5 Compelling Reasons why you need Family Photographs

Last month, I went to the funeral of a much loved former colleague.  It was an achingly sad event but I was so struck by the huge number of photos the family had.  Photos of recent days and childhood, and everything in between.  Some were beautifully composed ‘quality’ pictures, some were slightly blurred ‘snaps', but all were memories of happy times gone by and all made me smile at the memories of the effervescent personality we’ve tragically lost.

As a family portrait photographer, I’m always banging on about the importance of natural laidback images of your family - you know, the ones you really recognise as you and your personalities.

But, even for me, it made me wonder about how many pictures we have of our family.  Yes, we’ve got 1000s of pictures of the kids on our phones, but what about everyone else? Are there pictures of the entire family for the kids to look back on in years to come?

I’m as guilty as anyone when it comes to being in front of the camera, and big family meet ups can go by in a chaotic flash without taking the time to capture the little interactions.

So here’s my 5 tips to ensure you get some lovely pictures you can look back on in the years to come (& no, I’m not going to say ‘book me’ for a photoshoot right away……although I’d love to hear from you if you’d like one;)!)

1) Capture personalities and connections

Natural photos can freeze a moment in time. They capture that gesture or moment of fun that can otherwise disappear in a flash. As kids grow, some of those mannerisms and looks inevitably change. Let’s be honest, the harsh reality is that once they become teenagers, they might not think that your silly faces and jokes are the funniest thing they’ve ever seen or heard, so best grab some evidence while you can!

2) Pictures should be about everyone - a way of connecting the generations, if you like.

Yes, of course you want to get some pictures of the kids doing whatever, but about about everyone else; the grandparents, uncles, aunts….you?

3)….Yes, you!

Hands up who conveniently does all the photography as a way of keeping behind the lens? So, not just me then? Your kids are going to want to remember you in their childhoods when they look back in the years to come….and here’s the thing…… They don’t care if you are looking tired, scruffy or on a bad hair day. They want to see you as you are, not your Instagramable alter ego, Of course, you don’t need to share them with the world if you don’t fancy it, but take them, and keep them. 

4) Do something with them

I take 1000s of pictures every year and despite my best intentions to the contrary, I never delete them. My iPhotos account is beyond help. What I do do though is create a photo book each year, just after my son’s birthday. It always feels like a mountain to climb at the time, but it’s always so worthwhile. Just the other day, I found him lying on the sofa flicking through old photo books. He doesn’t always remember the events but he loves seeing all the things we’ve got up to over the years. (My plan is always to delete the majority once I’ve created the book but somehow that never happens)

[Hint: companies like Photobox offer print credit deals - buy now and have a month to create the book……nothing like a deadline to concentrate the mind!]

Even if you don’t want to complete a photo book, get some pictures printed. There’s something so special about being able to hold a tangible, printed image in your hands and frames dotted around the house really personalise your home.

5) Create a collection of old pictures

Photographs of the entire family serve as more than just visual memories; they can become cherished family heirlooms. Just like the photo books you create annually, these images can be added to & passed down through generations, creating a rich tapestry of family history. Have you ever looked back at old family albums and wondered about some of the characters looking back at you? Imagine future generations leafing through the albums you’ve created, connecting with their roots It might seem like a big task at first but it will be so worth it. (Just in the process of looking for images for this blog post, I’ve realised how much I need to do this myself as I can’t find some of the pictures I want)

The sad fact is that one day, the pictures will be all that’s left.

[Fiona French is a natural light, lifestyle newborn and family photographer based just outside Exeter in glorious east Devon. She specialises in laidback, natural, unposed images in the beautiful Devon countryside www.fionafrenchimages.co.uk @fionafrenchimages]