Dear Mum, You Belong in the Photo

Why You Need To Be in the Photos, Too

From a mum who regrets saying no.

I get it. There are so many reasons we end up behind the camera. We’re the ones worrying about the details. If everyone’s smiling, if the baby’s safe, if the toddler’s behaving, “does anyone have chocolate smeared on their face?” We’re self-conscious, busy, tired, and usually the one making sure everyone else is okay. In all of that, it’s easy to forget to step in and be seen.

But your kids see you for who you are. They see the love you give, the comfort you bring, the way you make them feel safe. They don’t notice the things you might worry about. They just see you.

Your family loves you for everything that you are. Even in the moments you don’t love yourself quite as much.
And here’s the thing: being part of the photo isn’t about perfection. It’s about capturing the memories your family will love, and giving yourself a chance to see them too.

When I realised I was missing

I’ve been there too. I once went searching for a photo of me with my family and felt that sting of disappointment when I realised how few there were. There were plenty of photos of my family, but not many with me in them.

I remembered not wanting to be in them at the time, not feeling ready or confident. But as I looked through those images, those self-conscious moments were long gone, and I just wished I was there.

What Your Kids Will Remember

When your children look back at photos, they’ll remember the love, the connection, the laughter. They’ll remember how it felt to be held, to be safe, to be loved.

They already know your every expression. The face you make when you’re proud, when you think they’re hilarious, when you’re in awe of who they’re becoming, or when you’re just quietly soaking them in. That’s the version of you they’ll remember, and the one they want to see in the photos too.

When I photograph your family, you don’t have to worry about any of that. That’s my job. I’ll meet your kids and your family exactly where you’re at. We’ll play, move, and let the moments unfold naturally. I’ll gently guide you with prompts and games that keep things light and real, and I’ll remind you often how beautiful you are, because you are.

I’m drawn to those soft, love-filled moments. The quiet hugs and gentle whispers that happen behind the chaos. That’s where the magic lives.

If You’re Waiting to Feel Ready

I understand completely. I’ve done that too. Told myself I’d book when I felt more confident, more rested, more something.

But while I was waiting, my kids kept changing. Their little hands grew, their giggles changed, their faces shifted into new versions of themselves. And I wish I’d just embraced whatever stage I was in.

Because this version of you, the one they know right now, is the one they love most.

Be in the Photos

So step in. Let yourself be seen. You’ll never regret having photos that show how it felt to be their mum.