I have had so many people tell me lately that they need family photos taken this year because they haven’t had them done in a while. Please, please with sugar on top, DO IT. We had our family photos taken 3 times within a year (4 if you count maternity); yes that may be a bit excessive but now that Jim has passed I am SO happy we did. Never once did I regret spending the money to capture our family together. In fact, I regret that I didn’t get more photos! I wish I would have had hired someone to do the birth of Gavin and his newborn photos (I did those myself but never got a photo of the 3 of us). I believe it is so important to do this for yourself. It’s an investment that is worth every penny.
Photo taken by your truly 🙂
Now if you are one of those people who don’t want to be in front of the camera for whatever the reason, please just be in front of the camera. Don’t wait until you loose those 10 pounds because that may take a while and life is too short to wait. Your kids are not going to care that you had that extra weight on you at that time, instead they will appreciate those family photos when they are older. I have several photos around the house of my late husband Jim and my son who is 16 months now (tear) will take the frame holding a picture of daddy and kiss it daily. It’s part of our routine now. What if your spouse passed away tomorrow and the last time you had photos taken was 4 years ago? Would you regret not having a recent photo of you guys together? We had our last family photos taken one month prior to Jim’s passing. I am so appreciative that we had that done. Even though Jim didn’t particularly like getting photos taken of him, he was pretty used to it by this point since I had my “big” camera out everyday.
Photo by Sarah-Beth Photography
My advice:
1. Hire a professional photographer to get your family photos done and soon.
2. Take advantage of mini sessions anytime they are offered.
3. Make it your personal goal to get your family photos taken at least once a year.
4. Book it ahead of time. A lot of the good photographers can book up very quickly throughout the year.
5. Do your research. Check out the photographer’s blog, website, Facebook fan page, Twitter, etc. Look at reviews and recommendations – these are usually on the photographer’s website and Facebook fan page.
6. Take time to pick out your outfits. I send all of my clients a “What to Wear Guide”.
7. Remember, this is an investment. Family photos are so important to have.
Maternity photos taken by Sarah-Beth Photography
Gavin’s 3 month photos taken by Sarah-Beth Photography
Gavin’s 6 month photos taken by Kimberly Reid Photography (lifestyle session)
Gavin’s 1 year photos taken by Sarah-Beth Photography in November 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013 – Jim’s funeral. Photos taken by Sarah-Beth Photography
Bottom line: get those photos schedule TODAY. You never know when it might be your last family photos taken.
Jamie Vester Photography 
So important, thanks for the reminder!!! ❤
This is awesome! You and your family are in my prayers everyday ♥
You are such an inspiration, Jamie! My prayers are with you everyday! Sending all of my love & tons of hugs your way!
I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing! It breaks my heart and I want you to know that you have all been in my thoughts and prayers! My husband, Matt is also in the Guard and had heard about your husband (my husband is based out of Indy as well). When I went to the Army ball last December your husband was honored…just know that you all have been in our prayers! Your pictures are beautiful.
Such a beautiful, emotional, yet informative post. The last picture just crushed me, but it shows how short life can be. Thank you for telling others how important it is to cherish every moment. I wish you and your family the best.
An important post for everyone to consider. However, don’t forget that family snapshots can be cherished just as much as professional portraits, and virtually everyone has a camera on their phones, so there’s so many more opportunities to capture family moments together than just at the cost of a professional photographer. We have our family portraits done about once a year, but are very active with our smartphones when doing things together, so we always have those memories should anything happen.
Sorry for your loss.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos. I am so so sorry for your loss.
My heart goes out to you and your family. For varying reasons, YES, those family photos are so important to take and keep and cherish!!!
agreed! my husband was in a awful accident in feb 2013 just a few weeks after our son was born! with a long stay at the hospital.. but thank the lord he has fully recovered!!.. it was a big wake up call for me to make sure we had many photos together! at least twice a yr!.. the photos of the birth of my son are such a treasure! i was so glad i had gotten someone to do them.. as well as maternity and family photos with baby after .. but just shortly after that last family photo he was in his accident! could have been our last! but will make it my mission to have many more!! 🙂 i am so sorry for your loss… blessings to you and your son!
Beautifully said!
I couldn’t agree more. Thank you for sharing this Jamie; I’m so sorry for your loss.
Beautifully written, so sorry for your loss.
Beautifully written! I’m so sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing something so personal but important to others!
Lovely post
Jamie, I have followed your story and pray for you daily! You write so beautifully and have been such an image of strength in the face of your tragedy. I look forward to keeping up with you and your sweet boy!
This was a beautifully written blog & your photos are very beautiful! I am so sorry for your husband’s passing! I love taking pictures of my children, but am not very camera friendly (lol), but your blog has definitely changed my mind.
I get our family pictures done once to 3 times a year people think I’m crazy but I think it’s important to have family pictures as well your kids…they grow so fast and I want my kids to be able and look back and see there self grow and that mom and dad was there too….I’m not a skinny person but my cousin left a message on my cards at my baby shower that I passed out, it said always get pictures with ur kids cause they ain’t going to care if your fat she says now her kids are older and they want to know where mommy was ( behind the camera ) so I get in pictures
I try to get atleast my daughter’s photos taken. It’s hard to do family photo sessions my husband is an officer and photographers generally will not work with his schedule. . .
So true! My mother passed away when I was 14 and we had only had ONE family photo taken and that was when I was about one. We never had a family photo taken after my sister was born! I would give anything to have a photo with all four of us in it! Afterwards me, my sister and father had a couple of family photos done. Since starting my own family, I have made sure that we have gotten a family photo taken at least once a year, if not more. You don’t realize how much they are worth until someone in them is gone…
Thank you for sharing your story and beautiful photos. I need to remind myself at every event to get in front of the camera with my kids, because when I look there aren’t many with me in them. I do cherish all of the family photos we take, and now book them at least once a year!
thank you for sharing! I am so very sorry for your loss… may your family’s legacy be that of inspiring others, as you have so effectively done through this post! God bless!
Thank you for the reminder! As a Photographer myself I tend to put my family yn a back burner when clients need me… well Today I am booking my session!
Twenty years ago, I married the man I deeply loved and I sadly lost him 4 months later. For me and for everyone who lost someone they loved with all their heart…every photo means more than it ever did before ! Take care.
I am so sorry for your loss. I will definitely take your advice.