It’s Important Grandparents are Included in Family Photos with their Grandkids and Here’s Why

Do you ever just look back on old photos and feel welled up with emotion? Maybe you scroll through old photos of your kids when they were babies and realize how big they have grown. Maybe you flip through your wedding album and think about how much you have been through with your spouse since your wedding day. Or maybe you have one very old photograph tucked away in a box somewhere that’s the only picture you have with you and your grandma! Whatever it may be, there’s no denying photos make us feel something when we reflect.

Now think, how many photos do you have as a kid with your grandparents? Or how many photos do you have of your kids with their grandparents? It’s definitely not something we think about on a routine basis, but so important as keepsakes for the years ahead. You, your kids and your grandkids will all be happy you have these memories together because we all know time goes by so quick!

Document a Special Bond 

For grandparents who live far and for those who live near, capturing these generational images is so important! I was never very close with any of my grandparents and that always has stung a little. I definitely knew when my kids were born I wanted their grandparents to be a part of their lives in a very intimate way. My parents are local so we’ve been able to make this a reality. My mom and dad are like second-parents to my girls and I absolutely love that. The bonds of a grandparent and grandchild can be so deep it’s important that they are captured too! 

Even if grandkids and grandparents don’t live close to each other, I would argue it’s even more important to get professional photos done on a routine basis! We all know that kids grow so fast and their faces and personalities change so much. Involving grandma and grandpa in an annual or semi-annual photo shoot would be such a special gift to everyone. Think about how treasured these photos will be to grandparents not only now, but also think how priceless these photos will be for your kids or grandkids to look back on in the future! Which leads me to my next point…

These are Heirlooms for the Whole Family

In this day and age, digital is all-consuming. We scroll through social media, we take pictures on our phones, we upload our family vacations to Facebook albums, and the list goes on. We are inundated by digital photos, but of course it didn’t used to be this way. Remember when we actually sat and rifled through an old photo album? Or lovingly looked at all the old photos of your mom hung in your grandparents’ house?

These are the kind of heirlooms I want all my clients to walk away with when they book a photo shoot with me. I want your kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids to see your smiling faces, look at the little details and see the subtle nuances of your relationship and connection. A print, a framed photo, a canvas or a full album are more than just physical items— they are keepsakes for future generations!

When to Get Professional Photos of Grandparents and Grandkids

Some grandparents are lucky enough to live very close to their children and grandchildren. This makes it much easier to plan a local photo session with the whole family!  While fall photos are popular for many people, if you’re able to get a shoot in before the busy photography season, please do! Not only will there be more availability, there’s also the opportunity to make gifts with the photos before Christmas time.

Keep in mind, while there will be photos with grandparents at your photo shoot, there will also be variety within the session. Immediate family photos, photos of just the kids, and photos with just grandparents and grandkids too. If you’re a grandparent who’s worried about intruding on your son or daughter’s family session, put that thought out of your mind!  And likewise, if you’re inviting your parents to your family photo shoot, we’ll still get plenty of photos of just your immediate household too!

For those that live far from their grandkids, plan a shoot during a visit or near the holidays. While this may be the only choice for a lot of people, if you opt for a photo shoot around the holidays (such as Thanksgiving or Christmas) be sure to plan that well in advance! 

These Photos Make Great Gifts

As mentioned, these make the perfect gifts for the holidays! If you’re able to get a photo session in by October or sooner, you’ll have plenty of time to create gifts for your relatives! Honestly, what grandparent doesn’t want a beautiful photo of them with their grandkids? That’s the type of gift that should be blown up real big or made into a family photo album! Another fun way to display images is through a digital frame and you can have a whole session of photos in one frame!

After your gallery is delivered, every client has access to a certain amount of print credit based on their selected collection that they can use to order print products directly from their gallery! 

There are even calendars or greeting cards you can make through your online gallery. If you’re planning on seeing extended family this year, get a photo shoot on your calendar. You won’t regret the investment! Let’s talk more if you’re interested in a session!