As mothers, we are usually the people taking the photograph. If we end up in front of the camera with our kids, it is likely we don't have makeup on or our hair is a mess. When the children grow up, it's kind of a burden that we all bear.
"Wasn't I there for that birthday party? Oh yeah, I was the one taking all of the photos."
When flipping through a photo album, it's sad to say that moms are usually not in most of the photos themselves. We are so busy capturing the memories rather than participating in them.
Currently, I am pregnant with my third and final baby. I have been so busy recently with client's maternity sessions, that I realized I have been forgetting to take my own photos! During the last six months, we have only taken one bump photo! With my first child, we were pretty good about documenting our baby's growth. We took a baby bump photo just about every week
Right now, we are in Hawaii. As a photographer, I brought my maternity dresses with me just in case! One night I asked my husband to take pictures of me down by the water, in front of the sunset. I was so disappointed when none of the photos turned out! I was not in focus, angled wrong, my facial expressions weren't pleasant, or he was chopping off my feet.
We decided to try again the next night. This time we got ONE image that worked.
A few days later we came across a beautiful road lined with flowers. After taking some photos of my daughter I threw on a maternity dress, set up my camera and my husband tried one more time and we got one more good photo.
After this my husband realized that being a photographer was a little harder than just clicking a button. He decided it would be best to schedule a family session with a photographer here in Hawaii while we are visiting! I am so excited for this session and can't wait!! This will be one of the few professional photo sessions that we have had done as a family and our first family photo in 2 years!
At the end of 2016 one of my friends, who was also a beautiful mother of 3, lost her battle to cancer. That loss made me realize yet again just how important family photo are. We won't be here forever, so it is so important to capture these memories for our children. We have to give them something for them to remember us with. Photos are one of the few things in life that we invest in that are worth more as the years go by and will one day be priceless.
I promised myself after my friend passed away that I would be more present with my kids and try to get in the photos more. Yet this week when I looked back over the last 6 months to find a few photos of me and my kids for this blog post I could not find a single one! So I am on a mission this week while on vacation to take as many photos with my kids as possible.
Moms this week I challenge you to hand your phone or camera over to your husband and get him to take some photos of you and your kids doing life. Your no makeup, unwashed hair in a ponytail, not at your pre pregnancy weight self is so beautiful to everyone that loves you!
This week I decided to give away a photo session to one of my Facebook followers. Maybe the lucky winner will be you!
To see more details and to enter, please click here.
Amanda