Why Family Photography Matters Year After Year

This morning was my kids’ first day of school, and it hit me how quickly the years have flown by. Each fall, I watch them grow a little taller, a little braver, and I’m reminded that these seasons of life move faster than we ever expect.

Picture this: you’re sipping your morning coffee, scrolling through old photos, and suddenly one makes your heart pause—a candid of your child’s laughter, or a quiet hug with your partner. That’s the beauty of family photography. Time doesn’t slow down, but photos act like little time capsules, preserving the moments and emotions that define each stage of your life.

As a Seattle-area family photographer, I believe yearly portraits are about more than updating a frame on the wall—they’re about honoring your family’s story. Every year brings change: babies grow into toddlers, toddlers into big kids, and before you know it, they’re heading off to school. Capturing those stages creates a collection of memories you can look back on with gratitude.

The most meaningful portraits aren’t stiff or staged. They’re about connection, authenticity, and those fleeting in-between moments—messy hair after playing in the park, belly laughs while tossing leaves, or the quiet tenderness of a parent’s embrace. Those are the images that feel real and timeless.

Here in the Pacific Northwest, we’re lucky to have incredible landscapes that add to the story. Discovery Park in Seattle glows beautifully at sunset with its wide-open fields and ocean views. North Bend offers dramatic mountain backdrops that feel straight out of a postcard. And closer to home, Lake Tapps provides peaceful waterfront settings that make sessions feel relaxed and natural. Each location adds a little piece of the PNW to your family’s story.

When you step in front of my camera, my goal is to capture you just as you are—earthy, heartfelt, and true to this chapter of your life. Because one day, when you look back at these images, you won’t just remember how you looked—you’ll remember how it felt to be there, together.