We all know that as mothers, we are notorious for documenting so many milestones in our children’s lives; whether it be through photography, scrapbooking or some other creative outlet to record the big events in their lives. We are there at every lost tooth, every first day of school and yes, every holiday recording what was said, what was worn and any other delightful surprise that might arise. We are memory makers. But far too often I find that we women either purposefully hide from the front of the camera or just don’t take the time to insert ourselves into being captured WITH our family. I know I am guilty of this because when I look back through my own photo albums, there are whole vacations where there isn’t even a hint of me being their except for the fact SOMEONE had to take all these great photographs.
So this past summer I tried very hard to hand my camera over and include myself in our vacation photos. And the outcome was always more candid then I envisioned (why on earth I needed to keep my lens cap with me in the photo I still don’t know)…
And certainly were not always quite the Portraits that I might have envisioned….
But I was there. Present. Documented and included in our family photos. And so this holiday season, I encourage each and every memory maker to hand the camera over at least once and include themselves in their family photos. It’s so important for your children to have captured moments with you holding them, laughing with them, and simply being there with them. They might not be award winning photographs, but I promise, your children will cherish the images years from now when they see that you were right there with them.
And you never know…you may get something that surprises you that just melts your heart.
What beautiful pictures and what a BEAUTIFUL family – so glad you handed over the camera!!!!!