Every family session I’m trusted to photograph brings a little rush of butterflies on the drive over. Not out of fear—but anticipation. I always wonder… what stories will unfold in front of me today? Will each family member open up and allow me to see who they truly are? Will they relax into the experience so I can capture not just what they look like, but what it feels like to be part of their family?

Of course, we’ll always take a few of those “wall portraits”…everyone standing in the right spot, smiling perfectly, clothes all neat and tidy. But what I really want to give you is so much more than that. I want to show you who you are, the way each person fits into the family, what they bring, how they laugh, hug, wrestle, or simply just be together. Maybe it’s a silly family handshake, a recreated pose from when the kids were little, or the way a parent looks at their child when no one else notices. Those are the moments that say: THIS is your family right now, in this season.

I’ve known the Hennig family for years, long before “momma” became a momma. Watching her grow into the beautiful woman she is today, and now into an amazing mother of boys, has been such a joy. And oh, these boys! They show off their unique personalities in every moment, wrestling one second, then surprising each other with the sweetest little kiss on the head the next. Their bond is full of energy, laughter, and genuine affection. Photographing them felt less like a session and more like getting a front-row seat to their everyday family life, chasing, giggling, snuggling, and simply loving each other.

And this…this is what I want every family to experience. Not just photos to hang on the wall, but memories that feel alive every time you look at them. Images that make you remember how your son’s laugh sounded when he was eight, how your daughter tucked her hand in yours without even thinking, how your family spent that one perfect afternoon together.

Personalities will shift, kids will grow, favorite family routines will change. But these portraits? They hold on to who you are right now. A chapter in your family’s story that you’ll never want to forget.