Calling out Moms for a second here: Moms, be in the photos. As a photographer and a mom, I’ve come to realize the immense significance of capturing memories and the irreplaceable role it plays in our lives. Time rushes by, and our children grow up in the blink of an eye. Amidst the chaos of motherhood, it’s crucial to remember that we are not just observers of our family’s story but active participants in it.
Today, I’m sharing Tori’s Mama Mini session with you. This one is extra close to my heart because not only does she have a neuro-divergent kiddo, there was something that happened the week of the pictures that reminded me that we aren’t promised tomorrow.
It’s also why I LOVE to do what I do.
As moms, we often find ourselves behind the camera, capturing every precious moment of our children’s lives. But in our pursuit of preserving memories, we often forget to include ourselves in the frame.
Be in the Photos to Leave a Legacy of Love
Being in the photos as a mom is not just about having pretty pictures; it’s about leaving a tangible legacy of love for our children. Years from now, when they look back at these images, they won’t just see a mom posing for a photo.
They will see a woman who loved them unconditionally, who held them close during their happiest and most challenging moments. These photographs will tell a story of a mom who was present, engaged, and deeply involved in their lives.
Be in the Photos to Embrace the Journey of Motherhood
Being in the photos allows us to embrace the messy and beautiful journey of motherhood. Our children will remember not just the milestone events but the everyday moments, the spontaneous adventures, and the laughter-filled evenings. As moms, we owe it to ourselves and our children to be present in these memories, not just as documenters but as active participants in the tapestry of their lives.
Tomorrow isn’t Promised
I want to share, in Tori’s words, what happened the week of her Mama Mini session and why I will always encourage moms to be in the photos with their littles.
“I got Cody in his car seat to take Jake & Beau to school and he hates his car seat so he started to cry but it wasn’t anything out of the ordinary- he usually calms down when the car starts moving. Cody was still crying as I drove the boys to school and when I got out of the car to walk Beau over to the bus, 20 feet away from my car.
When I got back to the car, I would normally just get in the driver’s seat and drive home but for whatever reason my body went to Cody’s door. When I opened his door, he was struggling to breathe and was trying to cry but couldn’t. He was completely purple.
I was out of the car for maybe 2 minutes.
Immediately, I got him out of the car seat and he luckily started to breathe again but it was labored and he was pretty lethargic and very pale. I called the ER to tell them what what happening and that we are on our way. Once at the ER they got him hooked on some oxygen and ran a bunch of tests. His bloodwork came back worrisome because of the lactic acid numbers. They thought he could potentially have an infection around his brain. He was then life-flighted (without me😭) to Primary Children’s.
Luckily Caden was working in Provo that day and immediately rushed up to Salt Lake so he would be there once Cody arrived. Primary Children’s ran more tests than our little rural Utah hospital could and everything came back completely normal. We were kept overnight for observation and to do an EMU on his brain to rule out seizures. His EMU came back clear and the doctors believe it was something called BRUE… Which stands for brief resolved unexplained event. It’s basically pre-SIDS. There’s really no explanation for it, but if I hadn’t caught it when I did then it could have been much much worse. 😭
He’s a very happy and healthy baby boy and we are SO grateful he’s still here with us.♥️
My pregnancy was anything but textbook and things were scary there for a while where we didn’t know if he would make it to term, so this whole experience was very on brand for him.😂 He’s a special little boy who likes to keep us on our toes! And he has done that since before he was even born”.
A reminder to be in the photos
Tori’s story is a reminder of just how important it is to capture the memories with your little ones. They are something that you will cherish forever. If you’re ready to book a session with me, click here!
Okay, now go ahead and scroll through Tori’s Mama Mini Session!
Want to capture better images of your kids, click the image below easy-to-understand tips on how to take better photos of your family (with your iPhones AND cameras!), and you’ll find yourself capturing little moments like a pro in no time!
