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Why Family Photos Are Important

Right now, we are in the midst of what we call the “busy season” for us family photographers. During the months of October-November, you can find me living in my editing cave - where I shoot, sift and edit ~20,000 photos when all is said and done. I am going on my tenth year since beginning my photography business and just decided a couple years ago that I would take the month of December off to enjoy time with my family and avoid the high stress situation of having to get photos back to clients in time to order Christmas cards. It has freed me up to really savor and enjoy the season of celebrating the birth of my Savior, instead of dreading it!

All that said, I really don’t like turning away anyone and get bummed every time I have to do it. Although I do have a great list of referrals that I am happy to send over, because I genuinely feel like family photos are so important! And in case you needed a few reasons to book your family session a little earlier next year, I wanted to share a few of my own family photos (taken by the wonderful Adriana Kay | edited by me) with a few of my own personal reasons for making photos a priority, at least, once a year.

  1. Memories

    There will never be a photo you will regret taking, but you will always regret not taking a photo. There are so many memories that our brains will forget, unless we document them. A picture often triggers a memory. There are many things about my childhood that I don’t remember, but when I flip through a photo album the stories about that season of life often come back to me. The missing teeth, the clothes I was wearing, the haircut… they all tell a story. Capturing your current season of life is something you will never regret.

    Fun story: My oldest daughter, Hannah, broke her wrist a month before our family session and was scheduled to get her cast off the MORNING of our photos! I bought the dress with long sleeves, just in case she had to still wear the bright pink cast. It would have been a memory!

2. Kids grow so fast

If you’re a parent, you know that the “days are long, but the years are short.” Kids grow and change so fast, that I recommend taking family photos at least twice a year until your kids reach about 2 or 3 years old. I love looking at our family photos from previous years and seeing how much my kids have grown and changed. These photos that we took only two weeks ago are already outdated, because my youngest lost her FIRST tooth a few days later! I am thankful that I have these memories captured of her with all her baby teeth :) I have also thought about the fact that my son, Micah, is due to get braces in a few weeks and this may be the last family session where he is still shorter than me!

3. deepens your bond as a family

One of the main reasons that family photos are often avoided (besides cost) is that they can feel awkward. Truly, the most awkward thing that you can do is just stand there and hold a cheesy smile for 30 minutes. I do not recommend. I also know that is what everyone’s perception of a family session seems to be. But if you find the right photographer and go into the session with the perspective that you came to connect as a family then I believe that will change the photos you receive. I have been around a ton of different family dynamics and love adding ways for you to loosen up and have fun together. These are the moments you will want to remember. Did I have three chins in a couple shots while spinning my daughter around in circles? Yes, maybe. Did we all have fun together and end up getting a few good keepers in the process? Absolutely.

4. pictures make great gifts

Every year, it never fails that my parents ask us for photos for Christmas. Investing in a family session is one way to pass on the gift of a captured moment to loved ones. Updating the photo frames on the wall doesn’t take much effort, but it makes a huge impact on the people who walk into your home. Also, Christmas cards truly are my favorite gift to receive from friends far and wide every year!

5. They will outlive you

There are tons of really good reasons to have family photos taken so that you can enjoy them, here and now. But one of the most important to me, is knowing the value of having that last captured photo with a family member. I am so thankful for the photo I have with my granny hugging me before my wedding and for the photographer who took it. I didn’t know it would be the last photo of us together, but just a few months later that photo became cherished for a lifetime. This is one reason I still love doing extended family sessions, although it takes a little more work to plan out and coordinate everyone’s schedules. Buying an extended family session in advance also makes a really good Christmas gift (hint, hint… I have gift cards available!) You just never know when that last photo may come.



Cason Family | South Jetty Beach, Venice FL

One of my favorite things about photography is being able to capture and document families as they grow. I first met this couple when they were expecting their precious baby boy and were planning to announce their pregnancy to the world. Now that little boy just turned ONE and is walking the beach alongside his parents! Life is such a precious gift. I’m so honored that the Cason family chose to make the trip down to Venice so I could continue capturing these moments for them. Even in the midst of a Tropical Storm in the gulf — we caught a break in the rain and made it happen! It was fun shooting my first session at one of my favorite local beaches here in Venice — South Jetty Beach. The rocks and trees along the jetty just make for a stunning backdrop!

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Happy ONE YEAR, Ford!


If you or your family are interested in booking a session, visit my contact page.
I would be honored to capture your story!

October, we love you.

October has long been one of my favorite months. It feels like the month that kicks-off ONE BIG PARTY that everyone celebrates until the end of the year! It’s also the month I went on my first date with my husband 13 years ago (getting old!) so there’s something nostalgic and romantic about it. And like a typical Florida girl, I get warm fuzzies as soon as the temperature starts dropping below 80 degrees.

This year it took a lot longer for the weather to cool down, so we kept postponing our annual pumpkin patch trip until last week. Micah, Hannah and Chloe FINALLY got to pick out their pumpkins to perch proudly on our doorstep! I’m thankful for traditions and the memories that go along with them. I can remember going to the pumpkin patch with Micah for the first time - and now here we are with three children and I couldn’t imagine life without any of them (although, I do sweat a little more than I did with one!)

Chloe’s first pumpkin patch experience was so fun! She was super laid-back and chill the whole time. I just love my easygoing, third baby. Can’t believe we are coming up on the big ONE soon!

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