This a great debate in families all over the country. Should you or shouldn’t you? I mean, you have that nice cell phone pic you took the last time you all had a get together right? What do you need a professional portrait for? Let me break it down for you.
Many of us are so busy trying to get everything done on a daily basis- work, take care of our children, spend time with our spouses and carve out some time with our friends and family, that most of us don’t think about the importance of having professional portraits done. There are many milestones that go undocumented because we are just too busy. Before you know it, your first born is heading off to college and you’re wondering where the time went! Believe me, I know. My first born just started his first year of high school. Or maybe, you have precious family members that you would like to have portraits of before it’s too late, like great grandparents or relatives that live far away.
Having a professional photographer to capture those milestones and one of a kind moments takes the pressure off of you. In a professional photographer, you have someone who knows just how to direct each and every person in your family so that your vision comes together beautifully. They can also guide you on clothing options, location options and most often, help to relax you during the session so that you aren’t looking stressed in your pictures. Now imagine trying to do that all on your own, wrangling the runaway toddler, making sure everyone is smiling and posing your family in a way that doesn’t look awkward.
Having a professional, retouched portrait on your wall, something tangible that you can touch, is just next level. How often do you print out the pictures you take on your cellphone? If you’re like me, probably never. And how good is the quality of the photo when blown up to an 11x14 print? Or even 8x10? Photo walls are a beautiful statement piece that brings joy every time you walk past each image and relive those memories. A lot of people get caught up on the cost of a portrait session or having tangible prints but just like everything else in your life, if it brings you joy, it’s worth the investment. And most photographers are willing to work with their clients on payment plans. There’s no harm in asking.
How important is it to you to have those milestones in your families lives documented? How important is it to have that beautiful portrait of nana before she’s gone? I have a portrait of my grandmother that I took several months before she passed away. I will cherish that portrait forever because with it, I feel like she is always with me. You have to decide how important it is to you.
