What I Believe About Family Photography (And Why It Matters to You)
Family photography should be about freezing a moment in time. Capturing exactly where you are in this chapter of life.
Maybe you're in the season of having little ones at all those fun ages, where you're pretty positive the only time you get a brief moment to yourself is when they're sleeping.
Or maybe you're in the season where your kids are suddenly so close to graduation they can taste it, but you can't even fathom how you got here so quickly.
Maybe it's because of these crazy sports schedules. Seriously, I don't remember sports being quite this intense when I was younger. But then again, sports and I didn't exactly go hand in hand.
Go find my old tennis partner. I'm sure she'll tell you just how not great I was.
But wait. You have a senior?
Isn't that just one of the greatest seasons to capture?
That in-between stage of taking on the responsibilities of adulthood, figuring out who you are, and still holding on to the freedom that comes with being under your parents' roof.
Every single one of these chapters matters.
And you know what we can never recreate?
This exact moment.
Perfection Isn't the Point
As a family photographer in Tipp City, Ohio, there's something I wish every parent understood before coming to a session with me.
It is A-OKAY to not have it all together.
Honestly? Don't have it together!
That's life.
Don't let perfection be the enemy of good when it comes to capturing these moments.
You don't need to be nervous. You don't need to worry about everyone being on their best behavior.
Just come prepared to love on your people.
Because that's what this is.
A moment to love on your people purposefully and intentionally.
Don't worry if your littles cry. Sometimes they just need that moment.
Don't worry if they want to run it out. I'll run with them!
And if you're wondering what happens when your kids aren't exactly in the mood for pictures, I wrote a whole blog post about that, too.
Whatever it may be, I'll meet your family where they need it most.
You don't have to make your family fit into some picture-perfect version of what you think family photos are supposed to look like.
I want to photograph the family that's actually standing in front of me.
Your people. Your personalities. Your beautiful, sometimes chaotic, right-now season of life.
I Want You to Remember How It Felt
When I think about the photographs I create for families, I don't just think about what they'll look like hanging on a wall next month.
I think about what they'll mean 15 or 20 years from now.
I hope when you look at a photograph, you can still hear the giggles.
You know, that giggle you wish you could bottle up and keep forever?
I hope you remember those tiny, sticky fingers and how it felt when they wrapped around yours.
I hope you look at a photograph of your bashful teenager and remember who they were in that moment, while seeing just how far they've come.
I hope you can feel the love you had between you.
Because these are the things that change before we even realize they're changing.
And one day, the photographs we make now will help us remember the moments we can never recreate.
I hope they bring back a little bit of nostalgia that warms you like a hug from grandma.
This Chapter Is Already Worth Remembering
So if you've been waiting for life to slow down, for the kids to cooperate, or for everything to feel a little more put together before scheduling family photos, here's your reminder.
You don't need a different version of your family.
You don't need a more perfect season of life.
You just need this one.
The one you're living right now.
Whether you're chasing toddlers, navigating the teenage years, or wondering how on earth graduation got here already, it's worth remembering.
Come as you are. It's worth remembering.
If you're looking for a family photographer in Tipp City, Ohio, I'd love to help you hold on to this season, exactly as it is.
[Learn more about my family photography sessions.]
