Hi, guys! It’s the lady behind the lens with your weekly words of wisdom (things I love: alliteration)…just kidding, I can’t pretend I’m super wise. I can, however, share some life experience that I’ve gained while being human these past 39 years, 18 of which have been spent parenting, and 8 of which I’ve been a photographer (things I do NOT love: numbers).

I digress. Moving along now.

As a photographer,  a mom, and a former kid myself, I’ve learned that children remember how you made them feel more than how you looked. The first photos I remember being taken of me turned out really cute (I was 2 years old, by the way), but all I can remember is that my dress was itchy, the neckline felt too tight, and so did my pigtails. I just wanted to get out of there! Because of this, I encourage parents to dress their kiddos comfortably, not to sweat the small stuff during sessions, and to focus more on enjoying the time with everyone instead of micromanaging.

So, when most people think about scheduling family photos, they have this vision of coordinating outfits, managing nap times, and hoping everyone will smile at the camera at the same time. I get it because, as I previously mentioned, I’ve been parenting for a while now. But here’s the truth: none of that stuff matters. The photos that end up meaning the most are rarely the ones where everyone is looking and smiling perfectly. They aren’t the shots you saved on Pinterest or saw on IG. They’re the ones where your family relaxes into what they’d normally be doing when you’re all together, where your child’s hand is resting in yours, when her head is on your shoulder, and there isn’t a pose in sight.

That’s why I encourage my clients to hang out and be themselves during sessions. Play a game with your kids, bring bubbles, toss a football around, and expect that they won’t sit down, fold their hands, and give me a perfect angelic smile for 45 minutes (disclaimer: 0% of toddlers care that it’s family photo day). And guess what…you don’t want that, I promise, you want your photos to reflect whatever unique blend of crazy or calm that comes with the season you’re in.







 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Group lying on blankets watching clouds in a field at sunset with vintage car parked nearby.
A family sits together on a blanket outdoors during golden hour with a vintage black car visible in the background.

Real Life Is, Well, Real

When I step behind my camera, my goal is never to capture flawless poses, it’s to tell a story. Your story. The way your baby reaches up for you, the way your teenager rolls her eyes when you make a dad joke, the way your family moves together. Those are the moments that tell the truth about who you are right now, and those are the moments you’ll want to hold onto years from now.

I remind my families often: it’s okay if your kids run, if your hair falls out of place, or if someone gets grass on their jeans. In fact, go ahead and expect it. Your real life, grass stains included, is its own kind of beautiful, and you can (and probably should)  remember it that way.


A classic blue Ford Mustang parked in a golden autumn field during sunset creates a nostalgic rural scene.

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