Mum, You Don’t Realise How Much You Need This Family Photo Yet

A mum said something to me at a photo session recently that I hear all the time.

“Just take photos of the kids. I don’t really need to be in them.”

She laughed when she said it, like it was no big deal.

And honestly, it’s something I hear from mums almost every week and it makes me sad.

In saying that I completely understand where it comes from. Our phones are full of photos of the kids. Hundreds of them. Thousands even. We capture their little moments every day without even thinking about it.

But whenever I hear a mum say that, I usually pause for a second.

Because there is something I always feel like I need to say.

You are actually the most important part of the photo session.

And here’s why.....

One day your children will grow up and start looking back through these photos. And when they do, who do you think they will be looking for?

YOU

They have already seen a million photos of themselves and their siblings. Mums take those every single day on their phones.

But how many photos exist of the whole family together?

How many photos are there of mum holding them, laughing with them, or smiling down at them with that kind of love that only a parent has?

The kind of love that is so pure it almost makes your heart burst.

Those are the photos that matter.

Those are the ones your children will treasure.

Because when they look at those images years from now, they won’t be analysing how you looked or what you were wearing.

They will see their mum.
Their dad.
Their family.

And they will see just how deeply they were loved.

The Moment Parents Realise These Photos Matter

Something else I see happen all the time after a family session is this.

Once the photos are viewed in real time, minutes after their photography session and then again printed and placed on their walls at home, something shifts.

What felt like “just a quick photo session” suddenly becomes something much more meaningful and emotional.

Because those photos aren’t just pictures anymore. They become a little snapshot of your life as a family at that exact moment in time.

Parents often tell me how their kids walk past the photos every single day.

They stop and look at them.
They laugh about the day.
They comment on dad’s hair.
They notice the top mum chose to wear that was her favourite "special" top.

Kids love seeing themselves with their parents. They notice the cuddles, the closeness, and the way mum and dad are looking at them.

It becomes this quiet little reminder in the house of how much they are loved- and in turn this boots kids confidence and self worth.

A Moment That Meant More Than Anyone Expected

Just the other day I had a grandmother reach out to thank me yet again for the photos we did of her whole extended family. Her children, their partners, and all the grandkids together.

At the time it simply felt like a nice day where everyone gathered together for photos.

But she told me something that really stayed with me.

Now when she looks back at those portraits on her wall, especially the ones where the grandkids are giggling and playing together, it hits differently.

She said looking at those photos made her realise something she had never really stopped to think about before.

She created this life.
She created this whole family.

And seeing everyone standing there together in those portraits means the world to her now.

That is the funny thing about photographs.

In the moment it can feel like a small thing. Just a quick photo session. Something nice to have.

But as the years pass, they mean more and more.

They become proof of a chapter of life. A phase your family moved through together. A reminder of what everyday life looked like during that time.

Kids grow. Families change. Life moves quickly.

But those photos stay exactly the same.

One Day These Photos Will Mean Even More

One day your children will sit down and look through old family photos.

Maybe they are showing their own kids what life was like when they were little. Maybe they are remembering moments that feel far away.

And when they do, the photos they will hold onto the most won’t just be the ones of themselves.

They will be the ones where they can see you.

The photos where mum is holding them.
The ones where dad is laughing.
The ones where the whole family is together.

Those photos will become little pieces of their childhood that they can hold onto forever.

Not because everything looked perfect.

But because the people they loved the most were there.

So if you are ever tempted to step out of the photos and just let the kids be in them, I want you to pause for a moment.

Because one day these images will mean far more than you ever expected.

Mum, you might not realise how much you need these photos yet.

But one day, I promise you will.

If you’ve been thinking about updating your family photos, or maybe you’ve been putting it off because life feels busy right now, I completely understand.

As a mum myself, I know how quickly the days move and how easy it is to say “maybe next year”.

But the truth is, there will never be a perfectly convenient time.

Kids grow. Families change. Life moves forward whether we are ready for it or not.

Capturing your family as you are right now might end up meaning far more to you than you expect.

If you would love to create some beautiful portraits of your family together, you can learn more about my family photography sessions here or get in touch for a chat via the button below.

I’m always happy to answer any questions and help you plan something relaxed and meaningful for your family.

Stace x