Why Incorporating Grandparents into Family Sessions Matters
If the last few years have taught us anything, it’s the importance of family and time together. I still remember fondly climbing up onto the kitchen counter at my grandmother’s house and baking heart-shaped cakes with her (and eating icing out of the container by the spoonful), sleeping over at their house regularly, taking walks to the park with my grandfather, playing in their backyard, and my grandfather letting us play hair salon with him while he sat and watched the evening news. All of these memories are still with me, but I would give anything to have these special moments recorded in a photo. Often we pick up cameras or pull out phones to take photos for milestones, birthdays, vacations together, and holidays, but what about these everyday moments or the special activities that make grandparent visits so special? These times together matter more than we realize until they’re gone. I lost my mom suddenly a few years ago and I would give anything to go back and capture photos of the things my kids liked to do with my mom. She didn’t live close and we didn’t see her as often as I would have liked, but I do have some special memories. One is where we set up an inflatable pool and turned the hose on to fill it, my mom and my son got into a spray battle with the hose and I saw my mom laugh in a way that I didn’t see often. My son brought that out in her. It’s still one of my favorite memories of her in her short time as a grandmother. And yes, I did grab my camera and have a photo from that time and guess what? It is the one that means the most to me because there was so much joy and connection. Had I not captured that photo I don't think my son would have remembered because he was so small and it’s likely I may not have as well in the fog of parenting a 4-year-old and a baby. But now I wish I had documented many more of those times together. We always think we have more time. This is why I’ve really started encouraging families to incorporate grandparents into family and even newborn and maternity sessions. Whatever works - just include them when you can!
I know grandparents often love the posed shots of everyone looking at the camera, but what I want families to remember are the routines, the passions passed on, and the little moments of love and joy that help you feel the memories. So how do we accomplish this? I send out a detailed questionnaire before sessions and we also chat by phone to discuss what’s important and plan some special activities. Cooking together is a great way to spend quality time together and food always brings people together. When the family below reached out to book their session they shared with me the grandmother’s passion for making homemade dumplings, so we made it happen.
Though planning an activity can help provide a shared focus, sometimes you need time to just be together.
And a few months later.
Brand new in the hospital.
And amazingly 4 generations!
The memories made will be treasures that will last a lifetime. Documenting grandparents (and great-grandparents) in photos will make it easier to hold onto the memories, you’ll have print gifts to share that grandparents always love, and your future self will thank you.