When parents book a family photo session, they often worry about how everything will look.

What if the kids don’t cooperate?

Will everyone smile?

What if the outfits don’t match?

If the weather doesn’t cooperate, what do we do?

I’ve heard every concern imaginable over the years as a Minneapolis family photographer. As a mom myself, I completely understand. I know how much effort goes into getting everyone coordinated, dressed, out the door, and ready for family photos.

But after photographing so many families, I’ve noticed something important.

Years from now, your children probably won’t remember whether their shirt was wrinkled or whether someone blinked during a photo.

What they’ll remember is something much bigger, which is how it felt.

That’s one of the reasons the importance of photography means so much to me. Family photos aren’t only about creating beautiful images today, they’re about preserving memories your children will carry with them for years to come.

Hi, I’m Ashley! I’m a Minneapolis family photographer and Minneapolis motherhood photographer who loves documenting genuine connection and the little moments families never want to forget. If you’ve been thinking about updating your family photos, I’d love to help tell your story and create images your family will cherish for years to come.

If you love heartfelt family moments as much as I do, let’s connect on Instagram! I share recent sessions, photography tips, and everyday reminders to document the moments that matter most.

They’ll Remember That You Were There

One of my favorite things about family photography is watching parents fully step into the moment with their children.

During a session, I encourage parents to worry less about the camera and focus more on their kids.

Pick them up and snuggle them.

Run and laugh with them.

Listen to their stories.

Hold their hands and be present. 

Years from now, your children won’t analyze every photo the way adults sometimes do.

What they’ll see is this:

Mom was there, dad was there, and we were together.

To me, that’s a huge part of the importance of photography.

Photographs become proof of your presence.

Your children will see that you showed up for them, again and again.

Not because everything was perfect, but because you made the effort to be part of the memory.

When they look back at those images years from now, they’ll see more than a family photo. They’ll see evidence of love, connection, and time spent together.

They’ll Remember How It Felt, Not How It Looked

Parents often put a lot of pressure on themselves before photo day because we want everything to be just right.

But children experience the day differently.

They aren’t thinking about coordinated outfits.

They’re thinking about:

• The tickle fight with Dad
• Mom’s laugh
• Holding hands while walking down the trail
• Being wrapped up in a big family hug
• Playing games together
• Getting tossed in the air
• Running through the grass

When I look back at photos from my own childhood, I don’t remember every detail of what we wore.

I remember the feeling, who was there, and being loved. 

The importance of photography goes far beyond appearances, especially for families.  The images become tied to emotions and memories that last much longer than trends, hairstyles, or clothing choices.

Family photos have a way of bringing those feelings back long after the moment itself has passed.

Will your kids remember your outfit twenty years from now? Probably not. Will you spend way too much time deciding what everyone should wear before your session? Also probably yes. If that’s you, you’ll love my Stress Free Photo Checklist. 

They’ll Remember the Adventure of It

Some of my favorite family sessions happen when families stop treating photo day like a performance.

Instead, it becomes an adventure.

Maybe we’re exploring a park, walking through tall grass, or eating ice cream. 

It could be watching the kids collect rocks, sticks, or leaves, or chasing the last bit of golden sunlight before sunset. 

Children naturally turn ordinary moments into something joyful and exciting, and those are usually the memories that stick.

I’ve photographed families where the kids spent half the session chasing butterflies or searching for treasures on the ground.

At the time, parents sometimes worried that those moments weren’t “photo-worthy.”

But they absolutely are.

Years later, children may not remember every photo we created together.

But they’ll remember the adventure.

They’ll remember spending time together, and having fun. 

The importance of photography isn’t only found in the finished gallery, it’s also found in the experience itself.

They’ll Remember Seeing Themselves on the Wall

This one gets me every time.

There is something powerful about children seeing family photographs displayed in their home.

They walk past them every day.

They see themselves surrounded by the people who love them, and evidence that they belong. 

When children grow up seeing family photos on the wall, they’re reminded over and over again that they’re part of a family story.

That’s one reason I always encourage families to print their images rather than leaving them on a hard drive.

Some of my favorite ways to display family photographs include:

• Framed wall galleries
• Large statement portraits
• Albums on the coffee table
• Prints in children’s bedrooms
• Family photos displayed throughout the hallway

The importance of photography doesn’t end when your gallery is delivered.

That’s when the photographs begin becoming part of your everyday life.

Your children see those images while growing up, and one day, they’ll look back on them with an entirely new appreciation. When photographs move from a screen to your home, something special happens. They become part of your everyday life and part of your family’s story.

If you’re wondering what to do with your images after your session, I recently shared my favorite ways to turn your family photos into heirlooms that your children can enjoy now and treasure for years to come.

They’ll Remember That You Made Time

Life gets busy, it’s inevitable. 

There are sports practices, school events, work schedules, and appointments. Sometimes our entire day can feel like an endless to do list, and it’s easy to keep pushing family photos to next year.

Then next year becomes another year.

And another.

One of the biggest reasons families book sessions with me is because they realize time keeps moving, whether we’re ready or not.

Children grow quickly, and the little things change.

The gap-toothed smiles, the way they reach for your hand.

The way they fit perfectly in your lap, or still ask to be carried.

Family photos create a pause.

A chance to stop and say:

These moments matter, and our family matters.

The importance of photography is really about making time to remember these seasons before they pass.

Because no matter how full our calendars become, the years keep moving forward.

Documenting your family today means you’ll have something tangible to look back on tomorrow.

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to schedule family photos, consider this your reminder that the perfect time rarely arrives. What matters most is documenting your family exactly as you are right now.

The Photos Are for Them, Too

Many parents tell me they’re booking family photos for themselves.

And that’s absolutely true, but the photos are also for their children.

One day, these photographs will become part of their history, something they will show to their children, and then their children’s children. 

They’ll look back and see:

• How much they were loved
• The home they grew up in
• Traditions they shared
• The people who shaped their childhood
• Feelings of connection that surrounded them
• The little details they may have forgotten

I’ve seen firsthand how meaningful family photographs become over time.

What starts as a simple photo session often becomes something much more special years later.

The images help tell your family’s story.

That’s why the importance of photography continues long after picture day is over.

The photos you’re creating today may someday become some of your children’s most treasured possessions.

The memories matter, but so does the person capturing them. If you’re searching for a Minneapolis family photographer, here’s everything you need to know about me before booking your session.

Family Photos Become Part of Your Legacy

At the end of the day, your children won’t remember whether every strand of hair stayed in place.

They won’t remember whether everyone smiled perfectly in every image.

What they’ll remember is being together.

The laughter, the hugs, the adventure, the quiet moments. And most importantly, the love. 

They’ll have photographs that help bring those memories back for years to come.

That’s the true importance of photography for families.

It’s about presence.

About remembering the little things that are so easy to take for granted right now.

And about giving your children a piece of their story they can hold onto forever.

If you’ve been thinking about documenting this chapter of your family’s story, I’d love to help. As a Minneapolis family photographer, nothing means more to me than helping families preserve the moments that matter most. Find all the information that you need to connect here, and join my newsletter below to keep up to date with everything!

I can’t wait to hear your story and create images that your children, and someday even your grandchildren, will love looking back on for years to come.