Why It's Worth Making Time for Portraits

When was the last time you had professional photos taken?
Not the quick selfie. Not the picture someone grabbed on their phone. Not the photo where everyone is smiling except the person taking it...

We're talking about the kind of photos where everyone gets to be in the picture.

Maybe your answer is, "Honestly? It's been years."
Or maybe you're thinking, "We've never actually done them."

Or perhaps you have thousands of pictures on your phone, but when you scroll through them, you realize something:
You're hardly in any of them.

We get it. Life is busy. There are kids to get out the door, work to do, activities to get to, meals to make, and approximately 47 things happening at any given moment.

And honestly? You don't need a professional photographer to document every bit of it.

I certainly don't. (And not just because I am one.)

My phone gets plenty of use for everyday moments with my own family. I take pictures at birthday parties, on vacations, during ordinary Tuesdays, and whenever something makes me think, "I need to remember this."

But I also believe there are some seasons of life that are worth slowing down for.

You don't need a big reason. You don't have to wait for a major milestone before you have professional photos taken.
Yes, senior year is worth documenting.
So is an engagement.
A new baby.
An anniversary.
A growing family.
A new chapter.

But you don't actually need a reason beyond:
"This is our life right now."

​Your kids won't always be this little.
Your family won't always look exactly like this.
Your marriage won't always be in this particular season.
And you won't always be the person you are today.

There is something really special about having photographs that let you look back and remember not just what you looked like, but who you were together.

You're probably missing from more photos than you realize. If you're the person who usually takes the pictures, you know exactly what I'm talking about...

You don't have to know what to do in front of the camera. This is probably one of the biggest things people worry about before a portrait session.

"We're awkward."
"We don't know how to pose."
"My kids won't sit still."
"I hate having my picture taken."

Good news:
You don't have to know what you're doing. That's my job.

I'll help you figure out where to stand, where to look, what to do with your hands, and how to interact with the people you're there with.

You're behind the camera at birthday parties.
You're the one taking the vacation pictures.
You're the one saying, "Wait! Let me get a picture of you guys!"

And that's wonderful. Keep doing it!

But eventually, you realize that you're documenting everyone's life while being absent from a lot of it.

And even when you try to get everyone in the frame, there's only so much you can do with a phone balanced on a rock, a timer counting down, and everyone trying to look at the camera at exactly the right moment. 😂

That's one of the things I love most about being a photographer.
I get to take care of the picture so you can actually be in it.

And especially with families and couples, I'm not interested in making every photograph look like everyone is standing perfectly still and smiling at the camera.

Some of my favorite images are the ones where you're laughing, looking at each other, snuggling your kids, walking together, or just being yourselves.

You don't have to perform for the camera.
You just have to show up.

Professional photos aren't about being perfect. (I think this one is important.)

You don't need to wait until you lose the weight.
Or until the kids are better behaved.
Or until you find the perfect outfit.
Or until life settles down.
Because there will always be another reason to wait.
And meanwhile, life keeps happening.

Professional portraits aren't about creating some perfectly polished version of your life.
They're about remembering the real one.

The gap in your kid's smile.
The way your daughter reaches for your hand.
The way your husband looks at you when you aren't paying attention.
The personality that somehow comes through in one particular expression.
Those little things are part of your story, too.

Someday, these photographs will mean more than they do today. Right now, you might look at your family and think, "Of course I'll remember this."

And you probably will remember a lot of it.
But photographs have a way of bringing back details we didn't realize we'd forgotten.

You'll see the house you lived in.
The clothes your kids wore.
How tiny their hands were.
The way you looked at each other.
The people you were before another five years of life happened.
And someday, your kids may look at those same photographs and see something completely different.

They'll see themselves surrounded by people who loved them.
That's pretty powerful.
So, make some time for it. You don't need to have a huge milestone.
You don't need to have everything figured out.
You don't even need to love having your picture taken.
You just need to decide that this season is worth remembering.

That's where I come in.
I'll help you with the location, the outfits, the posing, the lighting, and all the little things that can make having your picture taken feel intimidating.

You get to show up, be with the people you love, and let me take care of the rest.

Because someday, "I wish we had more pictures together" is a much harder problem to solve than "I'm really glad we took the time."

​So if you've been thinking about getting photos done, maybe this is your sign. ❤️
I'd love to help you capture this season of your life.

Hi, I’m Lindsay Wiggins  --

the photographer behind Wiggins Photography in Cottage Grove, Minnesota.

I photograph families, seniors, couples, and all the little seasons worth remembering, with a focus on genuine connection, joyful moments, and images that feel like you.

For weddings, my husband, Mark, joins me as a second photographer, bringing a calm presence and creative eye to every celebration.

​Thanks for following along! I'm so glad you're here.

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