As a St. Louis and Denver family photographer, one of the most heartbreaking things to me is to hear a parent say “I’m not photo ready right now. Let’s just do a kids session this year.”  I hear you and I really do get it. I feel the same way myself! But I think what people are missing is the big picture. You’ve probably seen the meme with the old photo that says “If you think pictures aren’t important, wait until that’s all you have left.”  What are you leaving your children? TONS of photos of them as they grow, thanks to iphones and androids. Probably many more than we ever had as kids. Lots of  phone videos of their various school plays, and some silly snap chat photos with your faces swapped. But are you leaving them with tangible memories of YOU? Will they have actual printed and framed photos that they can cherish long after you are no longer with them? One of my favorite things to capture in a family photography session is the way a parent looks at their child. The unfiltered joy and pride that a parent has for their child is something special.  YOU know that you feel this way, and you probably look at them 20 times a day with such expressions. But THEY don’t see it.  As a grown adult, how special are family photos with your parents in them? Especially photos where you get to see your parents looking at you with such joy.  Think about that the next time you tell yourself you aren’t photo ready right now. When will you be? Are you going to get these years back?