A lot of people, especially politicians, are talented in persuasion, defined as moving people through influence, not authority. My late husband Lynn had the ability to persuade people that they were capable of learning new skills and taking on new roles.

Soon after we were married, he began photographing weddings on weekends, partly to earn extra money and partly because he loved photography. I frequently accompanied him as a way of spending more time together. Soon I was arranging bridal dresses and rounding up relatives for photos. Eventually, he put a camera in my hands and asked me to take...