The Most Meaningful Photos Aren’t the Pretty Ones — They’re the True Ones

There’s a big difference between a photo that’s pretty and a photo that’s true. Pretty photos are nice to look at. True photos make you feel something.

True photos show the quiet care between partners, the inside jokes, the little gestures, the fleeting moments you think no one noticed. They show the love that’s lived, not posed.

And years from now, truth will matter more than perfection. Truth will carry the memory. Truth is what lasts.

Why I Believe in Letting Kids Lead the Session

Adults worry about photos “turning out right.” Kids don’t. Kids live in the moment. They follow curiosity, excitement, imagination — the things we slowly forget as we grow up.

When kids lead the way, two things happen:

They forget about the camera. And the adults relax.

Suddenly the images become alive with genuine expressions, genuine movement, genuine relationships. That’s why some of my favorite photos are the ones where the child was simply doing what they do best: being a kid.

The Way Photos Become Emotional Anchors

Photos don’t just show what someone looked like. They show how someone felt.

When you lose someone, whether to time or distance or life changing as it always does, photos become emotional anchors. Not in a sad way — in a grounding, comforting way. They hold the feeling of who that person was, and who you were with them.

This is why I photograph the way I do. Emotional honesty matters. Authentic connection matters. One day these images won’t just be photos. They’ll be touch points that bring people back home.

Finding Beauty in the Chaos

Life with kids isn’t quiet. Or predictable. Or tidy. It’s loud, messy, hilarious, exhausting, beautiful chaos. And honestly? That’s the season worth remembering.

When you look back years from now, you’re not going to wish your kids sat still more. You’re not going to wish their clothes were more coordinated or their hair less wild. You’re going to miss the chaos — the energy, the little quirks, the unfiltered joy.

So let the kids run. Let them be silly. Let the moment happen. Chaos makes for incredible photographs because chaos is real. And real is always beautiful.

Why I Photograph With a Light Hand

I learned a long time ago that directing too much kills the moment. Families stiffen. Kids freeze. Parents get worried about “messing up.” And suddenly the session feels like a performance rather than a memory being made.

So I guide lightly. Gently. I step back and let your family interact naturally. You’d be amazed what unfolds when people feel like they have room to breathe. A hug. A joke. A glance that only the people in the photo understand.

That’s why I describe my approach as presence over posing. Your family already knows how to be a family. I’m just there to witness it.

The Truth About “Not Being Photogenic”

I hear it all the time: “I’m not photogenic.” “I never look good in photos.” “Everyone else looks natural, but I don’t.”

Here’s the truth — people don’t look awkward in photos because they aren’t photogenic. They look awkward because they feel unseen. Because they’re trying to be who they think the camera expects them to be instead of who they are.

My job isn’t to pose you into someone you’re not. My job is to help you feel comfortable enough that your real self — the one your family loves — is the one that shows up. And that version of you? That version photographs beautifully every single time.

Why You Don’t Need to Prepare for a Session as Much as You Think

Families often come to sessions feeling like they have to perform — outfits perfectly coordinated, kids perfectly behaved, everyone perfectly composed. But that pressure? It takes people out of the moment. And the best photos come from the moment.

You don’t need perfection. You don’t need to rehearse smiles or practice poses. What you really need is permission to be yourselves. To laugh. To relax. To show up as a family that loves, cares, and maybe even bickers a little along the way.

When you let go of preparing for the perfect outcome, that’s when the real magic shows up. That’s when we capture the real story.

The Moments You Don’t Realize Matter (Until They’re Gone)

Most people think the most important photos are the big ones — the milestones, the celebrations, the perfectly planned outfits and locations. But the older I get, the more I realize the moments that stay with us aren’t the ones we expected. They’re the in-between moments. The ones we didn’t think were special at the time.

A quiet laugh between siblings while the camera isn’t “officially” out. The way a parent instinctively brushes hair away from a child’s forehead. That tiny hand reaching up without even looking. Those are the things that disappear the fastest, and the moments we miss the most when life inevitably moves forward.

Photography gives us the gift of remembering the ordinary. And when you look back years later, you’ll realize those were the moments that mattered all along.

Why This Matters for Your Family

Photos aren’t just for today. They’re for tomorrow, too. They’re for your children when they grow up and want to remember what it felt like to be small in your arms. They’re for your grandchildren who will look back and see where they came from.

The perfect photo isn’t one that impresses strangers on social media—it’s the one that makes your family pause, smile, and feel something. It’s the one that reconnects you to your story.

That’s why I photograph the way I do. Because years from now, when you open an album, I want you to hear the laughter, feel the closeness, and remember exactly what that time in your life felt like.

Embracing Imperfection

I’ll be the first to admit—I’m not chasing flawless. I don’t believe that’s where the magic lives. I believe it lives in the imperfect, in the honest, in the vulnerable.

Sometimes that means a photo where someone’s hair is out of place or a child is making a goofy face. But those little quirks often end up being the favorites, because they tell the truth. They remind you of what life really looked like in that season—not the polished version, but the real one.

Authenticity will always outlast perfection.

The Role of Simplicity

Simplicity is one of my guiding values. The most powerful photos aren’t always the most elaborate—they’re often the simplest. A hand resting on a shoulder. A laugh shared between siblings. A quiet moment of stillness before the next burst of energy.

By stripping away distractions, photography allows us to focus on what really matters: the connection between people. That’s where the magic is.

Creating a Comfortable Space

One of my biggest priorities when working with families is helping you feel comfortable. I know it can feel intimidating to step in front of a camera—especially when kids are involved and the idea of getting everyone to sit still seems impossible.

Here’s the secret: you don’t have to sit still. You don’t even have to “perform.” My sessions are designed to be relaxed, fun, and natural. I’ll guide you gently when needed, but the best moments usually come when you forget the camera is there.

I value positivity, inclusivity, and ease. Whether that means letting kids run around and play, or encouraging a couple to share an inside joke, the more natural you feel, the more authentic the photos will be.

Why Emotional Connection Matters More

I believe photography should be about connection above all else. When you look at a photo, you should feel a spark of recognition—this is us, this is our life, this is our love. That’s the kind of image that will bring a smile to your face decades later.

An emotionally connected photo:

·      Brings you back to a memory you might otherwise forget

·      Holds space for your family’s unique personality

·      Captures not just faces, but feelings

·      Becomes a touchstone for future generations

This is why I focus less on “perfect” and more on presence. Because when you’re truly in the moment, relaxed and being yourself, the photos naturally reflect the beauty of that.

The Myth of the “Perfect” Photo

When most people think of the perfect photo, they imagine crisp focus, flattering light, and everyone looking directly at the camera with their best smile. While those can be lovely, the truth is that life doesn’t look like that most of the time.

Life is messy. Kids make silly faces, parents laugh mid-sentence, someone’s hair is blowing in the wind, or the dog decides to run through the frame. Those little imperfections are actually what make a photo alive. They’re proof that the moment was real and unscripted.

A technically flawless photo might impress on the surface—but an emotionally true photo stays with you. It triggers a memory, stirs something inside, and reminds you of what matters most.

Why the Perfect Photo Isn’t About Perfection

I’ve always believed that photography should do more than just look beautiful—it should make you feel something. That belief started years ago when I first picked up a camera. I wasn’t thinking about perfect lighting or whether every detail was technically right. What mattered to me was the way a photo could hold onto a moment that might otherwise slip away.

To me, the perfect photo isn’t the one where everyone is posed just right—it’s the one where your daughter bursts out laughing in the middle of a hug, or where your family is tangled together on the couch, relaxed and comfortable in your own rhythm. Those are the images that tell the truth.

And that’s why, when I photograph families, my goal isn’t to create something flawless—it’s to create something real. Photos that bring you back to the feeling of that day, the sound of laughter, the warmth of being together. Because years from now, when you look back, I want you to remember not just how you looked, but exactly how you felt.