After 17 years of photographing families, I’ve heard nearly every reason for putting a portrait session off. I understand all of them. Most come from love: wanting everything to be just right before the camera comes out. Here are the ones I hear most often, and what I’d gently say to each.
“My kids won’t sit still.”
Good. I don’t want them to. I’m not looking for a row of stiff smiles. I’m looking for your youngest racing ahead down the path, your oldest rolling his eyes at his dad’s joke, the moment you scoop someone up and they laugh. Those unposed, in-between moments are the ones you’ll treasure most. Wiggly, silly, and a little chaotic is a very good place to start.
“We just don’t have time.”
I know how full the calendar gets between school, sports, and everything else. That’s exactly why we do sessions on location, close to home, in the soft light of late afternoon. There’s no studio to drive to and nothing to coordinate except showing up as yourselves. And the images will outlast every busy season.
“I don’t know what to wear.”
This is the one I hear most, and you don’t have to figure it out alone. A styling consultation is part of every session. We talk through colors, textures, and the setting, so everyone looks like themselves, cohesive without being matchy. Many families tell me the planning is the part they were dreading and it turned out to be the part they enjoyed.
And frankly, when have you looked at your family portraits and thought – those outfits are all wrong. What you wear is going to be the last thing you think about. Just find solid, neutral, comfortable things to wear and go with that.
“I don’t like being in photos.”
Nearly every parent says this, and nearly every parent is glad they didn’t sit this one out. Your children won’t be looking for a perfect angle someday. They’ll be looking for you: your arms around them, your face close to theirs. You are the story, and I’ll help you feel at ease from the first minute.
“The kids are still little (or already almost grown). Maybe next year.”
Here’s the truth about family portraits: there’s never a moment when everything stands still. The baby who’s tucked against your shoulder this fall will be running by spring. The teenager who’s still home will be packing for college sooner than anyone expects. Every stage is fleeting, which is what makes each one worth recording.
There will never be a perfect time. So book the session now.
“Phone pictures are good enough.”
Phones are wonderful for everyday life, and I hope you take thousands. But a portrait session is something different. It’s an hour of being fully present with the people you love, with someone else handling the camera so you can finally be in the picture. The result isn’t just a file buried in a camera roll. It’s a piece of art for your walls, something that becomes part of your home and, eventually, your family’s legacy.
“It feels like a big investment.”
It is an investment, and I think it should feel like one, because what you’re creating is meant to last. Digital images, your styling consultation, and legacy and wall art planning are all included in every session, so you’re not piecing it together or guessing at what comes next. My goal is for you to end up with heirloom-quality pieces that you’ll still love decades from now, not images that get forgotten.
What I hope you’ll remember
The families who come to me are rarely perfectly prepared. Someone has a cowlick, someone is hungry, someone’s shoe is missing. And somehow the pictures are still the most honest, joyful ones they own. Late-day light filtering through the Woodlands pines doesn’t ask anyone to be perfect. It just asks you to be together.
If you’ve been waiting for the right time, consider this a quiet nudge. I’d love to hear about your family and what you hope to remember.
Reach out to start planning your session.