After photographing enough families, I’ve started to notice something.
Families are… chaotic. 😂
Kids don’t always cooperate. Dogs have absolutely no idea what a photoshoot is. Dad usually tells me he doesn’t like pictures. Mom is convinced she looks terrible.
And somehow, in the middle of all of it, we end up with beautiful photographs.
Over the years of being a family photographer in Cedar City and throughout Southern Utah, I’ve learned a few things about families, photography, and why these pictures matter so much more than we realize.
So here are a few things I’ve learned from photographing other people’s families.
1. Kids Will Cooperate Exactly When You Stop Asking Them To
This one is basically a scientific fact.
The second you say, “Okay, buddy, look at the camera and smile!”
They suddenly forget how to smile.
They look at the ground.
They run away.
They make the weirdest face you’ve ever seen.
And honestly?
That’s okay.
Some of my favorite photos happen when we stop trying so hard to get the “perfect” picture.
Let them run.
Let them laugh.
Let them be silly.
I’ll follow them.
Because sometimes the photograph where your child is running through the grass with their hair flying everywhere tells me way more about who they are than the perfectly posed one ever could.
2. Dad Usually Doesn’t Want to Be There
Okay, maybe not every dad.
But I’ve heard some version of:
“I hate pictures.”
Probably more times than I can count. 😂
And then something funny happens.
We start walking.
The kids start laughing.
Mom starts laughing.
Dad gets pulled into whatever game we’re playing.
And suddenly he’s having fun.
By the end of the session, I usually hear something along the lines of:
“That actually wasn’t that bad.”
And I’ll take that as a win.
3. Moms Are Usually Way Too Hard on Themselves
This one gets me.
I’ll show a mom a beautiful photograph and she’ll immediately point out the thing she doesn’t like about herself.
Meanwhile, I’m looking at the photograph thinking:
“Are you kidding me? This is BEAUTIFUL.”
Your kids aren’t going to look at that photograph and notice the things you’re criticizing.
They’re going to see their mom.
They’re going to see the way you held them.
The way you smiled at them.
The way you looked at them.
Please don’t let the way you feel about yourself today keep you out of photographs that your children will treasure forever.
4. Dogs Are Family Too
I’ve learned that dogs have their own agenda.
They don’t care about our timeline.
They don’t care about golden hour.
They don’t care that we just spent five minutes getting everyone positioned perfectly.
They have places to sniff.
Things to investigate.
People to lick.
And sometimes they simply decide they’re done.
And that’s okay.
If your dog is part of your family, I want them in your photos.
Because someday, those pictures of your kids with their best furry friend are going to mean so much.
5. The Best Photos Usually Aren’t the Ones Everyone Planned
I can have an idea in my head for how a photograph is going to look.
And then something completely unexpected happens.
A kid starts laughing.
A sibling says something funny.
Dad picks up his daughter.
Mom pulls everyone into a giant hug.
The dog runs through the middle of everything.
And suddenly…
That’s the photo.
Those little in-between moments are some of my absolute favorites.
They’re not perfectly posed.
They’re not perfectly planned.
They’re just real.
And real is pretty beautiful.
6. Families Don’t Have to Look Perfect
This might be one of the biggest things I’ve learned.
Your family doesn’t have to have perfectly coordinated outfits.
Your kids don’t have to behave perfectly.
You don’t have to have the perfect hair day.
Your house doesn’t have to look like Pinterest.
You don’t have to be the family that has it all together.
Because when I look through a gallery, I’m not looking for perfection.
I’m looking for connection.
I’m looking for the way you love each other.
That’s what makes a photograph meaningful.
7. Moms Need to Get in the Pictures
I will probably say this forever.
Moms, please get in the pictures.
I know you don’t always feel like it.
I know you’re usually the one taking the pictures.
I know you might not feel like your best self right now.
But your kids need photographs of you.
Not just photographs of them.
They need photographs of you together.
They need to see the way you loved them.
And you deserve to look back and see yourself in this season too.
Even if you don’t love how you look today.
Especially then.
8. Kids Grow Way Too Fast
This is probably the hardest one.
I’ll photograph a family and think about how quickly their kids will change.
The little hands won’t always be that little.
The toddler won’t always want to be carried.
The siblings won’t always laugh at the same silly things.
And eventually, they won’t all fit into Mom and Dad’s arms anymore.
That’s why I think family photography is so important.
We’re not just taking pictures of what your family looks like.
We’re documenting who they are right now.
9. The “Messy” Photos Are Often the Ones You Love Most
Someone gets dirt on their pants.
A kid’s hair gets crazy.
Someone falls down.
Everyone starts laughing.
The baby cries.
And then someone gives them a hug.
Those moments aren’t mistakes.
They’re memories.
And years from now, you might look at one of those photographs and remember exactly what happened.
That’s the kind of photography I love.
The kind that makes you remember the whole moment, not just what it looked like.
10. You Will Never Regret Having the Photos
I don’t think I’ve ever had a family tell me:
“I really wish we hadn’t taken those pictures.”
But I have heard:
“I’m so glad we did this.”
I’ve heard parents say they didn’t realize how much they would love a certain photograph.
I’ve watched moms tear up when they see an image of their kids together.
I’ve seen grandparents get emotional over photographs of their family.
And I’ve learned that these pictures become more valuable with time.
Because your kids will grow.
Your family will change.
Life will move forward.
But you’ll always have this little piece of time.
And Maybe That’s Why I Love This Job So Much
I started photography because a friend offered to teach me how to use a camera.
I had no idea that decision would eventually lead me to photographing families all over Southern Utah.
Now I get to meet people, hear their stories, chase their kids around, photograph their dogs, convince dads that pictures aren’t that bad, and remind moms that they belong in the frame too.
And honestly?
I wouldn’t trade it.
I’ve learned that family photography isn’t really about getting everyone to look at the camera.
It’s about remembering.
Remembering the little hands.
The belly laughs.
The messy hair.
The chaos.
The way your kids fit into your arms.
The way you looked at each other.
The version of your family that only exists right now.
So if your family is a little chaotic, a little loud, a little silly, and definitely not perfect…
Good.
I think we’ll get along just fine. 🤍
⸻
A Little About Lindsey
Hi, I’m Lindsey! 🤍 I’m the photographer behind Lindsey Larsen Photography, based in Cedar City, Utah. I’m a mom to two boys, a wife, and a photographer who genuinely loves getting to document the little and big moments that make life so special.
I bought my first camera because a friend offered to teach me how to use it, never imagining that it would eventually turn into a career I absolutely love. Now I get to spend my days photographing families, seniors, couples, weddings, and all of the little moments in between throughout Southern Utah.
When I’m not behind my camera, you’ll probably find me with my little family, chasing after my boys, exploring somewhere outdoors, or hanging out with our Siberian husky, Athena.
Being a mom has probably influenced the way I photograph families more than anything else. I know how quickly these little seasons disappear, and I know how easy it is to think, “I’ll take more pictures next year.”
But next year, they’ll be different.
That’s why I want your photographs to feel like your family—not perfect, not overly posed, just real.
Because one day, the chaos you’re living in right now might be exactly what you miss the most
