Once in a while you’ll get a family who can become their true selves in front of you. This, friends, makes for some awesome memories. If you can show up and put aside whatever mess is going on in your life, whatever tantrum your toddler(s) had while you were dressing and getting them in and out of the car, and however long and painful it was to find parking in this forsaken town, your investment will be worth it. You can look back at them and say, “Yep, there we are.” When you’re in a season of hurt and can’t find a way out, you can scroll through your album and be filled again with love and hope. Wedding pictures can do this when you’ve had a fight with your spouse, newborn pictures can do this when you’re up at 3am for another feeding, and family pictures can do this when your children keep growing and you can’t stand that it’s happening and you want to see them little again.

Let’s all show up and put the mess aside. There is so much time to be sad or anxious or worried. On your portrait day, be the parent you want your children to see. You won’t regret the outcome!

This is probably my favorite family session from this past fall, and I can’t believe I haven’t gotten around to blogging it yet. It is so silly and fun and real. I just love it.