

I first heard “Carry the Light” while on a missions trip in Peru when I was 17.  This was our saying during the 2 weeks that we were there.  It was our mission to carry the Light.

This stuck with me.

I was forever changed during those 2 weeks.  God showed up in big ways.  We were there to make a difference in the lives of others, but at the same time He was making a difference in mine.  While in Peru, I was one of the designated photographers for the trip.  I already had a passion for photography, but that passion increased even more during that time.  The glow on the face of the children when I asked to take their photo and then show them their picture — that is something that is forever planted in my heart.  To this day I still look back on those photos with a slight tear because of how awesome our God is.  Something so little can mean so much to someone.

At the end of that trip, we had the opportunity to make a commitment to forever carry the Light for Christ.  I made that commitment.  I told Jesus to use me.  Use me for whatever His plan might be.  I had no idea what that plan would be, but I knew that I wanted to be used for His glory and His glory alone.

Fast forward 8 years later, and here I am.  I am finally pursuing what I believe God has placed on my heart for so long.  It hasn’t been an easy road.  I have struggled tremendously.  I have fought God about photography.  I have told Him that I’m not good enough.  Do you know what He told me?

He is enough, which means I am enough because He lives in me.

So after running and searching for my purpose in all the wrong places.  I jumped from job to job, tried direct sales, and always came up short.  I always felt like something was missing.  What was missing was my passion.

My passion for photography.  My passion to make a difference.  My passion to carry the Light of Christ.

What made me finally take this leap?  God hitting me with a baseball bat?  Pretty much.

What made me finally take this leap was our precious little munchkin.  Everything changed when she came along.  I developed a new desire to pursue what I always wanted to.  What I always knew I needed to.  God used her to give me that push.

So along with our little munchkin, my sweet loving husband, and our wonderful family, I am chasing after God’s call.  I am going to carry this Light.

Carry the Light is more than a name.  I didn’t call my business Carry the Light because I have a flash on my camera (although it works, right?).  I chose to call my business Carry the Light Photography because through this I want to carry His Light.  I want to make a difference in the lives of others.  I want to make an impact.  I don’t want to be just another photographer.  I want to be a photographer that cares, that loves, that is there for you because I know that Jesus is.

I want to be that photographer that will always carry the Light despite what the world says.

It’s not about me, it’s all about Him.

Carry the Light…always.