Why You Should Pay for Professional Family Photos

Everyone debates about when you should have professional photos done, how much you should pay, and whether or not they are really necessary if you could take them yourself. Here’s my input, and why we choose to pay for professional photographers, as well as the names of who took our photos and where they are located.

Blast from the past, our first family photos, ever. Family photos are usually agreed upon that its something necessary every few years. Over the years we did them on occasion, but I regret not consistently having them done every year. If you have kiddos especially, these photos are important in capturing that moment in time. You cant ever get the time back, and it’s wonderful to document their growing features over the years.

Not just for Christmas Cards, these photos can be used to hang in your home, print them as gifts for family (Grandparents LOVE that), or make them into photo books and keepsakes. Trust me, you wont look back one day and think “I regret spending money on nice family photos”.

SHAME on me. Our first family photos were taken in 2014, the next time we took family photos was not until 2017. Three years later and look how much Aurora has changed and grown in those three years, she looks like a completely different child. Of course we’ve taken pictures doing things, but it’s not the same as having beautiful, professional, photos.

After seeing these photos and regretting not getting professional photos done in between, I vowed to make sure we get them at least once a year. Yes, I usually have to drag Travis by his ear because he HATES having photos done. And also yes, its a pain to have to find color coordinating outfits for the entire family, but it’s WORTH IT. They can get through doing it once a year for an hour tops.

One thing about being a military family is the fact that we live in a different state every 3-4 years (or even country). Since I’ve noticed a trend with our photo shoots being backgrounds representing the state we were currently in, I decided I wanted a lush and mountainous background representative of the true PNW where we currently live.

Our family includes the fur baby, Muffin, and most photographers are totally fine with the fur babes coming along. Just make sure to mention it beforehand as some photo locations may have restrictions on animals.

Family photos are a time to capture photos of the family as well as individual members, siblings, the couple, and Mommy/Child Daddy/Child shots.
For more info on Douglas Heruska Photography, click here.
For more info on Emily Burns Photography, click here.
For more info on Moss & Mountain Photography, click here.

Finding the fun everywhere life takes us!
Love, Olivia Michelle