When is the 'best' time to invest in family photos?
I’ve heard this several times: “I want to wait until my family is complete before booking a professional family shoot”
It’s not the first time this statement has come up in conversations with parents, especially if you’re planning on having more kids in the future. But here’s the thing—family life is an ever-evolving journey, and waiting for the “best time for family photos”, means missing out on the beauty of the present.
If you’re anything like me, I struggle to be in the present at times, and I’m forever thinking about the future. So anything I can do for myself and my family to simply enjoy the now, is priceless.
every stage is worth capturing
Consider these reasons to document whichever life stage you’re at right now. Because today is the youngest they’ll ever be (and you too!)
Each stage of family life is special in its own way. From the wide-eyed wonder of your first baby to the cheeky grins of toddlers discovering the world, every moment is precious. Each child brings their own personality and milestones that are worth documenting. It’s not just about waiting until your family is “complete”; it’s about celebrating the journey along the way. These are the moments that make your family’s story uniquely yours, and they deserve to be preserved.
there's no perfect time
The best time for family photos? Let’s be real—life is unpredictable. There’s always something going on, and waiting for that “perfect” moment might mean missing out on capturing the genuine, everyday magic of your family’s life. Whether it’s the kids running around in the backyard, the (sometimes rare) quiet moments of sibling love, or the chaos of a family outing, these are the times that make up your daily life. They’re imperfectly perfect and so worth capturing. Don’t let the idea of waiting for a more “ideal” time hold you back. The best time to capture your family is now, in all its beautiful, messy glory.
A living legacy
Professional family photos aren’t just snapshots; they’re a living legacy. People gain or lose weight. More greys appear year after year, and they lose more hair. They get braces and pimples. Teeth fall out, and grow back. This is life. This is what it’s about– the ages and stages of the kids. The gradual ageing of adults. Life doesn’t stop. We can’t stop time. The closest thing to it, is to slow it down, by documenting it.
Imagine you’ve been putting off having family photos taken year after year… No kid wants braces. They do it to look good later on! You’ve got a few extra kilos you’ve been wanting to shed? Think about the message this sends to your kids: “You/I don’t look good enough.”
It is not worth delaying having family photos taken while waiting to change appearances. Kids’ love is blind to looks, they love you for who you are. Kids’ love is truly unconditional and we are their whole world.
So instead, imagine that you just go for it, regardless of what life stage your family is at…. The message this sends to your kids, is quite different to the first one:
“I love you and our family. Just the way we are. Right now. And I want to remember you in all of your amazingness at this very time of your life. That’s why we are doing family photos very, very soon.”
So, should you wait until your family is “complete” to invest in family photos? Absolutely not! Capture the now, celebrate the journey and the memories at every stage. You never regret the photos you DID take.
Go for it! Professional family photos will give you great joy today and decades from now. It’s an investment that grows in value as the years go by. You’ll be able to walk down memory lane with the biggest smile and that warm fuzzy feeling in your heart (as corny as it sounds!). Even if it’s not with me. Make a commitment to yourself to book a family photo shoot this year.
