When is the right time to photograph my children and family?

A very common question I get is “what is the perfect age to have my child’s portrait captured?”.    Though I want to say, right now because I love photographing children and every age is wonderful for me to work with, I know that is not what my clients are asking.

There is not an exact answer to this.  What is the right time for you?  Your child and your family will be different from mine. 

The truest answer I can give is the right time is the moment you feel compelled to capture his or her current stage of life.  I truly see beauty in every age of childhood.  I have never heard any regret in the ages that have been captured in exquisite portraits, only in the ones not taken.

The old List of 3,6,9 months, 1 year, 2 years, etc., was intended to increase sales for photographers and lock clients into “portrait plans” to get them to return time after time. 

With many of my clients, I will see their children around 1 -2 years old, again between 3-5 then with family portraits or sibling portraits sprinkled in every couple of years. 

To determine if NOW is the right time, ask yourself these questions:

When was the last time that I had a portrait created of my child? Children?

Are my family dynamics different from the last family portrait? 

Is there a milestone that would be stunning to have as part of my portrait art on the wall?

Is there an outfit that I love on my child and it will not fit next year?

You get the picture... (Pun intended) 

You will only regret the portraits not taken!