What’s Your Motivation?

Why do you want family photos? This is the question I’ve been asking. I can easily tell you why I think you should hire a professional for family photos, and I can tell you why I personally hire a pro every year. I can even tell you why you shouldn’t hire a professional photographer. But being in the middle of photography every single day can form a bubble around a person, and bubbles echo.

So last week I went through my previously-collected data, and I asked on Instagram (while I was stuck in an airport, thanks for keeping me company) why you real people are hiring family photographers these days. I wanted to know your motivation.

“The only photos I have of me with my kids are selfies.”

Family photography isn’t cheap. It costs money and time, requires planning that takes brain power that is already strained and lacking. So why go through all of that? The pull and desire must be greater than the inconvenience and expense. (That’s Spending Money 101).

“My boys are growing so quickly.”

It’s more than just wanting updated photos. (In fact, nobody said “I just want updated photos.”) The answers varied so much from person to person, full of nuance, and some answers had multiple answers within the one answer. From surface wants, to the deepest heart-wrenching wishes and desires.

“Being pregnant during the height of COVID was really hard, and isolated us so much from the new parent/family experience. We had to do so much of it ourselves, including our newborn photography.”

Photography helps us understand each other. It help moms be seen as real people, not just supporting cast to the children they’re raising. (Photos of you are not for you.)

“Proof that I lived here too!”

There is a yearning that only embeds itself after loss. A feeling that can only be felt once it’s too late to be unfelt. A strong pull to understand those who are no longer here. To learn more about them, to wonder about how they are tied to you. We use photographs to do that.

“I want my kids to understand and remember how much we loved them at this age, when they’re grown up.”

Photos of your family, specifically at home, help your kids see what is important to your family. “People in our family do these activities / enjoy this art / read these books / play these games / prioritize each other.”

“I want to document the things my kids love.”

Photography helps us find connection across generations. Everything changes, yet nothing changes.

“I want my daughter to see the fullness of our love for her, in the home we built with her in mind, in her first few months of life.”

What’s your motivation?