How many images do you have of yourself and your family where you're all just sitting there, side by side, attempting smiles on your faces but your heart isn't really in it? One of the hardest parts of being a photographer is getting everyone in the right frame of mind, educating clients like you on what to expect when you get to the studio, and then helping you to forget the camera is there and just having a great time together as a family.

Meet my youngest three little ones. To some, they may not be so small, but to me, no matter how old my kids are, they will always be my babies.I asked them some questions for this blog post, and here are their adorable, and somewhat questionable answers.

If you are not having fun during your annual family portrait sessions, then, my friends, you are not doing it right! Fun is a must have during all Reflections of Life sessions. Fun brings out real emotion and expression, smiles and laughs. Fun creates the memories that we want to last a lifetime.

My hope, my goal, for every family that I photograph is that I capture moments. Real moments. The kind of moments that when you look at the image, you can feel the emotional connection. The moments where they forget that my camera and I are even there. Beautiful, tender moments to the full of life, active moments. Each one the perfect reflection of your family, your love and your life.

Recently my family went through a very difficult time. We've been torn apart, and I don't know if we'll ever be able to rebuild what we've lost. At first I kept most of it to myself, but now I realize that being able to talk to my close friends, and asking for help, has made a huge impact on how I'm dealing with it all.

There are so many reasons why I love photographing families. Togetherness is one of them. Families go through life together. The ups, the downs, the in betweens. Families help one another together. Families love each other, together. Families spend time together. 

If you are a mama, you understand. You understand the pure, fierce, undying love for your children. If you are not yet a mother, I promise you this, the moment you hold your precious baby in your arms for the first time, you will understand. One of my greatest joys as a photographer is capturing the love between a mama and her babies.

Squeeze. We squeeze our ways through life constantly. Squeezing in last minute appointments, squeezing through a closing elevator door, squeezing the ones you love. The squeeze of a hand is a silent "I love you" to the one who's hand is in yours. The squeeze of a shoulder tells the person, "I am right here by your side." The squeeze of an embrace brings instant comfort.

Like a never ending hour glass, life is constantly moving. Each moment building onto the next, creating the memories of our lives. At times, life seems to move so fast. School, work, schedules filled with so many things that it can be hard to keep track of it all.

Days with a baby in the house are some of the best of days. The nights are long but the days are filled with giggles, smiles and lots of love. Every day is a day filled with wonder, new sights to see and new skills to master.

When you have a big brother, you spend a lot of time looking up. After all, for a long time he towers over your. Especially when he is five years older than you. But even at 1 year of age, Weston already looks up to his brother Anderson far beyond the literal sense.

There are many kinds of love. The love between husband and wife, mother and son, father and son, brothers. The love between a family when they are together as one. Each love is beautiful and special in its own way. The different dynamics and relationships in a family are what makes it yours.