I wish I could have a pound for every time someone says to me 'I want to get my family pictures done, but first I want to lose weight/grow my hair/cut my hair/wait until my child is crawling/wait until it's hotter/wait until it's colder (the list goes on......)
It always makes me feel a little sad because I think of all the beautiful memories that will never be captured.
The true magic of photography comes when you look back at the images taken from your past. When you can reminisce and remember who you were and where you were. The images that will trigger your memories and force you to pause and reflect on what was.
These two pictures were taken of my family and I when I was around 7 or 8. I remember them being taken very clearly, we were in my back garden in our family home in New Malden. I like to look at how little my brothers were. I instantly remember how much my sister hated her hair then (it's beautiful and curly now she has learned to tame it). I love being reminded of how my parents looked back then, funny to think they were around the age I am now, and my own children are the age we were then!
Perhaps my obsession with family photography started with these images. They've always been displayed in my parents house, they've always been a part of my life since they were taken, they are a window into my childhood. A rare photo with my Mum in, as she was (as most us mums are) normally the one behind the camera. She looks amazing, so beautiful and strong! These pictures make me feel happy.
......and just to think what if she had decided that day that she didn't want these pictures taken because she didn't like the way she looked at that time. A beautiful memory that would never have been made!
And that's why I say just book the shoot, don't over think it or wait for the perfect time. Now is all we have.
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