Your Family Photos Don’t Need to Be Perfect— They Just Need to Be Real
Let me tell you a little secret from behind the lens: the “perfect” family photo isn’t what you think it is. It’s not everyone looking at the camera with their best smiles, hands folded neatly, hair exactly in place. You probably are picturing your own family’s “perfect” family photo in your minds eye, and you know as well as me, that the stiff body language where everyone’s gaze meets the camera just right is usually preceded by a scolding to look just right, stand just right, be just right. Not exactly the happy memories we aim to remember.
The “perfect” family photo is actually the one where it’s far from perfect but it actually shows the connection shared between your loved ones. Your toddler is belly-laughing, your partner is watching them with love in their eyes, and your arms are wrapped right around the people who mean everything to you.
That’s the magic I’m always chasing— the imperfect perfectness that is a true window into your world— and that’s what I want you to hold onto.
Real Moments Matter Most
I recently had a session where the baby was in full barnacle-mode, the middle child brought their favorite toy car into every frame, and the parents kept apologizing for the “chaos”. But what I saw? A joyful, connected, real family. We chased the light (and the toddlers). We laughed. We played. And when the gallery was delivered, the mom emailed me and said, “I didn’t realize how beautiful our everyday looked until I saw these”.
That’s what it’s about. Not the perfection but the realness.
If You’re Worried About Everything Going “Right”, Don’t Be
I get it. You want your kids to behave. You want the outfits to match. You want to feel pulled together and not like you just survived a morning of bribery, meltdowns and car snacks. You’ve invested time, money and hopes into your family photo session. I’ve been there— as a photographer and as a mom.
But I promise you this: the best photos happen when you let go a little.
Let your kids explore. Let them move around, take up space, let them be themselves and revel in just a little bit of chaos. Let yourself relax into the moment, focusing instead on authentically connecting with your people in ways that feel familiar, normal and real. Laugh, snuggle, play. That’s where the good stuff is.
Candid Photos Tell Your Story
Years from now, you won’t care if everyone was looking at the camera. You’ll care that your daughter’s curls were bouncing as she ran across the field. That your son was missing a front tooth that changed his smile and his speech pattern from years 6-8. That you were together, in that golden hour light, just being yourselves.
That’s the story I want to tell. That’s the story your family deserves to see and remember.
Ready to Capture Your Real Life?
If this kind of photography speaks to your heart— let’s make it happen! Whether we’re in North Alabama or you catch me on the California coast, I’m here for the wild, the warm and the wonderfully undeniably real.
I’m currently booking sessions through the summer for North Alabama, and I have my fall travel calendar open for late November in San Luis Obispo County, California! Don’t hesitate to connect to get your family session penciled in on the calendar.
