How to Tell Your Family Story
Tell Your Family Story in Photos
Lesley and Darren are back with their growing family! With the birth of their son, Garrett, they wanted to preserve a new set of memories they can add to their newborn collection of their oldest daughter Madeline. They’ve decided to tell their family story with a gallery wall of printed portraits and a birth announcement. Read on to see the ways you can tell your family story with photos!
Family Spotlight:
Lesley and Darren are the parents of these two sweethearts – big sister Madeline, and her baby brother Garrett. They joined me for a newborn session at the Reflections studio so they could capture Madeline’s joy in becoming a sister, and the special relationship each parent has with their two children.
The Moments We Captured:
Bringing your second child home comes along with an abundance of stories – let’s capture the essence of them through smiles, glittering eyes and togetherness. We captured the playful fun of Madeline building a block tower with Daddy, and the excited grin she had while holding her baby brother. We caught those priceless faces that only babies can make, and the way his parents look at him with such awe and adoration.
All your magical moments of everyday life with your newborn reflected back at you in effortless photos.
What They Wore:
Lesley had her hair and makeup done by my professional stylist so she didn’t have to stress about making time for that on her busy day. We planned the whole family’s wardrobe ahead of time so everything was picked out when they arrived at the studio. Everything tied together with a simple, classic elegance and a grey and pink colour scheme.
How they Preserved their Memories:
Lesley and Darren decided to update their story wall at home with their new family photos of Garrett’s newborn session. (I offer gallery wall installation with your photo sessions).
I also helped them design a beautiful birth announcement card that they can use to spread their joy to friends and family.
How To Tell Your Family Story:
What are your favourite family stories to tell?
Are they the cute and funny ones?
Or the ones that make you cry with delight?
Or maybe they’re the stories of deep connection?
I’ll bet all of them have a hint of magic in them.
Whatever stories you want to tell of your family, the important thing is that you tell them with truth and love, and think back on them with gratitude. Don’t compare your family stories to others. Don’t adapt them to make them fit into a tidier box. Let them be what they are. Be confident that your family story is full of goodness, despite its imperfections.
Because when we tell our family stories, parents and their children can remember that they are worthy of belonging wherever they are and that their life is part of a bigger story.
4 Ways to Tell Your Family Story in Photos:
And when we tell our family story in photos, we can capture moments that will transport you back to this moment, full of so much fun, love, and magic. Here’s how:
Effortless Family Photography:
Through 15 years of photographing families of all shapes and sizes, I am an expert at creating natural moments for your family.
That’s why I provide:
Play (providing photo-friendly toys for kids)
Soothing and swaddle techniques (for babies)
Candid pose-suggestions and adjustments for parents
A wardrobe collection of neutral colours
A kid-friendly natural light studio
A hair and makeup stylist who specializes in natural hair and makeup styles for photography
With each of these features, you can be assured that your photos will feel authentic and natural (not over-posed) and luxuriously enjoyable (not stressful or anxiety-producing).
2. Handcrafted Heirloom Photo Albums:
The photo albums I create for you are handcrafted albums made in Canada. You can choose between premium fabrics of linen or leather, as well as a cameo photo cover or an embossed cover. I’ll help you turn your favourite photos into a designed collection of moments that will tell your story and preserve your memories forever. I know many of my clients even love adding an envelope to the back of each album, where they can store away little notes about that time to read again one day – birth stats, cute moments, fingerprint art. This is a much less stressful way of recording memories than having to keep up with an entire weekly journal. Just grab a little sticky note, write down the thought when it comes and add it to the envelope.
“Your family photos are not meant to be items for a time capsule – something you make now and hide away until years later. Your family, baby, newborn photos are meant to be the artwork that travels with you through your life, as a constant visual reminder to stay in the moment.”
3. Wall Portraits:
(Transformed into Professionally Designed and Installed Story Walls)
Professionally framing your photo prints is so important. When you choose a professional story wall, you can avoid common pitfalls of DIY walls, like crooked photos, highly reflective glass, and sun damage on your photos. When you have high-quality frames for your prints, you’ll know that your photos are safe from sun damage and will pass the test of time. Choosing the right style and colour of frame is what can turn your photos into true works of art.
4. Cards:
This is another popular way that my clients love to tell their family stories. As we write our stories, we also want to bring people into our story too, keeping them up to date with our family’s progress (and they want to hear too). Everyone wants to be a part of a great family story, so invite them in by sending out holiday cards at Christmas, Easter, and birth announcements.
Conclusion:
Stories aren’t just told in words – they’re told in natural family photos that preserve a moment in time. Having these photos with you and your children throughout your family’s journey gives you a place to always come back to when you’re lost, and a way to practice savouring the goodness in each season of your life.
About This Beautiful Family
I first met Lesley and Darren Esau when they reached out to me for their daughter Madeline’s newborn session just under two years ago. It was such a joy to see them all again with their newest little guy Garrett. Newborn sessions are not only special for your baby to look back on one day, but also for you and your other children to remember the excitement around the newest member of your family.
Preserving Family Stories
- Portraits, Albums, Birth Announcements -
If you want to create something beautiful for your home and family, message me. I'd love to give you more information on booking a portrait session here at Reflections.
Client Testimonial
"Karen is such a pleasure to work with. My wife and I felt a sense of calm once the photoshoot began - even experiencing some emotional moments, which were unexpected."
- Darren Esau
Hi there!
I’m Karen, a professional, trained photographer in the Niagara Region of Ontario, specializing in maternity, newborn, baby and family portraits. Hundreds of mamas just like you have come to Reflections to capture the stories of their family’s growth.
As a mama of four, I understand the busy-ness of everyday life. I’m here to help you slow down time, even just for a moment, to embrace the beauty of that busy, full life.
