I used to have a bad habit of not taking photos of my children at my own home unless everything was perfect and planned—the lighting, the background, the outfits. It used to drive me nuts if I would take a photo of them in the moment, then notice all the distracting elements around. I would delete the photos (gasp!).

My youngest daughter eating Cheerios from the hand of her big sister.

Fortunately, it didn’t take me too long to come to my senses. I realize (and actually realized long ago) that the little moments we see that pass so quickly soon become big moments when we look back at them over time.

“Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you’ll look back and realize they were the big things.”

— Unknown

Rather than being critical of the darkness of my home (my front yard has the most amazing trees), the yellow lamp lighting that makes an awful color cast, or the continuous state of clutter in some areas (toys, books, and socks everywhere!), I’ve learned to pick up my camera to capture the moment, and then put it down, to continue enjoying the moment.

Later, I go back and review the photos, smile and reflect on the memory that I’ll be able to share with my children and talk about. After a period of time, I’ll be able to provide them with a physical print that they can view in their photo albums, hopefully to appreciate for years to come.

Surprises left by the kids after bathtime.

While I definitely appreciate a well-planned photo session, I also love and appreciate the unscripted moments.

If you’re interested in a documentary-style, family lifestyle session, I would love to talk with you. I love capturing these special moments for my children and I would love to capture them for you as well. Even if you don't choose to hire a professional, capture your moments. Print your photos. Contribute to your future memories. After all, you may look back and realize just how big those moments were.

Sharetha Monique is a maternity, newborn, child, and family portrait photographer in Charlotte, NC. Follow me on Instagram: @sharethamoniquephotography or join my private community on Facebook. To keep up new content, and stay informed of exclusives and special offerings, sign up for my newsletter!

Note from Sharetha:

Thank you so much for reading this blog post! I love featuring my clients’ images on my blog (as well as some personal favorite images), and this will give you a glimpse into what you will receive when you commission me for your Charlotte Family and Children’s Photography.

If you would like to see what an entire gallery looks like, please don’t hesitate to ask. Some of my favorites are posted here, but all of the images you receive are worthy of being in a frame, an album, or displayed on your walls!

For pricing information, please click here. If you would like to reserve your date on my calendar, please fill out my contact form or email me directly at sharetha@sharethamonique.com.

Due to the custom nature of portrait sessions, I take a limited number of clients each month.

Capturing a family’s story and creating beautiful images brings me tremendous joy, and I would be honored to capture yours!