What I Wish I Had More Photos Of From My Own Life | Kansas City Family Photographer

If you’re anything like me, you probably have a box or a folder of old photos somewhere — faded prints tucked in albums, or maybe hundreds thousands of digital snapshots sitting on a hard drive you haven’t opened in years.

I love my photos. Every one of them tells a little part of my story, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything. But the truth is, there are chapters of my life where the pictures are sparse, or even missing entirely.

And now, looking back, those are the moments I wish I’d documented better.

The Missing Moments

It hit me a few years ago when I was digging through some old photos to create a slideshow for my mom’s birthday. I had plenty of pictures from Christmas mornings, birthdays, vacations — all the “big” days.

But when I started looking for photos of the ordinary days — the ones that actually made up most of our lives — they just weren’t there.

No photos of us piled on the couch in our pajamas watching Saturday morning cartoons.
No pictures of my dad teaching me how to ride a bike.
No evidence of my mom braiding my hair at the kitchen table before school.

I don’t know if it’s because everyone thought those moments weren’t “special” enough to warrant pulling out a camera, or because life was simply too busy and we didn’t think to stop and preserve it.

But now, those are the memories I long to see again the most — not the perfect portraits or posed group shots, but the quiet, messy, ordinary moments that made me who I am.

Why We Skip The Camera

I think there are a few reasons those photos don’t exist.

For one, when you’re in the thick of life — especially as a parent — it can feel impossible to pause. You’re rushing to get everyone fed and dressed, running to school drop-off, working, managing a household. Who has time to grab a camera when you’re just trying to survive the day?

And then there’s the self-consciousness.
I think we’ve all been caught saying, “Oh no, don’t take a picture of me — I look awful today.”

We put off being in photos because we’re waiting until we feel more put-together, more rested, more confident. We tell ourselves we’ll take pictures “later,” when things are calmer or when we’ve lost the weight or when the house is cleaner.

But later doesn’t always come.

And then there are the invisible moments — the ones so small and ordinary we barely notice them: the way your child curls up next to you while you drink your morning coffee. The way your partner looks at you when they think you’re not paying attention. The little rituals — bedtime stories, family walks, board games, Sunday afternoon walks to the little park on the corner — that don’t feel significant until one day they’re gone.

The Ordinary Is What Matters

It turns out that the ordinary moments — the ones we don’t think to document — are what shape our lives and our memories.

When I think about my childhood, I don’t just remember birthdays and holidays.
I remember falling asleep in the backseat during long drives home from visiting my mom’s family in Texas.
I remember standing on a stool to help stir cookie dough.
I remember my little brother’s Lego creations scattered across the living room floor.
I remember my dad’s worn Bible by the bed and my mom humming while folding laundry.

Those are the things I wish I could see again — not because they were perfect, but because they were real.

Photographs are one of the few things that can pull those moments back into focus.

When My Perspective Changed

One day, when my kids were still little, I was sitting on the floor folding laundry while they played together in the next room. I glanced up and saw all three of them sitting in a patch of sunlight, completely absorbed in their own little worlds — one reading, another playing with dinosaurs, the other building blocks.

I reached for my camera.

Not my phone — my camera.

I quietly captured that moment just as it was: mismatched pajamas, bedhead, toys everywhere.

It’s still one of my favorite photos of them.

That picture reminds me that life doesn’t have to be polished to be beautiful.
And honestly? It’s the messy, unposed, everyday moments that we miss the most when they’re gone.

A few months later, I went through some old photos again — this time with my kids. We laughed over silly faces, remembered vacations, pointed out people and pets who are no longer with us. But when they asked me what our kitchen looked like when I was their age, or what my bedroom looked like, or what kinds of books were on the shelves, I didn’t have pictures to show them.

That’s when it really sank in: the details we take for granted now are the stories our children and grandchildren will want to know later.

Black and white photo of elderly couple dancing.

What I Tell My Clients

When families come to me for a session, they sometimes apologize:
“I’m sorry our kids are wild…”
“I’m sorry we didn’t coordinate outfits…”
“I’m sorry our house is a mess…”

But here’s the truth: those things don’t matter.

What matters is that you showed up.
What matters is that you’re together.
What matters is that you’re creating something your future self — and your kids and grandkids — will treasure.

I’ve learned that families don’t look back at photos and wish their hair had been perfect or their living room spotless. They look back and say, “Oh, that’s when she used to wear her favorite tutu every day,” or, “That’s when he carried his stuffed bear everywhere.”

And when their kids grow up and find those photos, they won’t care about anything except the fact that they can see and feel who their parents were and how much they were loved.

I once had a client tell me, after seeing her gallery, “I never realized how much love we had in our home until I saw it through your lens.” That’s what it’s about.

What You Can Do Now

If you’re reading this and thinking about all the moments you’ve missed or all the photos you wish you had, it’s not too late.

Here are a few ways you can start preserving those everyday memories today:

1. Give Yourself Permission

Stop waiting until everything is perfect. Let go of the idea that you need to look a certain way or have a Pinterest-worthy house before you can be in a photo.

2. Hand Over The Camera

Ask your partner, your kids, or even a friend to take some photos of you in the moment — cooking dinner, reading stories, snuggling on the couch.

3. Schedule a Session

Find a photographer who understands how to capture real, candid moments. Someone who can help you feel comfortable and at ease so your true personality and connections shine through.

4. Print Your Photos

Don’t let your pictures live on your phone or computer. Print them, frame them, create an album you can flip through.

5. Keep Your Camera Handy

Even if it’s just your phone — keep it accessible and ready to go. Snap a few photos every week, not just on holidays.

6. Start a Simple Project

Choose one day a month (or even once a week) to intentionally document your everyday life — your morning routine, family dinners, playing in the backyard.

Black and white photo of couple kissing.

Why I Do What I Do

I became a photographer because I believe deeply in the power of preserving stories.

I want you to have photos of your family as you really are — not just staged smiles, but the belly laughs, the cuddles, the quiet glances, the messy love that fills your days.

Because one day, your kids will grow up.
And they’ll want to see how you looked at them when they were little.
They’ll want to see how their dad held them, how their mom kissed their cheeks, how you all fit together as a family.

I want to help you give them that gift.

What I Wish I Could Tell My Younger Self

If I could go back, I’d tell myself:
Be more present in pictures.
Of everything.

Take pictures even when you feel tired, even when the house is a disaster, even when no one is looking at the camera. Because those are the moments that matter.

I’d tell myself to get in the frame, not just behind it. Because someday, someone will look for those photos — and they’ll want to see you, too.

I’d tell myself that the photos don’t have to be perfect. They just have to be real.

And I’d remind myself that once a moment is gone, you can’t get it back — but a photograph can remind you of what it felt like again.

Ready To Document Your Story?

If you’re ready to stop waiting for “someday” and start preserving your family’s story today, I’d be honored to help you.

Whether it’s a cozy in-home session, a sunlit family adventure, or simply capturing the chaos and beauty of life as it is, I’m here for it all.

book a session today

Reach out and let’s talk about what memories you want to hold onto — even the ordinary ones. Especially the ordinary ones.

And before you go, I’d love to know: What part of your life do you wish you had more photos of? Leave a comment below or send me an email. I’d love to hear your story.

Life isn’t waiting for you to feel ready or perfect or organized. It’s happening right now — in the sticky-fingered hugs, the shared laughter, the quiet glances across the room.

Don’t let those moments slip away unseen. Let’s capture them together.