Being a mom is hands down the most rewarding experience. It can also be the most exhausting. I often say that the words mother and the words sacrifice go hand in hand. We give every bit of ourselves to our little ones. We forgo showers, wear the same clothes for too many days to count, live off protein bars and sandwich crust. All of this to ensure our little ones are always happy, fed and loved. It’s all 1,000% worth it of course but every once in a while you’ll look in the mirror and not recognize the person staring back at you. This can’t just be me right? I wonder what happened to the girl with the curled hair, wide eyes and bubbly smile. Those curls have been replace with a messy bun because who knows when I last washed my hair. The wide eyes are now surrounded by deep, purple sleep-deprived bags that not even the best concealer can hide and too many wrinkles to count. The smile is still there just a more tired (and sometimes more forced) version of itself.

My point is that we give so much to be there for our kids. We are there holding them when they cry, even when we feel like crying ourselves. We are there dancing like a maniac, even though our legs feel too tired to hold us up. We are there playing Zingo for a tenth time, even though we know it will mean being up until 2am working to make up for it. We are there. You are there.

And yet when you look back on all of those pictures of those times, are you there? Or are you behind the camera, not existent in the actual frame? Will your kids be able to look back and see all of the fun you had with them? All of the love you showered them with? Or will the only pictures you’re in be bad selfies with your mom bun and sunglasses to hide your tired eyes?

Please don’t let that be the case. I promise your kids will want to see more photographs with you in them. They won’t see the tired eyes or extra baby weight you can’t kick (and a lot of times we are the only one that sees these things!). They will see and FEEL the love and relationship you had. I’m not saying this so you book a session with me (though I’d love that!). I’m saying this to remind you to exist in the frame. Even if it means you book another photographer. Even if it’s just handing the camera to Dad more often and asking him to get some with you in it (it feels awkward at first but it’s so worth it!). Be like Nike and just do it! You will only regret the photographs you didn’t take (except for those ones in college.. jk!)

Here’s a sweet Mom & Me session I did last year with one of my FAVORITE clients (who is an insanely talented interior designer btw!)  We focused on her sweet relationship with her daughter before she heads off to big kid’s school and their alone time during the day dwindles. We captured them doing some of their very favorite things. I just know that one day these pictures will mean the world to both of them! They also make me so excited to do these things with Lila one day. I’m going to pretend I will look half as gorgeous as Lisa doing them too =).