The Importance of Family Photography
Navigating life in a pandemic, raising babies & taking photos.
Hello, Nicky here telling you a little bit about what photographing my family means to me, why I do it and how it kept me motivated while navigating motherhood in a pandemic. As part of our ‘honest conversation series’ I’d like to share with you my personal experience photographing my family, as well as give you an insight to what we do and more importantly, why we do it.
If you have been thinking about having family photographs taken, hopefully talking about the importance of family photography will answer some questions, ease some nerves and offer a little bit of information and inspiration along the way.
The last two years have been so strange and scary. Battling our way through unprecedented times, putting things on hold and waiting for change. Unfortunately, while we sit and wait, life does not and our kids certainly don’t stop growing. These moments of joy, growth and happiness are so fleeting they come in a second, we blink, and we can feel as though we missed them. Our kids are only kids once; that awkward moment they learn to ‘smile’, the first time the baby laughs at his older brother or sister, the first moments in your home as a new family. These moments are precious, and I personally can’t imagine ever being able to capture enough memories.
Still, I try.
I probably photograph my son at a minimum once a day and a maximum 300 times a day. I’m actually being serious, and I still feel as though I barely capture a glimpse of his journey. I find myself missing what’s already passed, while I revel in what’s happening; I simultaneously wonder where my baby has gone, yet I’m so excited and can’t wait for what’s to come next! It’s a wild ride and I often wonder where all these awesome moments would go if I didn’t photograph them.
Cooper is two and a half (almost) and is lucky enough to have a huge family made up of 3 grandmothers, 2 grandfathers, a great grandmother alongside multiple cousins, aunts and uncles. But, up until a couple of months ago had barely been able to meet any of them. Two years separated from family and friends. Who expected that? I definitely didn’t. I think raising a babe was always going to be a complete change of pace and a huge learning curve for me (isn't it for everyone?!) but navigating it through a pandemic was something else.
On one hand it was nice not having to see people when I was selfishly wanting all the cuddles for myself. My husband and I had so much quality time together with Cooper that we wouldn't have had otherwise. We got into a wicked routine, he sleeps like an absolute champ and strangers didn’t come and poke their fingers into my babies mouth (legit heard this from fellow mums). There were lots of amazing moments raising a newborn, even amongst a pandemic. There were also those moments where your little love does something beautiful, hilarious and fleeting and there's no one around to see it, ever. It happens a few more times and all you want to do is share it with everyone and you can't. I found myself mourning moments like they were lost, so many things had been and gone, and all I wanted to do was show him off to the world and I couldn’t. Something I was lucky enough to be able to do, was grab my camera and capture it.
Photography has been one of the big reasons that my family and friends are all still able to be a part of and share in Cooper's life. I have photographs of our parents and I show them to Coop almost every day. He understands who they are and that he is looking at a photograph, it's not real, except it is real. They are connected through seeing photographs of each other and hearing each other's voices. My family were and are able to see my son grow, laugh, smear food everywhere, pick pumpkins, decorate a Christmas tree, sleep in a tent for the first time and so much more and it was all possible through photography (and facetime, but hey). It was all we had for such a long time and living in separate countries from our families, it is all we have for the in-between moments. So, it has to be enough.
All I wanted to do was share Cooper, while savoring all the best bits and remember the awesome that existed amongst everything else. Photography allowed me to do that and once we were reunited with family, photography allowed me to add every one of them into our journey and freeze it in time
A little bit about our WHAT we do...
Allie and I photograph you and your family just as you are, the whole package, the messy and the uncomfortable, the fun and the spontaneous. We have a very relaxed style, which is super easy and natural. We are here for your connection, your love story. We capture candid emotions and real-life moments that happen organically as you interact, keeping our sessions simple and focusing on our families enjoying this incredible place, the surrounding scenery and celebrating a time of life. We create an environment that allows you to relax and have fun together, while making new memories. Capturing and freezing the best moments to help you savor them. But more importantly, to help you celebrate them.
Celebrate all you have achieved as a family and share that happiness.
“We love our forever keepsake of our moment in time!”
A little bit about WHY we do it…
When we look at the photos of the families we photograph, we see love, happiness, hardship, strength and honesty. We see magic. We see a father embracing becoming a dad, regardless of the fear he may have felt coming into this journey. We see a mother empowered by the warrior within, creating a safe and healthy life for her and her family. We see families reunited; couples only growing stronger and closer, grandparents thankful to be getting these moments back again and siblings navigating life together. We see families made up of two, three, four, five kids, two mums, two dads, one of each, fur babies, no babies, both, all of the above. Learning, laughing, having fun and just living.
This isn't just for the people that raised a newborn over the last few years like myself, It is for the families that suddenly had kids at home needing to be homeschooled all while working a 40 hour week. It's for the families with teenagers who missed out on the social side of being in school during those crucial years as they enter adulthood. It's for the couples that had to navigate adding two home offices to their lives. It's for everyone and anyone. I may not be a great writer, but what I can tell you that I believe in what we do and we are passionate about capturing your story and your connection, whatever that looks like.
“We are going to be enjoying these for a lifetime.”
Whoever you are, come as you are. This is a time for you to be unapologetically you, to revel in what you created, together. Bask in that deep, rich love that you feel for each other without fear or judgment. Savor it, remember it, share it.
We see real life, what do you see?
A little bit about HOW…
So, you’re wondering what to expect? Start by sending us an email or just give us a call, let us know what you’re looking for and ask questions. We love questions. We’ll lock in a date and if you have a location in mind that’s dear to you, let us know, alternatively we have some gorgeous spots that we would love to share with you. Our sessions typically last around an hour and you will receive a selection of high quality, digital images via our gorgeous online gallery and the whole collection will be available to download at full resolution. The gallery is linked to a printing service for your convenience and the album can be shared with friends and family if you choose.
“Ink helped us share our beautiful baby with our friends and family which is so special, especially these days.”
5 reasons to have a family session.
It's fun!
Share it with others.
Time keeps moving.
Create memories
Celebrate you and all you have achieved, together.