It may seem like a silly question, but its one worth delving into. People hire photographers for lots of reasons; sporting events, corporate events, professional growth and development, acting headshots, real estate, weddings..the list could go on. Of course on some occasions, the purpose of hiring a photographer is to document an event, provide professional images, or sell something.
Buy why hire a family photographer? Many of us have smart phones, after all, and they take fairly high quality images. Cell phone technology has grown exponentially in the past twenty years or so, and image quality on modern cell phones is impressive (anyone who had a flip phone in the early 2000s will agree...). So why hire someone to take photos that we can take ourselves?
A professional photographer has experience. You're hiring someone who's taken photos of many families, many children, in different locations and lighting situations. They can help you navigate different situations that might arise.
When you schedule a family photo session, you're spending time with your family. We've become so busy with work, school, sports, and other activities, that we often aren't able to spend time together. A family session is a great way to schedule time just for your family.
Everyone gets to be in the photos. Moms: how many family photos are you in? I'm guessing not many. I'm guilty of this myself, but as moms we are often the ones behind the camera. Our camera photo roll is filled with images of kids, spouses, pets, and friends, but few of ourselves.
I hear again and again that we, as women, don't want to be in the photos. We think we aren't dressed well enough, or have enough makeup on, or we'll do it when we lose a little weight, or we haven't gotten enough sleep (you guys, NONE of us have enough sleep...). But I promise your kids don't see you that way. They see you as a beautiful, smart, fun, amazing person every day (even on the difficult days...). Wouldn't you love to have your kids look back through family photos ten or twenty years from now and see YOU in the pictures?
Family photography is a way to document our lives. Sure, the big events like weddings and graduations often get photos, and those are certainly special, but every day life is deserving of these photos too. You'll be happy to look back someday at the photos and remember the session. You'll remember how little the kids once were, or some outrageous fashion trend that was popular, or memories from your first home.
You get to hang your own art on your walls. We are living in a digital age. This has its benefits, but are we keeping out entire lives in our phones? One of the best things you can do is buy printed art of your images. If you're spending the time (and money, let's be honest here), don't you want to see you images every day? Small albums are a great choice for family sessions. Framed prints are perfect for group family shots, and smaller side-by-side framed images are a great way to display images of siblings. The options for wall art have really expanded, and canvases, metal prints, and wood prints are all stunning ways to display your photos. Your home should tell your story, and what better way to do that than with photos?
I'd love to talk to you more about a family session! If you've got questions or ideas, let's talk! I love coffee (or tea, if thats your thing), so let's chat about how I can help you document your family legacy.
Take care,
Sam
