Why you need family photos every year
There are lots of reasons to book a yearly family photoshoot, and I don’t just say that because I’m a photographer here in Alabama. I really do think getting yearly photos can have so many benefits, which I will explain in this blog post.
Always changing
Your family and your kids are always changing. This might be the biggest reason to have a yearly family photoshoot. Our kids are constantly growing, their faces change, they get taller, their relationships with each other and you will evolve, teeth fall out, hair gets cut… just so much change is always happening! Our hope is that you will preserve those memories in the form of photos.
Get a different look with a different season
So many families wait around until the fall to book their photoshoot, but if you are booking family photos yearly, you should definitely try out some different seasons! The spring is gorgeous for lots of greens and flowers, summer has wildflowers all over and a way better chance for good weather, and winter can be super fun if you want bare trees with the sun shining through, or go to the snow. Change it up every year and get a variety of looks for your walls! Which brings me to my next reason…
Home Decor
So many families wait around until the fall to book their photoshoot, but if you are booking family photos yearly, you should definitely try out some different seasons! If you’re here in Alabama, then you know how beautiful it is here year-round. The spring is gorgeous for lots of greens and flowers, summer has wildflowers all over and a way better chance for good weather, and winter can be super fun if you want bare trees with the sun shining through. The photos throughout this post are of the same family a year apart, one in the summer and one in the fall. Change it up every year and get a variety of looks for your walls! Which brings me to my next reason…
Tradition
Making your own family traditions is so exciting! And as long as you choose a photographer who makes the session fun, your kids will practically beg you to make a yearly family photoshoot your new tradition. You get to spend time giving your kids tons of attention, playing with them, maybe exploring nature a bit… and then after the session you can extend the fun by going out for a treat!
DIY sucks
I left this one for the end because it’s my favorite reason to schedule a yearly family photoshoot. If you’ve ever tried to photograph your own kids, you know what I mean. Kids just don’t listen as well for people that they know really well, and I know that I personally get frustrated with my own child when I try and photograph him. I can’t help it! I have all these amazing ideas and I really want to capture that perfect shot, and they are not having any of it. But when there’s a stranger behind the camera it always goes smoother! I have someone else to take our family photos, even though I could totally do it myself with a tripod. Why? Because having someone who knows what they’re doing BEHIND the camera produces significantly better results. They know how to get the right expressions and interaction between us. They know what to say, what angles look best, and how to get the kids having fun.
It’s so much better than getting frustrated at your kids for not listening to you! When you have the right photographer, they will encourage you to relax and enjoy your kids and not to discipline them. I tell all my clients to go with the flow and not worry about your kids “being good” because I actually prefer when your kids misbehave a bit during your session!
Xxx Catherine