As a La Jolla photographer, and as a mom, there is something I think about often: they really don’t stay this small for long.

I hear so many parents say, “We keep saying we’ll do family photos soon.”

Maybe when life is a little less busy. When the baby is sleeping better. When you feel more comfortable in your body. When you find the perfect outfits. When everyone’s schedule finally works.

And then somehow, months have passed.

One day you look at your baby and realize nine months are already gone. Your phone is full of photos of them, but there are so few photographs where you are there too. All together. As a family.

This is exactly why one of my favorite clients decided it was finally time.

A Simple Family Session, Just as They Are

She had a beautiful baby girl and wanted something very simple: photographs of the three of them together.

Nothing complicated. Nothing overly styled or posed.

Just them.

We photographed their family session in a rental studio using the beautiful natural light coming through the large garage door. No flash and no elaborate setup. Just soft daylight filling the room, almost like the light coming through a big window at home.

And, piano piano, we let the session happen.

No rush or worrying about the weather or whether the baby was doing exactly what we wanted.

There was simply time for them to be together.

For their clothing, we kept everything soft and neutral: beige, cream and a touch of light blue. I love colors like these for family photographs because they don’t distract from what really matters: the people in the photo.

Years from now, I want you to look at your photographs and see your family, not a trend.

The Photographs I Love the Most as a La Jolla Photographer

My favorite moments are almost never the perfectly posed ones.

They are the little things that happen in between.

A tiny hand resting on mom’s chest. Dad looking at his wife and baby instead of looking at me. The way a baby relaxes against her parents because that is exactly where she feels she belongs.

Nobody performing for the camera.

Just a family being a family.

And when my client saw her photographs, one of the things that made me happiest was hearing how comfortable she had felt during the session.

Because I know being in front of a camera is not easy for everyone.

You might worry about what to do with your hands, whether you look good from a certain angle, whether your baby will cooperate, or whether you are going to feel awkward.

But you don’t need to know how to pose.

That is my job.

I will guide you when you need it, and then give you space when the beautiful, natural moments start happening on their own.

You just need to come and be with the people you love.

They Won’t Stay This Small

If you have been thinking about family photos but keep telling yourself, maybe later, this is your little reminder.

There will always be another busy week.

There will always be something to organize first.

But your baby will never be exactly this age again.

Nine months go fast. A year goes fast too. And that time when they are still small enough to fit perfectly against your chest seems to go fastest of all.

You don’t need to wait for the perfect moment.

This is the moment.

I would love to photograph it for you.

Thinking about your own family session with a La Jolla photographer? Get in touch — I would love to hear a little about your family and what you would like to remember about this season of your life.