Mama Bear Moxie: Spend the money on professional photos

My firstborn came along almost 13 years ago, and I am astonished when I look back at the technology that we had. I remember having a tiny little video camera because phones didn’t have cameras yet. Ordering prints online still wasn’t available, so you would take your USB to a photo kiosk to print off photos in a store. At the time that my sons were born, I didn’t know that baby milestone pictures even existed. I didn’t have any maternity photo shoots, and I took all of my kid’s pictures propping them in the corner of the couch.

Soon though, and photographers were popping up everywhere. People who loved photography now had the courage to open their own small businesses. I decided to take the plunge and booked a photo shoot with a friend who was trying to break into the family portrait scene. She charged me $30 for the hourlong shoot, which was quite a discount. Still, in that young baby age of paying for diapers, I thought about canceling.

I look back on those pictures now and I am so glad that we took them. Since then, we’ve taken periodic family photos, and I have never once regretted spending the money. I love that they capture my kids in such sweet ways when their jeans were a bit poofy from a diaper or the knees on their jeans were so close to ripping open. I can’t get back those grins where their teeth haven’t quite caught up yet with the rest of their mouth and their eyes twinkle with the excitement of a balloon or bubbles.

Booking a photographer also allowed me to support my friends who are also fellow mamas. They are skilled at their craft and have been able to capture tender moments between me and my husband that now stand frozen in time on our family room wall. I learned the best photographers catch the moments in between the poses where someone isn’t looking at the camera or the true nature of the child makes a quick appearance.

So, I say all of this to encourage you to book a photo shoot of your family. The whole family, not just the kids. Get your outfits coordinated and hire a photographer that can catch those in between moments. It might take a few months to save, but I guarantee you won’t regret carving out the time and money to capture your family as they are right now.

They won’t always be so little. They won’t always be shorter than you. They won’t always be living under your roof. Investing in family photos is something that you won’t ever regret.