This post is sponsored by The Portrait Studio . As always, all opinions are my own and I only write about companies/ products I believe in. I appreciate your support of Running in a Skirt.
Don't miss making moments into memories. This is why I believe in family portraits.
Hi friends and happy Friday!
I hope everyone is staying safe and warm in this snow. As of 5:30 AM, it looks like I already have 4+ inches outside and it's still falling hard!
Growing up my family always took the "family photo."
Oh yeah... we did the church bulletin picture every year.
If someone could tell me why my parents couldn't keep my bangs straight, that would be awesome 🙂 And yes, that's a giant gap in my front teeth.
They weren't the fanciest pictures, but I am so glad we have these.
My Mom HATED to have her picture made, so we don't have many pictures of her. But she sucked it up and did this every year and I'm so glad that she did. There is something about having a great family portrait.
These images help keep those fading memories alive. They are truly priceless.
And yay for braces!
I sadly have not kept that same tradition alive in my little family. Since we had a small destination wedding, we skipped the whole engagement photograph thing and haven't really had a reason to get a professional photo taken since then. Somehow I don't have any nice formal pictures of the Hubs and I other than our wedding pictures. There are no "family portraits."
I have pictures like this one that a stranger snapped for us, but nothing that really marks the milestones and years.
See the squinty eyes... sigh...
I really wanted to get a family portrait of the two of us plus Rhett and Reina, but we unexpectedly lost her before that happened. I get choked up when I think about it and wish I would have made it a priority.
This is why I believe in professional family portraits. Life morphs and changes all the time and you can't predict when that will happen. It's important to capture the memories. It's important for Moms to get in the pictures with their kids. A good family portrait is a moment frozen in time. It is worth the effort!
The Portrait Studio
Now clearly I know the barriers to actually getting those photos. We all get too busy, don't know who to call AND it's too expensive. That's why I don't have any professional family photographs.
Not anymore!
Asheville will soon be home to a new, upscale professional portrait studio call the The Portrait Studio. They specialize in bringing an intimate, personalized experience to the family photograph at an affordable price. I can promise their photographs will be a hundred times better than my old 80's style family photos! They even have high-tech backgrounds to make the photos modern, outdoorsy and airy.
The Portrait Studio is friendly, charming and welcoming. They take their time to make the photograph authentic and get the perfect shot. Most importantly their photographers make it fun. It is truly a joyful experience. It will be the kind of place you actually WANT to visit to take photos. I can't wait to finally add an official family photograph to my collection.
The Portrait Studio will be opening next Wednesday, January 27th and it is taking reservations for session now! They are in South Asheville in the Meridian Shopping center near Tupelo Honey South.
They will be offering grand opening discounts, so make sure to follow The Portrait Studio Facebook page for updates and also check out their website for scheduling details. You'll love their affordable pricing and more importantly really love having the memories!
In the coming weeks The Portrait Studio will be sharing some of their amazing photography tips with Running in a Skirt readers (You DON'T want to miss these!) and also help the Hubs and I solve our lack of family photos problem with a fabulous photo shoot. I can't wait to bring you along for the fun.
Thanks so much for joining me today. I'll see you back Monday with more from Hawaii. I'll be talking about our trip to Volcano National Park!
Your turn!
Check out The Portrait Studio and let me know what kind of photographs you'd have taken?
Do you have professional photos of your family?
Lori @ TheHealthMinded.com says
Oh boy! Photos do take you back and jog your memory. Letters, too. I just stumbled upon some really old ones and couldn't believe how beautiful they were. Anyway, we lost a lot of photos in a basement flooding and my heart breaks to think of the lost shots. So, yes, they are so worthwhile! I agree in every way!
Farrah says
That picture of you two is adorableeee. <3 And I feel ya on family portraits. I don't think I have any recent photos of me with my family because I'm always gone, but I really need to take more when I get back home! Yay for The Portrait Studio + Asheville! <3!
Morgan @ Morgan Manages Mommyhood says
I adore family portraits. Once our second little guy is born, I'm asking my husband for some for our anniversary. He's like your mom and DESPISES having his photo taken, so we literally have ONE picture of the three of us together. I think they're so important, even more so now that I have littles that are growing way, way, way too fast.
JulieWunder says
Awww!! Yes, make him do it! Your adorable kiddos will want those pictures when they grow up!
Ickle Pickle says
I love photos of my family and this year really want one of us all - I am usually taking them, not in them! Kaz 🙂
JulieWunder says
I totally get that! I hope you get one of the entire clan this year.
Emily Rose says
I agree, family pictures are treasures. Now that my mom has passed away, I feel like one of the only things I have left are the pictures we took together over the years. I am so happy I have these pictures. I have my memories but the pictures help bring out those memories!
Great post! Thanks for sharing!!
JulieWunder says
I've lost my Mom as well, so I totally understand where you are coming from.
Kristen from The Road to Domestication says
Well, I run a photography business on the side, so obviously I am a fan of family portraits LOL But that really comes from several years ago, when an elderly lady asked me to take a photo of just her husband. I asked her why she didn't want to be in it, and she said, "Honey, you never know, this might be the last photo he is in, and I'd like to look at him for a long time to come." Struck me hard. You never know when it's the last picture! So we take lots of pictures through the year, and do a family shoot every Christmas, too 🙂 Great post!
JulieWunder says
So true. Life is too short to miss opportunities like that!
Jeanine says
We used to get family portraits done all the time. We haven't in the longest time though, and we need to again. Maybe during the summer this summer!
JulieWunder says
Yes! It is so nice to have!
Susanna @Zealous Mom says
Oh, how I love this post!! My family never took formal pictures when I was growing up so all we have are our school pictures. This post is just the best. 🙂 I am really looking forward to such a great business coming to Asheville!
JulieWunder says
Thank you so much Susanna! I feel so blessed to have these-- even though they are super cheesy!
Alisa @ Go Dairy Free says
I am so bad with getting photos of us - it's been ages! I'll have to look into this.
JulieWunder says
Yes! It is such a cool business!
MyTeenGuide says
I used to not like family portraits when I was a kid because I had to dress up formally. Now, I make sure we have a family portrait taken every year.
JulieWunder says
What a great memory! You and your kids will be glad you did!
Amber NElson says
We love taking family portraits. They are definitely great memories to have for the future.
JulieWunder says
I totally agree! Thanks Amber!
Heather@hungryforbalance says
We had a family portrait taken after Matilda was born, but not since, and as you can imagine, a lot has changed in 2 years!
We all have those awkward family photos, but as you say they are a nice way to remember loved ones.
I'm so sorry that you were not able to capture a family portrait with Reina!
Stay safe and warm!
JulieWunder says
Thanks Heather! You guys should have a new one made! 🙂 Hope you are safe and warm!
Jess @hellotofit says
You were so cute in these photos, and lookin' just lovely in that pink dress! We haven't done professional portraits yet, but I hope to do a yearly one after we get married!
Mary Beth Jackson says
Family portraits are great and even more fun to go back and look at! 🙂 I was thinking I really want to have one done in May to celebrate Mother's day and my BIG birthday 🙂 I will watch for the tips!
Runaway Bridal Planner says
We haven't had professional photos taken of our family in many many years. We keep saying we are all going to get together and never do it. But we have lots of amateur (by ourselves) done and they are just as good too, for the memories!
For Christmas I compiled the past 4 years of family camping trips into a photobook. I always take photo's when we go up for our bigger family trips but I never did anything with them until Christmas. It's been so fun to look back at all the memories and see how all the kids have grown from year to year.
Love photo's just for the awesome memories they bring!
Andrea on Vacation says
I hate having my photo taken too (formally) but it is good to have them to look back on. You live near a Tupelo Honey Cafe? I love that place!!! Stay warm.
JulieWunder says
Yes! We have the original one downtown and the 2nd on on the south side of town. 🙂
Debbie@debbiethisandthat.blogspot.com says
Loved seeing your family portraits and glad you and the Hubs are going to have one done. It's nice to have a formal portrait in addition to the other more casual type photos. All pictures of those we love, though, are treasures whether professionally done or not. Have a great snowy day!
JulieWunder says
Absolutely! I'm a huge fan of pictures, in any form.
Heather Johnson says
I have walls of family portraits in my house. I do a yearly one on each of my kiddos' birthdays.
JulieWunder says
Such a great thing to do! They will love having them.
Dan Steadman says
yeah like you we have plenty of the 1980s family portraits, but nothing recently...i'd just do a plain background with the five of us...and with boys as soon as we plan for a picture of at least them, someone gets a bruise or what not...last 'family' portrait we have is when Michael was a baby and it was in the Wal-Mart portrait studio for baby's first Christmas...he's twelve now and has two brothers...maybe time to get on it...maybe we will get a picture at my brother's wedding
JulieWunder says
Yes! Or look up The Portrait Studio they are going to have some great grand opening rates. I'll be able to announce them next week!
Joanna says
I get photos taken of my girls ALL the time. I need to remember to be in more of them - they'll want those memories someday!
JulieWunder says
Yes! Your girls will love those pictures the most when they grow up.
Gretchen | Gretchruns says
I think the only picture I had of my family was for our church directory. I'm not really big into getting professional pictures, so the only pics I have of Dan and me are from our trips! I love to look at those!
Happy Friday!
JulieWunder says
I love a good church directory pic 🙂
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
I have only ever had one family portrait and that was terrible. It was years ago though. I would love to do one with my own family in the future and hope that it turns out a little better haha
JulieWunder says
It is such a great memory!
Susie @ SuzLyfe says
Um, little Julie is amazing. We've never had a professional portrait of our family done, but we definitely try to get a group shot once a year or at special events. Especially now that we are so split up!
JulieWunder says
So hard to get everyone together-- but totally worth it!