Responding to Struggles| Utah Family Photographer

As a Utah Family Photographer, I have heard many reasons and excuses as to why someone shouldn’t get their family pictures taken. Some are pretty silly, but others are valid concerns. But at the end of the day, your family is still the #1 most important thing in your life. And it is my greatest honor to take your love for your family and put it somewhere you can see it every day. In a picture.

If you follow me on Instagram, you probably saw the reel that went semi-viral. I recorded this in a studio after one of my sessions. In fact, lets just watch it right now. https://www.instagram.com/p/CNSh-odBV1i/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I received several comments on this post, and I just want to take a minute to address them.

“Not everyone is comfortable doing certain things. We can’t just “stop it” but there are things you can do to reassure some people. Just be respectful if they don’t wish to be in it.”

-You’re right. Not everyone is comfortable with getting their picture taken. Being comfortable with anything takes time, practice and so much more. You can't just “stop” being uncomfortable. But! I do my very best to make each member of the family feel appreciated, beautiful, confident, and comfortable. Whether that means taking pictures in their own home, playing with toys, or eating snacks. I want to accommodate families so they feel at their best when taking pictures. Why? Because when YOU look back at your photos, I want you to feel good and appreciate those moments.

“I have an eating disorder and body issues taking pics makes me feel gross I’m good”

-Eating disorders are very real. The feelings that come with that need to be validated. Feeling good in your own skin is...hard. There is no way that I can properly articulate the fact that everyone struggles with body image in one way or another. Whether that be new moms, someone who wishes they had different genes, or someone with an eating disorder. Feeling good in your body is hard. It just is. And some people struggle with it more than others. That being said, I get it. But at the same time, I want to photograph you when you feel your best. Because you deserve to have pictures of yourself and your family when you feel your best. Confidence shines through in pictures. When you feel good, it shows! So put on an outfit you feel AMAZING in, get dolled up and we’ll meet in a beautiful location where you will feel good about yourself. I am open to having conversations about what makes you feel confident and beautiful. Tell me about what makes you feel your best, and I will do what I can to help you. Simply because you deserve to feel confident and to see yourself that way in pictures.

“Of course you'd want them to stop, you make money off it”

-Yes, I do make money. But that is not the reason I want people to stop making excuses not to get family pictures. So let me tell you the reason I got into family photography. 

I had a baby. I became a mom. And when I had my baby, I wanted to capture all of those special moments. I wasn't a great photographer back then. But I worked really hard to get to where I am today. I absolutely LOVE looking back at the pictures of my little family. It sparked something inside of me. A new passion that I wanted to share with others. So I worked really hard. I took classes, I practiced, I spent hours editing. I went through different styles and genres of photography to find what I love. And what I love is family photography. So here I am as a Utah Family Photographer with a goal to give families a way to remember the people they love the most. 

So yes, I make money. But if you ask any family that I have had the pleasure of photographing, they will tell you that it is money well spent. 

“I just haven’t found any reasons to have photos. I enjoy the ephemeral nature of life.” 

-Life is so fleeting! Everything changes at a moment's notice. Which is why I am such an advocate for photography! Especially family photography. Those of you who are parents know that your kids are growing and changing every single day. It is so important to capture those moments and stages of life. While it is good that life changes, because something that lasts forever is exhausting, that shouldn’t negate the fact that the moments that happen today are important. You are going to want to remember certain times throughout your life. I feel so blessed to have photography so that I don't forget some of the most incredible moments throughout my life.

“Teenagers.....that’s my excuse!! They just won’t do it and my threats aren’t working! 😮”

-Okay. I don't have teenagers. I do have a 7 year old who thinks he’s one, but I get that it's different. Teenagers have a mind of their own, and I can imagine that it can be difficult to parent through those stages. Something that I have learned is that threats don’t really work. Plus, when you're being threatened to do something you already don't want to do, it doesn't make for great pictures. I can only suggest things, as I know that every family works differently. So for my suggestions… Explain to them why family pictures are important to them. Show them pictures of your family. Tell them stories. Get them in on the planning; the outfits, the location, who you want to use as your photographer, etc. Hopefully some of these suggestions help!

I want you to know that you are worthy of being photographed in every stage of your life. The good, the bad, and the ugly. There are so many special moments that happen throughout life. Family pictures give you something to connect to, a story. Your story. Capture your life as it is right now, because you don't know when it's going to change, for worse or for better. It is my goal for every family to have a recent portrait of the ones they hold so dear. So let's start with you.