Why Do I Photograph LDS Temples? One Photographer’s Story
Sometimes we, as temple photographers, get asked why we do what we do. Why do we enjoy it? Why spend so much money on equipment and traveling to so many temples? What keeps us motivated? This answer probably varies depending on who you ask. But for many (if not all) of us, it probably has something to do with the Gospel of Jesus Christ and sharing the message and testimony of why we have temples. That’s certainly the case for fellow temple photographer, Jimmy Paderta. While he may not have his photos on our website yet, his story and message are inspiring, so we wanted to share it with you. We’ll let him tell you in his own words:
It is a calling. My temple photography is a calling given to me by God. Why else do I spend a ton of time every mission transfer preparing photo prints and writing personalized letters on the backs of them for my missionary friends? Why else am I willing to be late to church over not getting my temple photos posted on social media? Why else have I printed off thousands of photos and spent hundreds of dollars in printing costs only to never make a dime from any of my temple photos (so far at least)?
My temple photography and me being at the Mesa Temple grounds are my true callings. When people ask me if I served a mission, I used to say no, because I joined the Church after the age of serving a full-time mission. Now I say that I’m on a mission. My mission is right here (the Mesa Temple grounds). I have touched the lives of way too many people to count. When I was with my friends Alan Fullmer and Rory Wallwork at Temple Square in Salt Lake City a month ago, they got a glimpse of how one can even touch the lives of random strangers.
The Salt Lake Temple by Jimmy Paderta
There are no coincidences. For me, this all began in March of 2014, when I felt the impression to take some photos of the Mesa Temple and have them printed out for one of the missionaries. Then I did it for another missionary. Then for three more. This month marks three years that every single missionary from the Mesa Temple Visitors’ Center has gone home with at least one Mesa Temple photo from me.
Mesa Temple Evening by Jimmy Paderta
The way their eyes light up when they see my photos. The way they tell me later on how much the photos mean to them. This evening I had just said goodbye to another sister missionary. Over a year ago I gave her a 4×6 photo of the Mesa Temple. Since then she’s had that photo taped to the back of her iPad. The tape is worn, but it’s still hanging on. For over a year, this representative of Jesus Christ carried my photo with her every single place she went.
That’s when you know the work is real.
Mesa Temple Sunset by Jimmy Paderta
To view more of Jimmy’s work, please follow him on Instagram — www.instagram.com/jimmypaderta/