Behind the Lens

Sometimes when tasked with photographing life's events, you find yourself removed from said events, as if the camera in your hand is as large as a wall.  There is a fine line between documenting an event and being an active participant.  For me, photography is a way to create visual history of my life and my wife and kids lives.  History is very important to me and so is quality photography.  It is a fine line and one that I often seem to err on the side of photography, which frankly I shouldn't.  That all said, man is it difficult not to bring my camera.  Then again I do have a smart phone.
Dan