Why Now Is Actually the Right Time for Family Photos
I’m going to let you in on something slightly embarrassing.
I’m a photographer. I spend a large proportion of my working life telling people that they don’t need to look perfect, their children don’t need to behave perfectly and that the best photographs are usually the ones where everyone is just being themselves.
And yet, for years, I have been absolutely terrible at having my own photograph taken. I’ve always found a reason not to.
I’ll do it when I’ve lost a bit of weight.
When my hair looks better.
When I’ve got something nice to wear.
When the children are a little older.
When life is less chaotic.
You get the idea.
There is always a reason to wait. And the annoying thing is that I now have quite a lot of photographs of my children growing up, but far fewer photographs of me actually being there with them. Which is something I regret. Not because I desperately need more photographs of myself. I really don’t. But because one day, those photographs will be what my children have of this version of their family. And that has completely changed the way I think about family photography.
Stop waiting for everyone to look perfect
Your children are never going to be exactly the age they are today again. That slightly ridiculous haircut? Gone. The missing front tooth? Gone. The way they still climb into your bed on Sunday mornings? Probably gone eventually. The baby rolls. The chubby hands. The favourite jumper they refuse to take off. The way your toddler says a particular word wrong. Even the stuff that feels completely ordinary now will eventually become something you can’t quite remember properly. And I think that’s the bit we underestimate.
We’re so used to photographing our children that we forget to photograph our life with them. There are hundreds of photos of my boys on my phone. There are considerably fewer of the three of us together. Because, like most parents, I’m usually the one taking the photo.
You don’t need a “perfect” family
I also don’t want you to think you need to arrive at a family photoshoot with everyone scrubbed, matching and suspiciously well behaved. Please don’t.
I have children. I know how this works.
Someone will probably complain about their shoes. Someone will probably refuse to wear the jumper you specifically bought for the photographs. Someone may cry. Someone will almost certainly need the toilet at the worst possible moment. And that’s fine. Actually, that’s the stuff I want to photograph. The cuddles. The chaos. The running around. The ridiculous faces. The way your youngest grabs onto your leg. The way your teenager rolls their eyes but secretly enjoys being there.
Because when you look back in ten years, you won’t be thinking, “Thank god everyone’s jumper was perfectly coordinated.” You’ll be remembering what your family actually felt like.
And right now is a pretty good time
September and October are some of my favourite months for family photography.
The light is gorgeous. The sun sits lower in the sky, giving us that soft, flattering light without having to keep small children awake until approximately 9.47pm to get it.
The days are getting shorter, but that’s actually a bonus for photography. That beautiful late-day light arrives much earlier, which makes an after-school or early evening session much more realistic. And then there are the colours.
I’m not going to pretend that every photograph needs a dramatic carpet of orange leaves. But the softer greens, browns and autumn colours do make a pretty lovely backdrop. It all feels a little more relaxed. Jumpers. Trainers. Coats. Leaves. Kids running around. Basically, normal life, but photographed nicely.
So if you’ve been waiting…
Maybe this is your sign to stop waiting. Stop waiting until you’ve lost the weight. Stop waiting until your house is tidier. Stop waiting until the children are easier. Stop waiting until you feel more photogenic. Stop waiting for the mythical version of your family where everyone wakes up in a good mood, nobody argues about breakfast and everyone willingly puts on the outfit you’ve chosen. That family does not exist. And honestly, I don’t want to photograph them anyway. I want to photograph your family. The one you have now.
Because this version of your family is going to change whether you’re ready for it or not.
And one day, you’ll be very glad you have the photographs. Even the ones you’re not sure you want to be in. Especially those.
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