The last time we had any professional photos taken of our family was when my oldest had just turned one and wasn’t walking yet.  Yeah, that long ago.

Oh boy do I feel for my lifestyle and family clients  – I understand the frustration of finding the right outfits that look like you didn’t try too hard even though you had to think really really REALLY hard about what everyone should wear.  I know how you feel when your kids go rogue on you and fall down in the mud and get their knees all dirty and you don’t have anything to wipe them off with and all you can think about it “GREAT, now we’re going to have muddy knees in our photos.  AWESOME.”  I understand trying desperately to get your kids to smile like normal human beings and not that hideous cheeseball grin that only children ages 2.5-6 seem to have.

And even though all those things happened during our shoot, I can honestly say I love these photos.  This is my family – the real deal.  We have some pretty goofy grins at the moment (kids, not adults).  I’m not 100% about what I chose to wear for these photos.  We didn’t really get one photo where all four of us are looking at the camera and smiling in unison.

But these images are au natural and authentic and true.  I love my family just like this – cheesy grins and dirty knees and all (see above photo).  My only regret is not getting our photos taken sooner.  My advice?  Don’t wait for the “if onlys” before you take some photos.  You know what I mean: if only I lose 10 pounds, if only I had the perfect outfit, if only my kids would listen better.  Don’t wait for a time that may never come, and miss out on what’s happening right now.

Photos by Alyson Cohen – a good friend and a talented photographer.  East Coast, be on the lookout for her…

Good thing we had these taken when we did, because someone lost their first tooth yesterday…