Blessed Are Your Eyes

“Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things…” Psalms 119:18 By Sis. Malissa Grandberry-Brown

magine: • A soon-to-be mother glowing and holding her growing baby bump. • The delicate features of a newborn. • Family gatherings that are full of laughter and happiness creating memories that will be captured and viewed by generations to come. • The pride and joy of a graduate. • A child of God with their hands lifted in adoration and praise to the King of Glory. These are a few of the instances that God has blessed me to capture through Brown Squared Photography. In 1997, at the age of 25, I was diagnosed with a disease that the doctors said would leave me legally blind. The condition caused my left eye to bulge out of its socket and my eye sight slowly started to diminish. The doctors made the proclamation that no one wants to hear, “There is nothing that we can do.” I now realize that it is those types of conditions that God works the best. I am thankful for a praying mother who knows Jesus. Every time she would see me, she would lay her hand over my eye and say, “In the name of Jesus. “ I don’t know how, I don’t when, all I know is that God put my eyeball back in its socket and I have been told by the eye specialist that I do not have 20/20 vision, but 20/10 vision, which means I can see better than the average person. That was 25 years ago! I now have a greater perspective of that experience; it has given me an eye to capture and highlight the details and beauty of the simplest situations. One of my joys is the love of taking pictures. About 15 years ago I was inspired to enhance my skills at the professional level. Ten years ago, “Brown Squared Photography” was born, with my beautiful daughter, Melenie (Professional Clinical Therapist) as my assistant. Interestingly, I can only take photos with my left eye,

Ithe same eye that God healed. I specialize in newborn, maternity, family, and senior photography. I have a special affinity for worship and church photography. I feel as if God allows me a glimpse into what He is doing in His child’s life at that moment long enough for me to capture it through the lens of my camera. Some of Brown Squared Photography accomplishments includes being featured in magazines nationally and internationally; the Indy Star; placed three times in the Indiana State Fair Photography contest, and was featured on news stations, websites, and local art events. I have learned that Brown Squared Photography is more than just a business—it’s also a ministry. My style of photography is not just art but emotional and spiritual experiences as well. God has a way of strategically placing His children where they are needed to minister. Whether it’s a new mother needing prayer during a newborn photoshoot for postpartum depression, or just lending an ear to frustrated soon to be parents of a baby not arriving exactly on its anticipated due date or helping others to see themselves more positively with the understanding that they are fearfully and wonderfully made or providing words of wisdom to a new graduate. My passion of photographing is in capturing the essence of all those memories. If during a dark time, a person can see a photo of themselves in worship or at a time where God is moving in their life and trigger their memory of how they felt, remember what God told them at that time and be an encouragement, then, the enemy is once again defeated. So, when is the last time you had a photo taken of you and your loved ones? Do it soon, the memories will last a lifetime and beyond. “…blessed are your eyes, because they see…” Matthew 13:16

Malissa Grandberry-Brown lives in Brownsburg, Indiana, with Barry, her husband of 29 years and they are the parents of 4 young adult children. She is currently a member of Zion Tabernacle Apostolic Faith Church in Indianapolis. Brown Squared Photography serves Central Indiana and is available for travel. www.brownsquaredphotography.com | Instagram @brownsquaredphototography