It’s always funny to hear how many people hate having their picture taken.  When I hear that all I can think of is a painful portrait setup where the photographer is saying things like, “No, look this way.  Okay, tilt your head to the right.  Now move your shoulder down. Now smile.”  And it pains me.  All I know is that pictures are meant to be these beautiful keepsakes, not forced smiles.  Family photos should be of you, loving on your children, feeling every bit of joy you have for them.  They should be about spending that session time with your family and not worrying about the laundry that’s piling up or the grocery list that you need to make.  Pictures of you and your husband, or your wife, and your children are meant to be beautiful….beautiful portraits of how you felt in the moment.  How you caught your daughter glancing at her little brother or how your babies felt in your arms.  Pictures should be of you and your husband, after over a decade of marriage, still madly in love.  They should show you completely content…right here…right now.  So the next time someone asks to take your picture…or you decide to step out of your comfort zone to have your pictures taken, just relax and smile and scoop up your children, hug them tight and know that you are creating the most precious memories.