The Importance of Family Photos
Parenting littles is no easy feat. It’s exhausting, it’s scary, it’s triggering. We are so wrapped up in the day-to-day struggles and routines and work and housekeeping that we kind of get buried in the early years of parenthood. And when we’re buried, it can be tough to find those pockets of joy that light the way out of the tunnel we’ve been digging. But they’re there. They’re often in those little moments that almost don’t seem to count. They do count, though. And they will end up being the moments you look back on with fondness; the moments you favor most. That’s why I want to stress the importance of family photos. When you’re in front of my lens, I’m looking at those ordinary everyday things such as walking together, fixing your little girl’s hair, and stopping to smell the flowers or notice a butterfly. I’m looking, and I’m showing you the magic that exists in your family simply being.
every now and then, i go down memory lane
October passed me by just like any month
but i still think of the times you took the breath out of my lungs
I know many of us moms want the photos we see on Pinterest. We want the perfectly curated outfits, the big smiles and endless laughter. We become immediately stressed when our child refuses to wear the dress we picked out or will only leave the house in her favorite pair of yellow rain boots. I always tell my families to embrace the season of life they are in. I’m here to tell you that I am a photographer, and I do not have a cooperative family when it comes to photo shoots. My oldest daughter has never wanted to wear bows or headbands, and she has dictated the styling of our wardrobe. Our first ever attempt at family photos consisted of tears and her favorite stuffed animal. And you know what? They are my favorite photos of us, because they captured what our life was like with our two-year old Mackenzie. The only thing I would change is having Emma in them, too.
Don’t be afraid to book family photos. Will that hour of time in front of the camera be stressful? Probably. But I always let the littles lead the way when it comes to how I capture my families. And I encourage you to do the same. Show up, be yourselves. When your little ones cry, hug them. When they run off, chase them; carry them back or throw them in the air. Smile through the pain of trying to hold it together. Take a breath and let it out. My lens and my company are both safe spaces to just be. So, book the photos. Document this season, because it’s fleeting. And I promise you it’s more beautiful than you think.
with love from the lens,
ashley
