Annapolis Family Photographer | Older Children

Annapolis Family Photographer | Older Children

Recently I was editing late one night, and realized that all of my open folders of images to be edited were of small children, and babies. This got me to thinking, clearly babies grow and become toddlers and then older kids or “big kids”. Where are all the “big kids” portraits? There are no birthday sessions of the 9 year olds, or back to school portraits for the 12 year olds, or even holiday mini sessions for the 10 year olds. Now, before you start listing all the reasons, let me first say.. I understand the older children cannot be bribed like the tiny ones with fruit snacks, or a squeaky toy, or ice cream after.. many of them do not enjoy large family events or having their photos taken at all, for some it may be like pulling teeth.. but lets be honest sometimes so is the 2 year old photo shoot, and jump around like crazy people to make that shoot happen.

So, I sought out to photograph this mysterious age.. after all, when these children graduate and move on you will think of these 7-14 year ages as your “babies”. Its so important not to only get caught up in just scheduling portrait sessions for the “baby-babies” and to remember your “big babies” too. Im speaking as less of a photographer here and more from a mama’s heart… children grow so fast, by the time we have one age or trend figured out they have moved on to the next, and its so important do document life. One day when we are old, and the children only come around now and then, looking at photos of all stages of their lives will bring back such incredible feelings, the times you are frustrated as a parent now, the times you wanna scream from the overwhelm of teaching, and growing, and parenting, and raising these little humans… will suddenly be felt with a different tone, it wont feel so exhausting, and I know we will want it back. We will wish to be woken up in the night just once more, to have a tiny argument that ends in the best hugs, to hear the running/rollerblading/bikes through the halls even though we had told them 100 times that was outside toys, and to help with homework just one more night. These things that may have felt like challenging parenting moments will be longed for when then are gone, and the closest we can get to that will be the memories in your heart and the photos that were taken.

Capture moments, document memories, love deeply.. and photograph your children no matter their ages, not just the babies!

Annapolis Family Photographer | Older Children

Sarah Michele Photography is an Annapolis Family Photographer specializing in Family, Newborn, and Wedding Photography in Annapolis and surrounding areas, included but not limited to Baltimore, Severna Park, Pasadena, and Glen Burnie.