The excuses are endless. “I need to lose 5 lbs first.” “I don’t have anything to wear.” “There’s stains on this shirt.” “I don’t have time!” “I have to take the photo!” Our walls are covered with pictures of our kids cheesy grins, covered in mud or paint (or both in some cases), wearing the most ridiculous outfits that they, no doubt, picked out, framed with colored macaroni or popsicle sticks. And we treasure each one! But look around those photos, are you in any of them? If you aren’t, get out your phone and take a picture and then immediately book a family portrait session. Because when the people you love are gone, it’s all we have left. It’s what our kids will show their children and what our grandchildren will show our great-grandchildren. They’ll laugh, share memories and tell stories. And that picture will be everything! I use my iPhone all the time for daily portraits as you will see with some below, but then I also schedule my families portraits to be taken by a professional!
On a more personal note, obviously I’m a professional photographer, but I am so passionate about family portraits and getting everyone together because I know what it’s like to only have the portraits of loved ones. This portrait is the last one of me and my father from 2013. He passed away that next week and I had a feeling it was coming. I had my husband, Brett snap this photo of us. That day I made him all his favorites that he requested. My sisters spinach lasagna, my cornbread casserole, filet mignon and nana’s basil butter carrots. He was so happy to have his favorite meals and I am so thankful I was able to make them for him. This picture means the world to me and it’s a story I share with my children continuously.
We lost my mom in 2018. She fought a battle to keep her mind and this portrait is one of the last ones of us together. It was the most glorious four hour stretch when she was really there, she was really my mom. That afternoon we talked about my sister, Anne Marie and how she had successfully opened up her own law firm and my mom said, “Oh I need to send her flowers!” When we arrived back home the first thing I did was send flowers to my sister from our mom and dad. Telling her how proud they both are of her. That day was a gift from God and one that I treasure everyday. My mom asked questions and we really talked, I gave her a manicure and it was just like nothing was wrong. I always took for granted all the conversations with my mother but when it is ripped from you with this horrible disease, you treasure every second of it. I quickly snapped this picture of us together and I am so so thankful I did. I now have this to go with a beautiful memory I can share with my children.
So this is one of the reasons photography is so important to me. A moment captured in time, a memory forever captured, a story that can be told with pictures! If I didn’t have these portraits of my mom and dad there wouldn’t be anything for me to show my children, for them to show their grandchildren. I know how important it is to take the portrait and be in the portrait. I invest in my own family’s portraits, I snap photos of us in the little moments and I make sure we’re all in them. As a mom, I know some friends say that they are always taking the photo and can’t be in them, but make it work! There are so many gadgets that make it easy to set up your camera, ask a friend to come over and get your family together, and most importantly, if you make an effort to take the photos, everyone will appreciate it for generations!
All these portraits are treasures to me and my family. A moment in time where I can recall what we were doing, how I was feeling, even the smell that surrounded us. It’s funny because a portrait doesn’t create a memory, but it sure does help us remember all the little things that were going on. Book a family portrait session, get the coordinated outfits and make sure you feel your best! Snap quick photos with your family and display them all proudly! Because in my humble opinion, you can never have too many phographs of the people you love!❤️
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