A shocking amount of people preface their photo shoot with the same thing:

“My family is really awkward in pictures!”

I hear it all the time.

Too stiff, too awkward, too sarcastic, too grumpy… you name it. They say it.

Maybe we need to start thinking about family photos differently.

How about instead of trying to look a certain way… we just let ourselves be ourselves?

Isn’t that what photos are for anyway?

Jamie and the whole Panjada gang… thanks so much for showing up ready for ANYTHING! (Including *90 weather in sweaters.) I’m so grateful that you trusted me with your genuinely authentic selves, and I LOVE seeing all the personalities come alive in the photos!! Enjoy! :)

Planning photo shoots from long distance can be challenging.

Sometimes you set up an appointment and pick the location…

Even if you’re not really sure what the weather, temperature, traffic, or day will be like.

And sometimes, as much as you can plan ahead, all the details change last minute.

So you pick a time when it won’t be raining.

Make up a new location away from the crowds of homecoming high schoolers.

Ditch the sweaters in favor of short sleeves.

And reminds yourself that it’s not really about the time, crowds, place, or outfits.

It’s about each other.

Stacey - we did it! :) Another year is in the books and it keeps getting better! Thanks for being so flexible with our little rain and location flukes… I’m so glad we got to see each other! Love you guys!