Often when people (mostly moms) find out I am a photographer, I get excited reactions and statements that sound like:

  • "I need to book a session with you, but I need to lose 15 pounds first"
  • "I have to schedule a session, but after I fix my teeth and can smile nicely for the camera"
  • "I'm going to schedule a session when my hair grows out again. I shouldn't have chopped it off"


Sound familiar?


It sounds familiar to me because, even as a photographer, I was letting my insecurities prevent me from capturing my beautiful little family, in a family portrait. There was actually a time in my son's life where the only photographs we have together are selfies, and I am a floating face hovering over his shoulder as I use his body to shield my own from the camera. Sadly though, even those selfies were few and far between because I was consistently hiding from the camera for years because I didn't like how I looked.


One day I came to a hard realization: time flies, and once it passes, it's gone. I will never be able to rewind to when my son is 5 years old and see a photograph of us doing an activity together, hanging out in nature together, or waking down the street together, and its because I was too busy hiding my body, my teeth, or my bad haircut. I lost the opportunity to capture that on film because I was insecure.

I MEAN THIS IN THE NICEST WAY.... IT'S NOT ABOUT US!


Not only will I not have photographs of my son and I from when he was 5, neither will he!

The theme of my photography website is all about creating our visual legacy, and how photographs are captured moments that become treasures we can leave behind for our children and grandchildren, and great-children, and great-great-grandchildren, and... you get the point!


I have a collection of 4X6 prints from a photoshoot my family and I did back in 2022 that will never be printed larger than that, nor will they ever be displayed in my house (even though they are beautiful images) because they were taken at a time that I was larger than I have ever been. But, I have them printed and, more importantly, my son has them. When my son came across the photographs the other day he said "Remember when dad farted when we were doing this?" and started laughing hysterically. Know what he didn't say? "Look how fat you were there mom", even though that was the thought going through my mind as soon as I looked at them.

OUR CHILDREN ONLY SEE OUR BEAUTY


When my son looks at the photos he sees his parents, he sees laughter, he sees love, and he deserves to have more of these treasures that he can keep for himself for years to come. When he looks at the photos he remembers the fun we had taking them, the games we played to interact in the photos, and his father farting!


SO JUST DO IT - BOOK THE THING!


So our children only ever see our beauty and our love. It's time to shove your ego in a box alongside your insecurities and drill it closed, then set it on fire. Now, find a photographer that you love (I'm available if you're looking), and go create little treasures with your children, for your children!