I keep a camera close because family life changes in the middle of ordinary weeks. When I look through the photographs later, I can see the things I would otherwise forget: a familiar expression, the way a hand reached for mine, or how small my daughter once looked beside me.
But there is a gap in many family collections. The person taking the photographs is often missing. They remember the day and made sure everyone else could return to it, but there is little evidence that they were there, too.
Being present is enough
A parent does not need to look at the camera to belong in a photograph. Tying a shoe, carrying a tired child, sharing a snack, or sitting close on the couch can say more about a relationship than a carefully arranged portrait.
That is what I look for during a session. You can stay involved in the day instead of stepping aside whenever the camera comes out. The photographs can hold the way your family relates to one another, including the quiet work of caring for each other.
A record for the whole family
My daughter and I look through old photographs together. They bring us joy and comfort. When she misses home, she sometimes carries a photograph to school. The pictures are not only reminders for me. They help her understand the life we share.
I want other families to have that same kind of record. Years from now, a child should be able to find the people who loved them inside the family album, not only behind the camera.