When is the best time to take family photos?

The best time to take family photos is….. when everything is calm and peaceful, and you have tonnes of free time.
Just kidding, that’s never going to be the case! I just wanted to see if you were paying attention 😉

In every season of parenthood, we feel like if we just get through this stage, the next one will bring more freedom, more breathing space and more time. So we put off things for ‘later’. Family photography is one of those things that’s easy to delay. But it’s also something that you’re not able to capture in retrospect. Once a season has passed, it doesn’t return. It only takes small moments to dawn on you, but when they do, they hit home. Each chapter in your child’s ever-developing narrative is such a precious and special part of their story, worthy of remembering and cherishing.

As a mum, these are the stages of my kids childhood that I’ve made sure to capture so that not only us as parents can relive them, but also so that they have their childhood to look back on anytime they want to.

nEWBORN

The newborn season is well-known for being incredibly fast. Everything is a blur of tiredness, learning, feedings and nappy changes. And yet, this is your baby’s beginning. The beginning of their story, and a new chapter in your family’s life, that deserves to be told and cherished. For families with a newborn, every day is an achievement and family photos are a way of celebrating all the hard work it’s taken to get here.

And oh, the sweet newborn details! The coos , the wriggles, the whispy hair and the tiny toes. Such features that make your baby truly unique, but very soon will change. In fact, clients often are amazed at how much their baby has changed in the 3-4 weeks between their photo session, and picking up their prints and wall art. The newborn in the photos already looks different from the newborn in their arms!

sITTING UP (5-7 months old)

A much less thought about season for your baby, but actually one of my most favourites to capture. Your little one is out of the newborn phase but still very much a baby. They’re sitting up and showing a lot more of their personality. We have the chance to capture those fun early expressions which are often a glimpse into the who they are becoming. There’s still lots of cute chunky legs to squish, some curly locks of hair, and possibly even a first tooth! Filled with wide-eyed curiosity, they’re content to sit and wonder at their surroundings.

TODDLER (1-3 years old)

If we were talking about personality before, this age has personality plus! It’s a great time to get out and about as a family, make some memories amongst nature and capture moments of your little one adventuring and exploring the great outdoors. They’re on the move and filled with wide-eyed adventure! The various facial expressions on toddlers are so fun and we can capture their full energy and excitement. This can also be the time when families may be adding to their number, so it’s a great chance to celebrate your family as it is now while your littlest is still your littlest.

STARTING SCHOOL (4-6 years old)

The feeling of time definitely accelerates once school hits. With this, comes so many changes. One change that creeps up on you is the loosing of baby teeth! That smile that you’ve relished in for five years, will soon have gaps in it, signaling the passing of time. And again as with the previous chapters, there’s so much to capture. The development of personality, facial expressions, maybe longer hair and taller bodies. They’re able to articulate themselves now and what they like. We’re able to see more of that independence and tell a story of who they are now and what lights them up, and how your entire family unit is developing. With kiddos of this age, it’s fun to incorporate some of your families favourite activities into your photoshoot, like baking at home, picnicing by the river, or playing games together outside. It’s these types of photos that your kidds will look back on with fondness and say “Mummy! Remember when we used to……”

PRE-TEEN (10-12 years old)

Sometimes, it’s not until you have teenagers that you truly appreciated the amazingness of the pre-teen years. These kiddos are old enough to do really fun and cool things with, have quite insightful conversations with, and you can watch with awe as they really come into their own. Perhaps they’re even getting great at a sport or musical instrument that they may or may not stick with in the years to come. Before highschool, I found that my kids were still ‘kids’ and enjoyed the carefreeness of play and adventure. The pre-teen age really is an under-photographed season for children, but one that is so pivotal.

Teenagers

Then comes a time when you can connect with your child on a whole new level. The teenage years. This is when you actually end up hanging out together, cracking jokes with each other and discussing big life topics. You can muck around and share common interests, and even swap clothes! Maybe they’re into a book series you used to love, or wanting to decorate their room and you’re able to do some DIY tasks together.

The teenage years are also important to photograph because soon family dynamics can change with kids leaving home, and the introduction of significant others. Of course you’ll love the new additions to your family, but just like any other chapter of your story this last season of childhood deserves to be celebrated.

ANYTIME is the best time to photograph your kids!

However old your kiddos are, it’s never too late, or too ealry, for family photos. Family life is a continuing story. What a treasure to create a legacy for your children of their complete childhood! You may be reading this with some of the seasons already having passed, but please know that any time you choose to start documenting your family story is a great opportunity, and we will have so much fun creating photos that bring joy to your home and your family.

If you’re ready to start, or to continue telling your family story through photography, let’s chat.

Or check out this blog featuring my Top Tips for Stress-Free Family Photos