Are Family Sessions Really Important Every Year?

YES!!

A resounding YES!!!

A YES without any hesitation!!!!

Family sessions are ridiculously important. And yes, they should be done every single year.

I am not just saying this because I am a photographer. I am saying this as a mom whose kids are changing and growing up so quickly that it is mind boggling. 

Let’s take my son for example. When we entered the pandemic in early 2020, he was about 5 feet tall and looked like the child he was. By 2021, he was taller than me (I am 5’10”) and looked like the teen he was turning into. Looking back at pictures during that time, I had to check the dates several times. I couldn’t believe that so little time had passed between those pictures of my little boy. The point of me telling you this, is because time is passing. All. The. Time! And we cannot get it back. I knew my son had changed a lot that year, but I never would have realized how dramatically if it hadn’t been for the pictures. It is for this very reason that family portraits are so important every year.

Every age and stage is so precious. You want that beautifully documented. And we often don’t notice the change until it has already happened. 

I hear you saying it now, “but my family doesn’t like to have portraits. They can be such a challenge….”  Then my recommendation for you is to choose your photographer wisely. I personally try to make my sessions very engaging but also very laid back. I can tell when we need to move and when we are done. I have had several moms thank me for my “chill” sessions and little boys tell me that they had fun! What a huge compliment?!! I know this isn’t their favorite thing to do. So, we make it fun and keep it moving! With my own kids, after a session, I take them out to ice cream or hot cocoa just to solidify the fun in the event and to thank them for participating. They remember this. The next time it is session time, they are more likely to be excited about it. 

One of my other little tricks is that I  let my kids have a say in their outfits. For my son, it is a “this shirt or this shirt” situation and sure, you can wear your hat. For my daughter, it is also a “this one or that one” choice but I let her have freedom in her accessories. She can pick whatever earrings, bracelets, and necklaces she wants. I want my kids to coordinate but I also want to see their personalities.This works well for us and they know we are going to have fun, keep it moving, and then they get a treat. My son even told me, “Mom, this was really fun!”  

So to wrap it up… Yes. Family portraits are important every single year. It may not be your family’s favorite thing ever, but it is still important! And after the session they can see how fun and easy that was as they happily sip cocoa or play in the park.