In my childhood home, my parents have the walls of their family room covered with framed family pictures. From small 4x6 snapshots, to 5x7 Sears Photography Studio pictures, to large, framed wall art of the ENTIRE extended family. There are pictures of my siblings and me as kids, and on our wedding days. Pictures of my parents on their wedding day, 60+ years ago, and pictures of my parents celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. Pictures of my brother graduating from medical school. A picture of my other brother in a race car he built with his best friend. Pictures of my niece, who passed away unexpectedly at just 2 years old.
The walls are updated frequently, as new pictures are mailed to my parents. Pictures of their grandchildren graduating from kindergarten, graduating from high school, graduating from college. And every picture is framed, loved, admired.
It’s a favorite pastime when visiting my childhood home to spend 20-30 minutes with my children, looking at all the family pictures on the walls, remembering, reminiscing, and teasing each other about the haircut or the clothes we chose to wear (or the haircut or clothes we were forced to wear) on picture days!
But here’s the thing: I wouldn’t change it for the world. The effort my parents take to document and carefully display our family pictures is priceless.
You see, something happens to us when we see pictures of ourselves on the walls of someone who loves us, when we see pictures of our family smiling together. We’re momentarily moved to an earlier time in our lives and reminded of what matters most and how time moves too quickly.
Family pictures are part of our legacy. We hold these printed pictures close, we pass them down. It’s a gift to be able to share a visual of moments, details, people, places and things with those we love, so that they, too, can feel even a glimmer of the joy we feel when we reflect on those times.
And while I offer you the option to download your digital images, I hope you’ll take the time to print your family pictures. To frame them, and to display them, and to enjoy them for generations.
Are you intimidated by the whole "How/when/where do we arrange a family portrait session?" the I invite you to download my FREE Family Portrait Planning Guide. It's filled with lots of information and answers so many of your questions.
When is the last time YOUR family was professionally photographed?
I hope you'll visit my website, Lisa Pallardy Photography, and get in touch with me soon to schedule your family portrait session in Pekin, Peoria, and surrounding Central Illinois areas. http://www.lisapallardyphotography.com
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Keep smiling!
~Lisa