I started taking our own photos years ago when my husband and I were engaged. Nearly two decades later, I’ve taken all of our own family photos, from maternity sessions to wrangling toddlers, from Christmas card photos to ocean sunsets on vacation. We’ve added babies, changed homes, and grown together… all in front of a camera that I set up myself!

There’s a special kind of magic that comes from being served and celebrated by another artist, but there have been so many times when taking our own family photos just made sense, and honestly, turned out to be a beautiful gift.

Why We Take Our Own Photos
Some of my favorite memories weren’t planned down to the minute… they happened in the in-between. Especially on vacation, instead of rushing to meet a photographer at a specific time, we can just go with the flow.  There’s no pressure. No running late. Just us, doing our thing, documenting a chapter of our life as it unfolds naturally.

I’ve snapped our Christmas card photos during naptime windows. I’ve photographed newborn snuggles on a random Tuesday. I’ve captured beach photos barefoot in the sand while my kids laughed at me for running back and forth to hit the timer. (Thankfully technology has come a long way since my early days of doing this and the running back and forth is non existent now!)

I promise, it’s not as complicated as it seems.

Want to Learn How I Do It?
If the thought of doing your own family photos sounds like something you’d love to try (but maybe feels a little intimidating), I created a free 12-minute mini course that walks you through exactly how I take our family self portraits. No fluff. No complicated gear. Just my exact process, broken down into simple steps. It’s perfect for photographers who want to learn how to confidently capture their own family photos, without needing someone else behind the camera every time.

Click here to get the free mini course and let me show you how easy and fun it can be!

You don’t need hours of free time. You don’t need the “perfect” location. Just a little know-how, a bit of patience, and the willingness to be in the photo too. You’ve got this. And I’d be honored to show you how.