Every morning I get up and start writing a post with a topic normally tied to something that's happened during the week. It's usually about the marketing and business side of photography. Like every blogger, I'm looking for readership, because I'm hoping that what I'm writing about is always relevant and takes you in the right direction, helping you build your business. Well, this morning's post has nothing to do with helping you with your business or readership, but maybe it will inspire you the way somebody in this industry has inspired me. Last night I got an IM from my good buddy Brian Malloy in Boston. He shared some sad news about a mutual friend who passed away yesterday morning, Claudia Kronenberg Douty. When he told me, I just sat and looked at this image, posted by Mark Crosby, for the longest time - it brought back a lot of wonderful memories about Claudia, her love for photography, WPPI and life. I had lost touch with her for many years and didn't find out until recently about her fight with cancer. I first met Claudia when she spoke at WPPI. I'm guessing it was some time around 2001. She couldn't have been more in love with the craft, with teaching and her passion to help photographers raise the bar on the quality of their images. That passion was her signature and in trying to find a way to express how I'm going to miss somebody I've hardly been in touch with, I found the video below on her Facebook page. It was posted just four months ago and it's so typical of the Claudia I first met years ago. You'll have to watch it right to the end, to truly appreciate the fragmented quotes from the video, but if Claudia could talk to each of us right now, I can't help but believe this is what she'd say... "It's not just another day, it's the one day that's given to you today...it's a gift, the only gift that's given to you right now...Respond as if this is the first day in your life and the last day...open your heart to all these blessings." There's an expression I've heard and used many times, "God needed another angel!" While it seems so trite to say it this way, it's so appropriate, because God just got one of his best!
8 Comments
5/17/2014 03:27:31 am
With a heavy heart and tears in my eyes, I bid you farewell my beautiful sister... I was blessed to have know you :(
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5/17/2014 03:31:54 am
Thank you for paying tribute to a great person and a wonderful photographer. I met Claudia at dinner at WPPI and had the opportunity to hang out with her, we didn't just talk photography, we talked about life, travel, and food. Early the next morning was her platform class at WPPI, myself and a few photographers helped and pitched in to as she prepped for her speaking engagement, she packed the room with photographers that were in awe of her work. She had a great ability to really connect with her subjects and pull something out of them. The photography community as a whole has suffered a great loss. My heart goes out to her family.
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5/17/2014 04:55:24 am
such a sad day for the photographic community. as i sat in a gray flannel cubicle in corporate america, i one day dreamed i'd be a wedding photographer just like Claudia. i would look at her pictures all the time, not really knowing how i could ever do what she did. what an incredible inspiration she was to me. she will be very missed. xo
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Kirsi Marianna Lindberg
5/17/2014 09:01:34 pm
..see above...
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Alice Miller
5/18/2014 03:02:07 am
I am shocked and saddened to learn of Claudia's passing. I worked with Claudia when I was editor of Studio Photography magazine. Her fadhion approach to wedding photography was so classy, fresh and artistic. And her marketing creativity was second to none. Although we never met in person I felt a joyful connection with Claudia each time we collaborated. No longer as involved in the industry, I had no idea she was ill or had succumbed to cancer. I am sad and angry that this beautiful spirit is gone. At least her suffering is done. May her family find strength in the beauty of her life and the love she packed into every day.
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Laura
5/21/2014 05:46:58 am
I had the pleasure of working with Claudia at the Nantucket Inquirer & Mirror. If you know Claudia, you'll know what I mean when I say she was a warm and utterly unforgettable person. I'm blessed to have known Claudia. Though I haven't seen her in over 20 years, I am saddened by her death. I send my prayers to her family and loved ones. Thank for posting this beautiful photo of Claudia.
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Heidi Kronenberg
5/22/2014 08:16:46 am
Thank you for sharing your memories and love for my amazing sister. I love to hear your memories. It really means a lot to me.
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Kristen Jensen
5/24/2014 06:22:23 pm
I met Claudia in 2003 when I started my business and was in total awe of her. I was unaware that she was fighting breast cancer but very proud to hear and read of how she fought. She choose the high road and I sense she is free of pain now. I pray for her children and family to seek peace. Skip, your tribute to Claudia was beautiful, as she was. She will be missed by many :(
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