My Own Family’s Photos | Alanis 2021 | Fort Worth, TX

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January 13, 2022

If you’ve been following me for the past couple of years, you know that I take my own family’s photos every year. (You can peek at last years session here.) This is a project that I take such pride in year after year. Even though it can be overwhelming, it is by far the most rewarding session I do.

If you are a fellow Mom out there, you know how exhausting it is to get everyone in your house all dolled up and ready to walk out the door. Much less have them all smile and be on their best behavior! Trust me when I say I know exactly how you feel, sis! It is often a HUGE blessing from the Lord when everyone in your family is all looking and smiling at the camera at the same time!

My family is no exception. My oldest son, Rowen, almost NEVER makes eye contact with my lens! We’ve also reached that age where kids suddenly forget how to smile in a normal way. They’re either trying too hard and look super awkward, or they can’t get their lips in the right position. Then add a wild two year old into the mix who doesn’t want to sit down or be still.. I definitely have my work cut out for me!

So let this be reassuring to you- that if you are in a similar situation with your kids, it does not mean that you won’t get great family photos. Honestly, some of my favorite photos to take during family sessions is kids just being kids! Whether that’s running, picking flowers, or finding the perfect stick. Capturing kids in their natural element is oftentimes more special that a typical posed photo. You’ll see those below in my family’s photos.

The past two years i’ve taken my family’s photos we took up two days! I put my family through this (heaven bless them!) so I can get exactly what I want. They really must love me! This was the first year we took them in only one day. It feels like there are less images this year, but that’s okay. I still have precious moments of my kids at their current ages. I was also really frustrated because I couldn’t get the focus right in a lot of them, or the wind was blowing my hair too much. There aren’t any good ones of me and my kids. It’s so easy to look at photos and see what is wrong. But what about what is right?

We all love each other. My kids had a good time. All of my boys look so stinkin’ handsome. We created memories. Years from know when we see these photos, we aren’t going to think “oh Auden couldn’t stand still!” When we look at these we are going to see love, connection and family. And that’s what’s most important.