Adding Memory Triggers to Your Family Photos & Why You Should Be Doing It
The only constant in life is change. Every season is new adventures, challenges, and with that comes new memories.
Every mom is familiar with the bittersweet moments of packing up infant onesies and bringing. out the toddler clothes, or exchanging baby car seats and blankets for a walker, then a drum set, and eventually a car I suppose...I am glad I haven't gotten to that one yet!
Sometimes, those clothes, toys, pieces of jewelry or bedroom decorations get switched out without us fully realizing the significance and importance it has to our child. Have you ever had a child chase after something you were dropping at a donation station, or do you remember a favorite toy from your childhood that you don’t recall giving away, it just sort of disappeared at some point?
Once we're older, many of the little details about day to day life from our childhood is blurry. For reasons I'll never fully understand, our minds will select some (seemingly random) moments to be perfectly preserved in our memory bank, and others that dissipate into oblivion.
However, maybe you have experienced what it's like to have a moment that you didn’t know you could recall, come rushing back to you. Maybe it's a feeling, a scent, a color, or a place that triggers vivid details of your years past to the forefront of your mind.
There is something so interesting about reliving moments that you had forgotten, it's easy to see why so many of us seek out ways to experience nostalgia.
Well nowadays, with cell phones rivaling the camcorders our mothers had, we have the ability to preserve our children's "good old days" with convenience unlike ever before. I am willing to bet you snap a photo of your child at least once a day, if not 10 times a day! Is that true?
I am the same way, and it got me thinking...how can I make the many photos I take of my kids REALLY count? Which photos will withstand the test of time, and be the ones they really treasure in their adult years?
My answer? The photos that are CHOCK FULL of memory triggers.
The one that gives them a glimpse back into their childhood bedroom.
The one that shows them with their favorite stuffed bear.
The one that depicts them playing a game with their siblings, a game that was their favorite thing to do for a few years, until one day they didn't play it and soon it was forgotten.
The one of you reading their favorite book to them.
The one of them having their favorite snack at Grandma's house... oh how I WISH I had a photo of seven year old Mia enjoying a cup of coffee milk on my granny's porch, it's one of my favorite memories from my summer stays at her house.
We are used to reaching for our camera when something NEW and exciting is happening, but let this be a reminder to record the little things in your day to day life that may not seem extraordinarily special. Right now, it probably feels like you could never forget about the millions of breakfasts you served your kiddos, but in ten years? You may want to look back and recall with your kids what your Monday morning go-to breakfast routine was like. With that, will rush back a wave of emotions and memories of packing the kids up for school, sipping your room temperature coffee, and realizing how quickly those days did go by after all.
Sorry, is someone cutting onions in here? Please stop.
So, now that I have hopefully convinced you that thinking of these memory triggers is important momming business, here are some ideas to fire up the thought train. Idea of things your kids may one day wish you had recorded. Shoutout to my mom who took a picture of me holding my favorite, totally outrageous, hamburger purse. I am sure it's rotting away in a landfill now, but man I adored that thing until one day I just forgot about it...or it was taken away without my approval.
If you want to include the most important piece of all... MOM then book a session with me. I encourage you to make the most out of your storybook session by cramming your favorite things about your family into a time-capsule of a photo session. What are some favorite activities you do together? What places do you like to go? What pets did your children have growing up, what do your kids like to wear? Do they have pictures of doing their favorite activities with Grandma? I love adding these precious moments into your session, making the photos even more of a priceless generational treasure.
I would love it if you tell me in the comments what your favorite photo is from your childhood, or an object that you really wish you had photos with!
I’ll share something with you first. Whenever one of us comes or goes, we have a family hug. My husband and I haul the kids up into our arms and squeeze them between us. We used to call it a “Mia sandwich” but since little brother came along, we call it “family hug!”. My favorite part is that the kids will request it, Jaxon reaching up and asking for a family hug in his two year old babble, and then the kids will holler “Lucy! Lucy!” until our dog hops up next to us and is part of the hug. I can’t wait to get one of our family hugs on camera. ❤️
Next up, we will talk about how it’s best to print and preserve those memories, or create memory boxes with photos, so subscribe to my email list if you want to get in on that freebie!
The Photographers Kids | Tips For Getting Your Family Ready For Photos
Are there stereotypes about photographers kids?
I feel like mine are constantly in photo, but rarely family photos and never the "normal" photos like first day of school, or kinder graduation...maybe that's because we homeschool. Whatever the case, getting kids out the door for ANYTHING is like a friggin circus, that takes time and practice! Getting kids out the door perfectly pressed and happy to take photos....not always a fun time.
Here are five super simple things I do when I want to set my kids up for success for whatever photo session I have dreamed up for them.
p.s. this quick session was meant to be bluebonnet photos, which I had already taken a month earlier this time in 2020, but when we got to my favorite wildflower spot, it was practically naked. 😭 That darn Texas snow storm!
We snapped a few quick shots anyway, with some flowers I had brought with us. I'm sure we will return back soon for another session, my kids will be thrilled wont they. 😂
FIVE SIMPLE THINGS TO HELP YOUR KIDS HAVE A GREAT PHOTO SHOOT
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Get yourself ready way ahead of time:
Now you are ready and able to help get the rest of the family out the door, and you can sip your coffee and take your time getting ready without feeling rushed. In an ideal world, anyway! If you have messy babies or toddlers, maybe wait until the last minute to change clothes, but otherwise... BE READY.
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Lay out outfits for kids the day before
This way you can see how everything looks together and make sure you have it all covered down to the socks and earrings. Also, if your kids are picky like mine, they want to have a say in what they wear, so showing them ahead of time what I have planned (or letting them help plan it) means less struggle and protest when it's time to get dressed. I don't dress my 2 y.o. until we are actually about to start taking photos. Kids can find a billion ways to mess up an outfit in a car.
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Feed the lil' monsters
Joking, but also so serious. Hunger meltdowns are the fastest way to make a photoshoot stressful. Feed yourself , and get the family some snacks!
If you can pop a nap in with that snack, you're totally golden.
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What to bring with you
Wipes for snotty noses, mouths with snacks on them, or spills on outfits. Water and snacks....it's just always safest to have these things with you, let's be honest. A "surprise" for after the photos, like a cookie! Possibly one of your kids favorite toys. I like to capture this part of their different stages during childhood, and they are typically happier when they have their comfort item with them.
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Include them in the planning
Let them know that this session will be a fun family outing, they are going to meet someone new, or see an old friend...depending on your photographer. Talk about where you're going to go, and what will be expected of them. They can even practice making faces in the mirror, or think of a fun pose they want to try.
Want to book a family session in the San Antonio area? Let's chat!
Meagan + Harold | Romantic Photo Session | Botanical Gardens
Fresh Spring blossoms at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens, and young love. What could be sweeter?
Harold said "I wasn’t sure what to wear, so I went for a suit".
Guys, ALWAYS go for the suit. You cannot fail. I love the formality and class both of their looks brought to their session. Honestly, I cannot recall the last time I had a session with someone wearing a suit! Megans gorgeous makeup look was done by the very talented Cynthia Barber makeup artist in San Antonio, TX. I highly recommend her talents to anyone who wants to get glammed before their photo session.
I am convinced that absolutely everyone thinks they don't photograph well, or feels uncomfortable in front of the camera. Even this gorgeous couple was worried they would be awkward. The most consistent thing I hear leading up to a photo session is "we're awkward! We don't get photos taken often". Believe me, I absolutely understand how you feel. I too, have had many uncomfortable "deer in headlights" moments in front of a camera, and was left feeling like I could barely recognize myself in the photos. It has become one of my top priorities to make your session breeze by quickly and to make it where you're having so much fun, your forget that you are even having your photos taken! Truly, your photo session with me will feel like a fun family outing or a date night activity, AND you get a lasting keepsake from it.
It's so rewarding to hear "wow, that was so easy!" at the end of all my sessions.
The thing is, YOU are not supposed to know what to do, so you don't have to even think about it! I will give you fun prompts and things to do during your session, that will lead to fun and genuine moments like those ones I captured here. I promise you, your next photo session can be fun and painless, give me a chance to show you!
Just come ready to have fun.
Secondly, after the fun of your session, and all the planning leading up to it, I know how hard it is to wait to see the results. Which is why I prioritize getting your images to you as quickly as possible. I always request that you give me 5-7 business days, but rarely do I need that much time. Most of my clients will have their full gallery within 24-48 hours.
Thank you so much for spending your afternoon with me Megan & Harold. I hope you treasure these photos for the rest of your lives, and one day your great grandkids will look at these and think "dang, I had some cute as heck great grandparents!" haha I Look forward to capturing more special moments in your lives.
If you are interested in booking a session with me (YAY!) please contact me here:
Bluebonnets Are In Session | San Antonio, TX Bluebonnet Photos
Every Spring, the spotting of the first bluebonnet is a momentous occasion.
This Spring in Texas, it's really hard to believe it's March again, first off because we just had a a huge snow that has left every living thing in our grounds brown or bare. It's hard to envision bluebonnets springing from the dirt right now. Do bluebonnets come after the snow? I guess we will wait and see.
This March also feels signifiant for another reason. We are creeping up on the one year anniversary of the first shutdown we had in San Antonio, Tx. It's hard to fathom that we have all been living during a pandemic for a year now, and simultaneously it's had to remember life before it changes so drastically. I fell one thousands times more the adult then I was in March of 2020, is it just me?
Over the course of this year, I went through the process fo first cancelling all my sessions, then trying a few front porch session when they began trending. It was tricky at first, and still can be with little kids...but I've also learned that I can do session while keeping my distance. I've greatly improved at giving you prompts for posing and fixing little details versus me hopping into your personal bubble and fixing your hairs or necklace for you.
So yes, Virginia, you really CAN do a photo session staying 6ft a part. What a weird fact I never imagined I'd need to know prior to 2020.
I have not spotted the first sign of bluebonnets yet. I promise I will let you know when I do. If you send me your email address, I will happily keep you on my list of updates. You can also always follow me on my Facebook or Instagram for updates.
Wether the bluebonnets come or not, I am really looking forward to some Spring and wildflower mini sessions. Some people take this event and make it an annual family photo updates, a just for fun session, an Easter session, or fit it to whatever else occasion is coming up for you this Spring, Spring can feel like a rainbow after a storm and man has this year been a storm...one storm after another in fact.
Some of my favorite locations for Spring mini sessions are:
San Antonio Botanical Gardens- So much variety, ranging from ponds to fields of wildflowers, lush greenery, succulent gardens and waterfalls.
Guadalupe State Park - Splash in the river and feel the kiss of Spring sun on your cheeks in the gorgeous hillside location
A random field near you - wildflowers can pop up in the most unexpected places, and I've come to find a few favorite haunts that I check out every year.
You home - many of you loved the front porch sessions from last year, and I think it's an idea worthy of repeating or even making a tradition! Show how you have or haven't changed during this momentous year. Let me join you as your plan your garden, or go for a walk outside. These little at home sessions are cozy and intimate. More of a documentary portraiture style and they are precious photos to hold on to exactly what these days are like for you at this point in time.
The best dates are:
I have a variety of dates open for March-early May. The timeline is a little different for the bluebonnets and wildflowers this year, so I am flexible while we wait for them to appear.
Worthy of noting: best times of day are early morning between 8:00-9:00, or evenings around 5-7:00.
Most of my available session dates are for a Friday evening, Saturday morning or afternoon, or Sunday evening.
The details are:
My mini session details can always be viewed here. I can provide more details in an email or free phone consultation to you. This session can really be tailored to whatever your dream for. a photo session have been lately, at an affordable and flexible rate. This is by far my most popular option. But as a bonus, I will be including 10 digital images in the price, and any additional digital images from your session can be purchased for $10 ea.
I am always excited to hear your ideas, and bring your vision to life. I am so ready to dive into Spring of 2021 and create the much needed happy magic that we all need in our lives.
