Grandchildren are the dots....
Generational photographs.
I can not say enough about how important photographing as much of your family together- showcasing the generations, is. As I was invited to photograph the Tillitt etc famil(ies) I was excited -but did not realize the sadness I would walk away with.
It is so hard to get everyone together. I felt a little envious of the Tillitt family, because when I think about the Hayes side of my family, I realized that it is highly unlikely we will ever have everyone together in one place to have one large family photo. Both of my Grandparents are still with us, there is only my mom and her one sister. My aunts children live far away, as do my brother and sister. To even remotely think we would get both my mom and my aunts families home in the same place, on the same day -sadly, impossible. Overwhelming realization. Then I also remembered that last Christmas, we had everyone from my immediate family home for Christmas. My family, my sisters family (3 recently home from military duties) and my brothers family + our Grandma and Grandpa Hayes. Now every year it has been my goal to get a group picture of who ever was able to be with us. Last year I was unable to do so, this was the day before I gave birth to my Sam and I was miserable -crying every other conversation. I left my camera in the car all day (forgetting more like it) and it was overcome with fog when I brought it into the warmth of my dads shed. Everyone was impatient to get going, and I gave up. Never getting a group picture of what surely will be the one chance I had to get that many at one time (minus Sam). Utter failure on my part.
Summary of all the rambling: any chance you get, grab a group family photo! Not everyone will have a tripod, but at least one person in every family has a smart phone. Every smart phone has the capability of a camera timer. Prop that bad boy up on a table or a shelf somewhere and smile! It does not have to be perfect, you are all together -we may not have it all together, but together we have it all! Not everyone will take warmly to this idea. In a nice, smart alec, affirmative way -tell them there is no choice. Our kids, and their kids will love these some day! I will once again be the bearer of bad news when I drag out my tripod at Christmas, but I love filling my walls with these photos. I love that my kids will have them some day.
I leave you with the gorgeous that is the Tillitt family. This day was blessed with great weather, great family and plenty of laughs!
