Five tips for getting mums into family photography

Over the past two years one of my big passions has become researching motherhood and photography - I’ve chatted with hundreds of mums who have been open and vulnerable about their relationship with photography, and despite how complex this can often be, also the value that they know it holds for them and their family. 

One of the most common challenges that mums highlight is that their partner just doesn’t seem to think about getting them into photos with their kids. Like it just doesn’t occur to them to record the tiny parts of life. Candles on a birthday cake maybe, and other milestones perhaps, but the every day bits not so much.

For many of us, it often comes to a head when we’re in a moment that we ask them to catch on camera and they totally kill it with their ‘LOOK AT THE CAMERA SMILE NO SIT STILL LOOK THIS WAY’ stressing. I’ve got plenty of shots which are actually me retorting something snippy at my husband who has decided that instead of observing and recording, he needs to direct and curate.

Given I’m in this for the long haul with him, I’m choosing to invest my energy in not giving in, and putting my faith in the journey. Like with most things, family photography is something best talked about when you’re not trying to hold on to a fleeting feeling that you want to lock down, and more so when you’ve got a bit of time and energy to get into it.

But the question is, how do you articulate the value of family photography to the person you rely on to help make it happen? We all have our own experiences of this process, and different needs at different times. But if you’re interested in the conversation and you’re not sure where to start, here is a download that gives you five talking points to get started, and a few ideas of how to tackle them. 

I’d love for you to join me on the journey - pop over to instagram and follow for more chat about all things photography.