We're not where we used to be, and we're still figuring out where we're going. But we're here.

Can I tell y'all something?

It's been SIX YEARS since we last had our family portraits taken.

SIX!

And I'm a photographer. Make that make sense! LOL!

But when I really started thinking about why it's been so long, I realized it wasn't just because we couldn't get everybody's schedules together or find something to wear.

Life happened.

And when I say life happened, whew, y'all!

These last six years have been something else.

We've been in survival mode. We've gone through transitions. We've had seasons where we were simply trying to figure out our next move and how to get our footing again.

And if I'm being real, we're still finding our footing in some areas.

But something else happened during those six years.

We became closer.

We learned how to understand each other differently. We learned how to give each other room to grow and become our own person without losing what makes us a family.

We've learned how to work together.

Now, don't get me wrong. We're still a family of five with five different personalities. LOL!

But there's a different understanding between us today.

And that's worth celebrating.

So Why Take Pictures Now?

Because I'm learning that you don't have to wait until everything is figured out to celebrate what God has allowed you to keep.

Read that again.

Sometimes we're so focused on what we're trying to fix, rebuild, or accomplish that we forget to appreciate what's right in front of us.

And for me, that's my family.

My husband. Our three children. The five of us.

Still here. Still growing. Still figuring things out together.

And I want to remember this version of us.

Not just the version of us from six years ago.

Not just the version we'll become five years from now.

This version. Right here. Right now.

And Yes, We're Taking Our Own Pictures!

Now here's where things get interesting.

I wanted to hire a photographer.

Because listen, I love what I do, but sometimes I want to be the one who just shows up looking cute and lets somebody else worry about the lighting, camera settings, and posing.

But that didn't work out.

So guess who's photographing the family?

ME!

With my Nikon, a tripod, and a remote.

And yes, I'm going to be IN these pictures.

Pray for me, y'all! LOL!

We've decided on black and white for our wardrobe, and we're heading to the South Carolina State House for a little family photo session.

I'm excited because I can already see these photographs hanging in our home.

But more than anything, I'm excited about capturing us together.

Let's Talk About Being Seen

Here's another thing I want to talk about.

We're a plus-size family.

And I know how easy it can be to put off taking pictures because you're waiting to lose weight, find something flattering, or feel more confident.

I'm not saying that's the only reason it's taken us six years.

Because trust me, life has given us plenty of other reasons.

But I do think we need to stop treating our current bodies like they're temporary versions of ourselves that don't deserve to be photographed.

Listen.

You deserve to be in the picture today.

Your family deserves to have photographs with you in them today.

Not after the weight loss.

Not after the next milestone.

Not when everything is finally going right.

Today.

And as a photographer, I want my own family to experience the same thing I want for the women who step in front of my camera.

To be seen.

To feel comfortable.

And to recognize that who they are right now is worth documenting.