I just want to start off by simply saying: "If only we could see ourselves the way our children see us. How beautiful and unconditionally loved we would feel."
I hear so many moms saying they don't like how they look whether it be their hair, skin, weight, etc. This tends to be the biggest reason they don't like their photos taken. But photos with your kids? That is something that should NEVER be sacrificed! Your babies (young or old) love you so, so much. They don't see what you see. All they see is their mommy...a booboo healer, toy fixer, mac-n-cheese makin, bedtime story tellin, hugs-n-kisses givin, one-of-a-kind superhero! Everything about you to them is wonderful and beautiful. The special bond between a mother and child is beyond words. It's something that should be cherished and relished....no matter how old your "babies" are!
Don't you want to be able to look back in a few years and look through photos of you and your children and remember those sweet, fleeting moments? Photos of you hugging, snuggling, playing, laughing. Don't you want to be able to share these photos with your children when they're older? To look back together and laugh, cry, reminisce in the good ol' days? Don't you want to leave them a legacy? Memories they too can later cherish? Memories of their beautiful mom and the special little moments they got to share with you? These photos remind them of their childhood...of how much you love them and how much they love you. They don't care how your hair looks, what you're wearing or how much you weigh. Seriously, they don't.
You'll never look at a photo of you with your mother (dead or alive) and say: "Gee I wish she would've lost weight before having her picture taken with me." Sure, you might poke fun at the fashion style "back in the day", but never will you say that you wish she had worn something "better" in order to be photographed with you. You will never regret that she wore her hair up instead of down that day. You won't care about any of that. You will only see your mothers arms around you with her lips pressed to your forehead and her eyes closed as she breathed in your sweet baby scent. Now do you see what I'm trying to say? I hope you do.
You know another big reason I hear for not having professional portraits taken with your children? "I don't have the money." And honestly, I can relate to that. Even as a photographer, I don't have many photos with my son. Apparently no one knows how to pick up a camera and snap precious moments of me with my son. And don't get me started about finding a local photographer who I not only admire their work, but can afford their price tag. It's sad to say, but it's true. I want professional photos just like you. So I sat down and thought long and hard about how I can make this happen and I started to cry. I simply never thought of putting it in my "budget" or making it a rewarding goal. And why not? We budget for bills...we set weight goals. Why not for professional portraits?
Compare it to getting your hair done. I just (regretfully) paid $170 at a day spa for my hair and nothing to show for it...besides my roots that are starting to grow back already after only 2 weeks. The same amount of money could have gotten me memories to last a lifetime. So many things became stupid and questionable. Manicures, fancy hair, tanning, brand new vehicles, name brand clothes, etc. None of those things define me as a mother and none of these things matter to my son. These aren't things he can look back on and cherish. So I have started taking pointless things out of my budget to work in something I feel is way more important. I hope this motivates you to do the same if you are among the mom's who don't have the budget for luxuries like professional portraits.
And if this still doesn't help, I am going to give away a FREE Mommy & Me Mini Session to one very lucky lady! The chance to finally have professional portraits with your children. It doesn't matter if your children are 5 months old or 55 years old...it doesn't matter if you have 1 child or 10...this is your chance! Take the $85 this session would have cost and put it towards something else meaningful...like a day trip somewhere special with your children! Or use it to purchase BIG prints from your session to display proudly on your wall and brag about! Entering is easy and you have a whole week to do so! Below you will see a flyer for the Mommy & Me Mini Sessions and under that will be the contest! Good luck : )
Here is the contest entry form! The contest will run from now until April 10th at 12pm. Winner will get a FREE Mommy & Me Mini Session {an $85 value}. Digital images are included. Prints are separate and they are 20% off. Dates that are still available at the time of winning will be the spots you can choose from. Winner will be announced on April 11th via Facebook.
* Please note that the entry that asks you to comment on why professional portraits of you and your children is important to you is to be entered into the "Comments" section of my blog which is located directly under the contest box. The comment is to be written after you have gone through all steps of the contest.
* And don't for get to share this giveaway with your unique code it gives you at the end! Each time someone clicks on your unique code and enters the contest, you get 5 more entries into the contest! Double your chances to win!
* Please note that the entry that asks you to comment on why professional portraits of you and your children is important to you is to be entered into the "Comments" section of my blog which is located directly under the contest box. The comment is to be written after you have gone through all steps of the contest.
* And don't for get to share this giveaway with your unique code it gives you at the end! Each time someone clicks on your unique code and enters the contest, you get 5 more entries into the contest! Double your chances to win!
Professional portraits of me and my little ones are important to me because when they look back at their childhood, I want them to see me as the vital amount of glue that held everything in place. I want my kids to be able to visualize all that they are to me and the joy and growth they have each brought into my life. ~Melissa M.
ReplyDeleteI am behind the camera too much and don't have any recent photos of me and my children together. I would love to win this mini session and be able to share a special day of photography with my kids!!
ReplyDeleteI would love to cherish "that look"on both our faves while we are laughing, hugging our just looking at one another. The eyes tell all..
ReplyDeletePhotos are memories that last a lifetime...and like you, I have very few with me and my daughter, as I am the one taking the pics, and others can't seem to take a pic of us together
ReplyDeleteProfessional protraits of me and my daughter are important because it gives her something to look back on. I lost my mom a few years back and I wish I had more pictures of the two of us together.
ReplyDeleteI would love to have me and my daughters have some pictures taken! It seems like I'm the one who is always behind the camera. And it would be a great memory to have with them when they are this wonderful age. Jen Stevens
ReplyDeletepictures are so important not just to our kids but to us as well i watch them grow but looking back with them is just so sweet telling them about the times they cant remember or even talking about the times they do :) as a mom ya not enough pictures with my kids wish i had more because they are growing so quick ... love my kiddos
ReplyDeleteI would love to have pictures done for many reasons. One of the most important reasons is that four years ago I lost my mom. She was 60 and I was 29. I miss her so much every day. There are few pictures that exist of my mom and I. They are priceless and not replaceable. I have two girls of my own and there are not many pictures of my girls and I as I am commonly the person taking the pictures. I would love for my girls to have photos to look back at cherish the happy memories that we have made.
ReplyDeleteTabitha E.
I would absolutely love to have professional pictures done of myself with my two little loves! My children are the best thing to ever happen to me. As I look back at all the pictures I have of them, I have only a handful that have me in with them :( Most of our pictures are either of them by themselves or them with their daddy! I am always the one trying to "capture" special moments, that I tend to get left out. I think it would be great for me and for them to be able to look back at some great photos of them and their Momma!
ReplyDelete"The whole point of taking pictures is so that you don’t have to explain things in words.” – Elliott Erwitt. In hopes I win this contest words could not explain the love you would see between my son and I. My boy is the light of my life. I think Ive only got maybe a handful of pictures of he and I, they are mostly of his Daddy and him or him alone. I would love to have some pictures to capture the special bond we share.
ReplyDeleteK. Favreau
Laura, I agree with you!! Professional pictures are so meaningful. Here's my reason. I go to my moms house I see TONS of picture of me and my siblings with each other, other people, my family. Not ONE picture of me with my mom!! I honestly feel robbed! My son deserves to have the memories to look back and see the two of us, and not just picture with his look alike daddy, cause we all know mommy has a huge problem putting her camera down!! Reading ur blog made me cry! I wish I could take pictures as good as you, just so you could have picture of you and vincent!!I regret that my mom didn't have the budget to have professional pictures or any pictures with me, and now she thinks she too old and gray to take them! I'd love to have pictures to look back and see in photos the love and fun we shared! Jayden needs this when he grows up too! So even if I don't win the free giveaway you've opened my eyes to how important it is to budget for our kids future happiness!! So that's my reason why professional pictures are so important! Danielle sack
ReplyDeleteWhy are photos of my little munchkins and I important to me? I really don't know where to start. When I was 16 I was told I would likely have no children, due to a serious medical condition. By 18, I was told this was certain, and I began hormone therapy and medications that mimicked menopause... so imagine my surprise at 20 when I found out I was expecting! And again at 22! My beautiful babies are my entire world - they are the most precious gift their father and I could have EVER received. As I look back over the last 5 years (for my son), I find that most of the photos taken of us are with my outstretched arm in the picture - a cell phone camera caught us at our funniest and most loving moments, but what if these had been caught by a professional, from a distance, like the one taking the photo was on the outside, looking in? I bet that would have brought a whole new angle to the photos. And that's something I wish we could afford, but bring on baby number 2, who is now almost 3 years old... Any photos of us together come of the same category - simple, but nothing where we could really be free to be us. I'd love to have these memories cataloged for not only myself, my husband, but for my children when they are older. So they can see that mommy did have the time and money to sit down with them and pause, if only for a mini-session time period, and capture these special memories. My children are my whole world, and I hope that I can give them these memories through photograph to last them a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteI would love the opportunity to have pictures taken with my son and I together. I am always behind the camera and never seen to get many pictures of just him and I. He is very special to me and the only child I am having, with my husband loosing his job times have been hard and we can not afford to have pictures done. Pictures are something everyone can look back at and remember those special moments. Even though times are tough having the special moments captured will allow us to look back and say was it really that bad?????
ReplyDeleteMy son is my everything. Capturing him by a professional photographer just makes it that much more special. And if its just him and I it will be cherished forever. I can never get a good picture of us two together. Hopefully I win! because I never win!
ReplyDeleteI would love to have a fun afternoon with my almost 3 year old and have that captured in photos. I have tons of candid shots of her taken on my phone but very few professional or semi-pro photos. My family had some rough times in the past and even Walmart photo studio pics were not an option for awhile. I regret not having captured more of her stages with quality images but would love to start. I know we would both treasure those photos.
ReplyDeleteHaving professional pictures of my 3 children and myself would mean so much to me. I havent had any pics of any of my kids and i done. I am always the one taking the pics. I have a 7 year old girl, a 2 year old boy and a 4 month old girl. I would love to have nice pictures of us to hang up on our walls, to give to family and most of all for my kids to be able to look back at when they get older. I want my kids to see the special moments captured and cherished forever!! My children are all special to me in so many ways and with winning this and being able to have pics done would just show even more how special and dear my children are to me. I love your work and youd be able to capture such beautiful pics of us and the love we have for each other. As i look at all the pics i have, Im always the one taking the pics or taking them from my phone and having my arm out and in the pics. I hope i win, itd just mean so much to my kids and I!!
ReplyDeleteHaving pictures done with my son means everything to me especially ones done at Laura Lee Photography. It catches the moment of us having fun together especially when they aren't too posey. PIctures let you look back and enjoy the moments with my child.
ReplyDeleteThey are important because you're never promised tomorrow. I want the memories, and want them for my daughter. Also, a picture never grows up. Kids grow quickly, and it's nice to have a way to sort of "freeze time".
ReplyDeleteI would LOVE to win a free mommy and me session (I never win anything). I am always taking pictures of everyone else and always get stuck behind the camera. My kids are truly a blessing and one day I want them to look back and remember what fun they had while getting those special moments of mom and them captured, and by such a fun photographer at that. Plus I got some cute kiddos that love the camera!~Jen S
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago my husband and I were blessed with our daughter Daviney after trying for 3 years to add to our family. We were very excited since he had just returned from a year long deployment to Iraq and three days before we found out we were expecting we have arrived in Virginia his new duty station. Right before Daviney's first birthday we found out he would be deploying again this time for 9 months. Although upset we wouldn't be together we tried to think of all the positives; Skype capabilities, her age, etc. It wouldn't be easy but we could do it.. until we found out I was expecting in April 2013 months before he would be able to return home.
ReplyDeleteChris has missed a lot of the most memorable parts of the pregnancy; hearing the heartbeat, seeing the ultrasounds, feeling the baby kick etc.
We assumed he wouldn't be able to come home for the birth of the baby, so I came home to Maine for support with my high risk pregnancy and help with Daviney. Seven weeks ago I was put on bed rest when doctors almost couldn't stop contractions, Chris attempted to get leave to come home for 10 days for the baby's birth, which was quickly denied, my husband has been in the Army for 13 years he never questions an order or duty so to see him so infuriated; really twisted my heart but also gave me more strength to hold in my fear and keep a strong front for him and our daughter.
So the reason why I am entering your contest to have free photos done of our girls and myself, not just so he can have timeless photos from a time he couldn't be here with us but to also share them with our daughters years later, as proof that even when you may not think you can make it through the most difficult of times you can and you will come out smiling. (Due with Baby Austyn this week.)
I entered only to help Brandi Ivey get more entries so she could win the free shoot with her beautiful girls. As much as I would love a free shoot if I was to win I would ask for it to be given to her instead.
ReplyDeleteProfessional portraits of me and my children are extremely important to me. Growing up I didn't have photos taken with my parents and it still hurts me. I dont want my children to just remember mommy snapping the photos, but also wanting to be a part of them. I want them to see someday how I look at them with love, how I interacted with them, and how happy they make me. <3
ReplyDeleteI would love to win this contest to give it to my beautiful niece so that she can have beautiful pictures of her and her two wonderful children. She has been through so much in the past couple of years and finds herself as a single parent, who has always been a stay at home mom. Since she is starting over she isn't able to afford professional pictures. It wouldn't be something that she couldn't even begin to fit in her budget. So this would be AMAZING if she were to be able to start her new life and journey with her walls covered it what she LOVES most, her and her beautiful children that will always be her life. Kim B.
ReplyDeletePhotos of me and my little girl are important to me so that I have something to look back on regarding all of our wonderful moments together! Im a very busy mom and were and never able to take a quick simple picture. Lately we have had every sickness that we could possibly have in a short time, so I need to take the time while were better now and try and get some beautiful moments captured. My daughter is my happiness and joy, my love forever and I would love so much to just have a picture of her.
ReplyDeletethey are important to me because you just never know when things will change
ReplyDeletemy wife jammie corson would be a wonderful candidate for your mom and kid photo session. we have 3 kids 7 year old girl 2 year old boy and a 4 month old baby girl. she is a stay at home mom she is the heart and soul of this family and the rock and glue that holds us together. i have wanted to do something like this for her and my wonderful kids just don't have the extra to do so seems we are always trying to play catch up this would really make her and our family see that we are doing all we can and that good things can happen to the ones who work hard and always look up and move forward. also winning this would be amazing because i personally don't have any family pictures with all of the ones i love most dearly . my wife and i never got to do engagement or wedding pictures so to win would be perfect and really make the corson family so happy thank you for you time and reading this and whom ever you choose will be a lucky family
ReplyDeleteI haven't gotten professional pictures of my son and I done since he was a newborn, he is now 14 months old! Professional pictures mean alot, they are visual memories that you can show you children when they get older.
ReplyDeleteBecause time goes by so fast. It seems like yesterday I was teaching my children to ride their bikes and today, it's my child teaching her child to ride a bike. I want some really nice photos done because before you know it, it will be Conner teaching his child. Time is precious and nothing captures it like a perfect photo. You my dear know just how to take that photo!!!! <3
ReplyDeleteWhile I would love to have professional photos done of my children and I, I've already had this opportunity with Laura and she created beautiful pieces. We are definitely getting updated family photos done with her later this year. What I would really like, and what I view as vitally important, is getting family photos done with my own mother and my siblings. We don't have a single photo of all five of us and our mother, ever. She has been body conscious and camera shy our whole lives, and I think it's time we all found the time to show how much we mean to each other and how grateful we are to have our Mom. We may be grown, but we're still her babies and this would mean the world to her.
ReplyDeleteBecause time passes to quickly and I want to remember the connection between me and my daughter. I ant to capture the bonds that bind us through mundane moments and big milestones.
ReplyDeleteAs a mom of 3 boys life is very busy! Whenever we take out the camera I am always the one taking the pics! It was the same way when I look at childhood pics of me and my family, we don't have very many with my mom in them because she too was always behind the camera...it makes me sad to think about my children not having photos of us/me to look back at. Pictures are priceless and life is short, you never know what tomorrow holds.
ReplyDelete