Let’s be real - motherhood is a lot. Between diaper changes, snack duty, work emails, and remembering who likes the crusts cut off their sandwiches (and who definitely doesn’t), your days are full. Finding time for family photos? It might feel like one more thing on a very long to-do list.

Here’s what I’ve noticed (and a bunch of other moms have too): we’re busy making the memories, but we’re never actually in the photos.

The other day, I needed a picture of just me (no kids hanging off me, no dog photobombing, no friends cropped halfway out)… and let me tell you, it was bleak. Recent photos? Just me in my one trusty baggy tee. Like, a lot.

Scroll back two years and it’s mostly me looking like I haven’t slept since 2019. Not exactly the vibe.

Eventually, I found our maternity photos from when my oldest (now four!) was on the way - definitely not recent, but still a version of me that felt radiant, real, and honestly, still pretty true to the season I’m in now.

But here’s the truth: we had been putting off getting newer family photos done. It always felt like the kids are too rowdy, we would be too stressed, it just wasn’t the right timing for us. And yes, I do regret that. Because now I know there’s no such thing as the “perfect” time. And waiting until everything slows down (or everyone’s in a good mood and you magically love your outfit) means you might be waiting forever.

Family photos matter right now, in the middle of the beautiful chaos. Here’s why.

Motherhood Photographer Vancouver — Photo by Mona Iredale Photography

1. It’s Not Just About the Photos - It’s About the Memories

Photos are more than pretty pictures. They’re time machines. They transport you back to the way your toddler’s curls looked at bedtime, or how your baby fit perfectly on your chest, or the way your partner looked at you when they thought no one was watching.

Milestones are great, but it’s the everyday magic that really shapes our memories - those little unscripted moments that tell the real story. And spoiler alert: our kids won’t care if our hair was messy or the house wasn’t spotless. They’ll care that we were there.

Photos become emotional bookmarks in our lives. Years from now, you'll look back and feel a rush of connection to that season - the good, the messy, and everything in between. That's the kind of gift only a photograph can give.

2. Keepsakes Matter

It’s one thing to have photos sitting in your camera roll - it’s another to have them printed, held, displayed, and loved.

When your child sees themselves on the wall or flipping through a family album, it gives them a sense of belonging. I was loved. I was seen. These keepsakes become part of your family’s legacy - and their story. I’ve always loved the printed photos my mom kept — snapshots that go all the way back to her great-grandmother, born in the 1890s. There’s one photo that gives me chills every time: my grandmother as a little girl, part of this long, beautiful line of mothers before me with four generations in the same old-school family photo. Then there are photos of my grandma when she became a mother herself, holding my own mom in her arms - taken in 1958 and giving me a glimpse into what it was all like. It’s more than nostalgia - it’s connection. Seeing the mothers before me, it just feels like a thread that ties us all together.

Framed prints and albums don’t just decorate your home - they fill it with meaning. They become conversation starters, emotional touchstones, and sources of comfort on hard days. It’s a powerful thing to walk past a photo every day that reminds you of what matters most.

(And if printing photos feels overwhelming, most modern galleries make it super easy - just ask your photographer what print or album options they offer. We love making that part simple. I even created a free Keepsake Guide to help you turn your favourite moments into heirlooms that last.)

3. All Seasons of Motherhood Deserve to Be Documented

You don’t need to be pregnant, holding a brand-new baby, or wearing matching linen outfits to “qualify” for family photos.

Maybe you’re in the thick of toddlerhood. Maybe your youngest just started kindergarten. Maybe you’re a grandmother watching your grown kids start families of their own. Every chapter is beautiful - and every chapter deserves to be remembered.

Family photos aren’t just about capturing the highlights - they’re about honouring the evolution. Documenting different seasons gives you a rich, layered story to look back on. Each phase of motherhood carries its own magic, and it’s all worth saving.

4. “I Don’t Love How I Look Right Now…”

Vancouver Maternity Photographer — Photo by Mona Iredale Photography

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room: it’s hard to feel confident in front of the camera when your body feels unfamiliar. If you think about it, do you have any photos of your mother pregnant with you? Because I sure don’t have that of my mom - but I wish she had felt comfortable enough in her changing body to have her photo taken, even if it’s just a snapshot by my dad with his film camera.

You’re not alone if you’ve thought, “Maybe I’ll book photos when I feel more like me again.” But what if this version of you - tired, strong, full of love - is already worthy of being remembered?

You’re not booking a photo shoot to show off. You’re booking one to be in the frame with your family. Presence > perfection, every single time.

Your kids aren’t looking for a perfect version of you- they’re looking for you. Years from now, they won’t notice the things you were self-conscious about. They’ll see the love in your eyes and the way your arms wrapped around them like home.

5. How to Make Family Photos Feel Stress-Free

Let’s face it - getting ready for photos with little ones in tow can feel like a feat of logistics. But it doesn’t have to be stressful!

For newborns or small babies, plan for extra time and flexibility. Feeding breaks are totally normal (and welcome!). Choose outfits that are easy to change, and stay close to home - or better yet, opt for an at-home session where everyone feels most relaxed. Scheduling just after nap time or in the soft light of the morning can make a big difference in everyone’s mood.

For toddlers, bring snacks (always snacks), and make it about fun, not formality. Plan a session around a simple activity they enjoy - like a walk, snack picnic, or playing in the backyard. The goal is to capture your family just as you are, doing what you do best: being together.

When the vibe is relaxed and the expectations are light, the magic happens. A good photographer will go with the flow and help make everything feel easy. And hey, if you need to bribe someone with a cookie? That’s just part of the process.

In Conclusion: Take the Photos

There will never be a perfect time. But this moment? It’s already beautiful in its own way.

One day, these images will be the treasures your kids pull out to remember what home felt like. And you’ll be so glad you said yes to preserving your real, honest, magical story. My kids spend hours looking at the photo albums I had printed of their first years, and they see themselves in the photo gallery in the hallway every day - a sense of belonging, and celebrating us.

So consider this your gentle nudge: slow down, book the session, and let yourself be part of the memory.

Mona Iredale Photography

Mona is a maternity, motherhood, and family photographer based in Vancouver, B.C. She’s a mom of two rowdy boys, survives on coffee and secret spoonfuls of nutella, and loves telling families' stories through beautiful, natural images.

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