Why pulling your partner into family photos is worth it…
Let’s be honest — getting everyone organised for family photos is no small thing. And when it comes to getting partners on board? It can feel like an impossible mission all on its own.
You're not imagining it. And it’s not just YOUR partner. I know this, because I hear it from mums just like you during the initial booking stage or before almost every session :
"I don’t know how happy he’s going to be about this..."
"He really doesn’t like photos."
"He thinks he’s going to hate it."
But what I’ve learnt from working with families for almost 12 years now, is that a lot of men are just as self-conscious about being in front of the camera as we are — maybe even more so. They just don’t talk about it. They don’t want to feel awkward. They don’t want to look stiff or silly or be made to pose in wanky ways. And sometimes I think they really don't want to feel like they’re failing at it (which they never could, BTW).
But if only they knew how easy and relaxed it’s going to be - they can even have a beer or two…
One minute, they're standing weirdly, unsure of what to do with their hands.
The next, they're throwing a kid over their shoulder, laughing without even thinking about it, joining in on fart jokes. The real smiles come out. The walls drop. And before you know it, they're just there — present, loving, being exactly who they are and how you and the kids see him.
Every single time, without fail, I see it happen. The dads who were dragged along say to me with a cheeky grin, saying something like, “That was actually really fun” or “that wasn’t that bad at all!”. Sometimes you can even catch them quietly proud that they were part of it, that they made memories, that they showed up and they did the thing.
And that's what I want you to know - family photos aren't just about us as mums wanting memories of our kids. They're about giving our partners and our children something priceless, too — proof that they belong, that they are loved, that their story matters.
When you look back at the photos we create together, you’ll see so much more than smiling faces. You’ll see the way he looks at your children.
You’ll see the way he looks at you. You’ll see the way your family fits together. They’ll be a reminder of the life you built together, not just the highlights, but the everyday love that carried you through.
So if you're feeling a little nervous about dragging your husband or partner along for family photos, just know that you are absolutely not alone. And you can tell him, hand on heart, that it’s going to be relaxed, easy, and yes... even a little bit fun. (And that I'm really good at making it feel that way.)
I can guarantee he’ll actually enjoy it (even if he thinks he won’t) .
