They sat on the couch and stared at each other in disbelief. They had just finished celebrating their youngest child's 16th birthday, and could not believe how fast time was flying by. It seemed like only yesterday they were holding their last baby in their arms.
Suddenly, the wife turned to her husband and asked, "When was our last family portrait?" The question caught the husband off guard, and he had to think for a moment. "It must have been when the kids were still little," he replied, "so much has happened since then."
As they reminisced about the past, they realized just how much their family had grown and changed, celebrating so many birthdays, two graduations, and even the birth of their first grandchild with their oldest. Their last baby had a few more years left in the home, and just like that, they would be empty-nesters.
The wife's eyes filled with tears as she spoke about what it would mean to her to have a current family portrait. It would represent everything they were together in this present stage and the life traveled with all the ups and downs, milestones, and memories. All their family dreams had come true, but so many little moments had slipped by unnoticed while life was busy. They had so much to be proud of and knew at least this moment could live with them forever in a portrait.
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While this is not a real story of any one client, it is a real story of all our clients and the things they've shared with us through 16 years of portrait work. We enrich family bonds through emotional, personalized art, a truly unique visual presentation on the wall that says to each member, you matter, you belong. The ultimate product is not the material itself, but the complete vision and customized experience we provide that led to the special moment in time you can always return to.
Can Family Portraits Boost Mental Health?
Did you know displaying portraits in the home can improve the mental health of your family? I was surprised when I stumbled upon this article citing studies showing a direct connection between photography and a child's improved self-esteem or understanding of family worth. However, as I read on, it made a lot of sense!
David Krauss, a licensed psychologist from Cleveland and proponent of family health through meaningful photography explains,
"I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit."
Another psychologist named Judy Weiser in Vancouver who studies the effects of art and photography says,
"It lets children learn who they are and where they fit...the uniqueness of their own family and its story."
Cathy Lander-Goldber, as a social worker in St. Louis found;
“Displaying photos prominently in the home sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced.“
Simply put, family portraits communicate a powerful message that resonates to the core of every child's being. "I belong."
In our experience as a photography business, we have found all this to be true! Often, past clients let us know how important the family portraits have become to them. Fathers admit when they get home from work and the first thing they see is the family in the big portrait above the couch, it puts their whole evening into perspective. Mother's have secretly caught glimpses of their children studying the family image. There is also nothing like the pride a mother feels when guests in her home notice the family art because they immediately understand what is most important in this household.
When was the last time you updated your family portraits?
What message are you sending to your family members?
We can't stop them from growing up, but we can preserve a special moment that will live forever! Bring home the family memories as art, it's time to make a statement about what is most precious in your life. Together we can create emotional memories that live on as personalized works of art on your wall.
© 2019 Jared M. Burns Photography
Snohomish County Family Photographer
www.jaredmburns.com | 206.659.7468 | info@jaredmburns.com
5 Reasons Summer is the Best Time to Get Your Family Portraits
When was your last family portrait? If you are like most people, you did it when the kids were little, but now years have passed and important stages have been missed. You don't have to let that happen again this summer! Here are 5 reasons that prove this summer is the BEST time for your family portraits!
1. Best Weather!
This is when the Northwest is at its very best with the lush green of the land and vibrant blue skies and water. You don't have to worry about the winds and rain that can ruin hair and clothes any other time of year.
2. Best Creative Potential!
When the weather is so good, you have options for more diverse locations. You get to take advantage of the amazing outdoor lighting. You can build sessions around summer themes or activities your family identifies with. From the mountains to the water, all the parks and natural areas have been manicured and are waiting for you.
3. Best Flexibility!
You already know it's hard to get the family together the rest of the year, but summer is a time when everyone's schedules open up and life slows down just a little. It's easier to take time off work during the week. The days are longer meaning families can still do portraits after work in the beautiful golden light of evening.
4. Best Moments!
Yes, the best moments happen in summer. Everyone is more relaxed, the days come a little easier. The family is together more and creating quality memories that last a lifetime. Portraits can persevere and commemorate this unique stage in your family.
5. Best time is before it's too late!
One thing I have learned in photography is that summer is the easiest season to let slip past you. People start with dreams like "This will be the year we finally get the family portrait done!" but, year after year the summer BBQ's, kids sports, travel, yard projects, and big work events steal every last bit of your time...and the family is yet another year older with nothing to show.
The best time is now. Once summer slips away everyone else will be calling us frantically, saying, "Oh my goodness, where did the season go? Is there any way you can STILL fit me in!?"
© 2018 Jared M. Burns Photography
Snohomish Family Portrait Photographer
www.jaredmburns.com | 206.659.7468 | info@jaredmburns.com
Best Way to Organize Personal Images
Recently a client asked me, "What is the best way to organize my own personal images?" This is such a great question with the current pace of developing technology. It's something I've given a lot of consideration because I am just as passionate about being organized as I am about photography.
There probably are many ways to do this, but here is an easy system that has worked for me over the past 10 years. It follows this basic convention...
Naming Convention: [YEAR]-[MO]-[DY] [Unique Name]
Example: 2016-02-08 Spring Trip to Hill Park
In the screenshot below, you can see I also further sort folders by "year" and "decade" just for my own ease.
Within the folders, I carry the same, simple naming convention to the individual files but add an image number at the end. Example: 2016-02-08 Spring Trip to Hill Park (x of y)
My rationale is simple. How will my kids want to receive these image libraries one day? When they've grown, what applications will they be using? Think about it...iPhoto, Aperture, and Picasa were image management leaders and they are all dead. Flickr is suffering a slow, painful death. Likely, your organizational structure will be the only thing that carries on. Using this naming convention means my children are guaranteed to receive all the images in chronological order. They will easily navigate to life events by searching keywords within Finder or File Explorer. They will be able to effortlessly import these memories into the apps of the future.
Don't you wish your parents had done this for you?
-JMB
© 2016 Jared M. Burns Photography
Snohomish Family Photographer
www.jaredmburns.com | 206.659.7468 | info@jaredmburns.com