A Family of Three, Plus the People Who Started It All

There’s something especially beautiful about photographing a family as they grow.

On a late-September evening in Hudson, New Hampshire, I met up with a new family of three for their family session. Their five-month-old was right in that sweet stage of discovering the world around him, full of little expressions, curious eyes, and all the tiny details you know you’ll want to remember someday.

Mom wanted photos of her, her husband, and their baby, but she also knew she wanted something more.

She wanted her parents there, too.

And I’m so glad she did.

Because when we think about documenting our families, it’s easy to focus on the family we’ve created. The parents, the baby, the everyday moments that make up this season of life.

But there’s another layer to the story.

These are the people who held you first. Who watched you grow. Who were there long before you became a parent yourself. And now they get to watch you step into that role. There is something incredibly special about seeing a new mom with her own parents, holding the baby they once held her place in their arms.

It’s a reminder that family photos don’t have to be limited to the people who live under the same roof. Sometimes the most meaningful photographs are the ones that show the generations together.

Our time with our children is precious, but so is the time we have with our own parents. And while we’re busy documenting all of the firsts with our babies, it’s worth remembering to document the people who helped us get here, too.

That’s why I love when families choose to include grandparents in their sessions. It doesn’t have to change the entire session or take away from the time focused on your immediate family. We can simply set aside a little time for everyone to be together, then continue with photos of just you and your children.

Because someday, these photographs will tell more than the story of a five-month-old baby.

They’ll tell the story of where she came from, the people who loved her from the very beginning, and the family surrounding her as she grew.

And if you’re planning a family session and would love to include your own parents in these memories, grandparents can always be added to your session. Sometimes those are the photographs you’ll be especially grateful you took.