Hellobee

When my first child was born, Mr. Confetti gifted me my first DSLR camera. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was hooked. The photos, even on Auto mode, were so much better than my current iPhone, and with a growing baby, I couldn’t resist clicking the shutter constantly on a day-to-day basis.

My love for the camera grew, as I took a full year of courses through a local photography school, but my time and energy to use the camera at home ebbed and flowed. My little man was on the move, running constantly, and it was easier to save the DSLR for the special moments while leaning on my iPhone to capture the rest. Add a miscarriage, a second child, two mobile children, a growing business and despite the fact that my photography skills had grown exponentially by this point, my energy for chasing down my boys with the camera, shooting, editing and sharing had plummeted. Especially since at this point, I was photographing other people’s children. Capturing my own seemed to fall by the wayside.

So when I knew I was having another baby, I resolved to slow down and soak in and capture the moments, not just for her but for all three kids. And not just for the special moments but for the everyday chaos. I now see that these moments won’t last forever. My little guy who inspired me to learn and grow my photography skills is now nearly five (seriously, you read that right… FIVE! He was Just. Born. People!). As much as I firmly believe in an annual session with a family photographer who can bring out the best in your kids, and capture all five of us in coordinating clothes with not-entirely-disheveled faces and hair, I know that those won’t be the moments I will remember.

I’ll want to remember my boys doting over their new baby sister, the moments of mischief, the way Mr. C brings out the silliness of everyone just before bed.  I want to remember the temper tantrums (…maybe, though let’s be honest, they’re a huge part of this age), the giant hugs, the toys, the boo-boos, the books, the jumping on the bed, and more.

They won’t be little forever. As much as that sometimes makes me super happy, when I imagine the day when everyone sleeps through the night and no one needs to be wrestled into their fresh diaper or have their tushie wiped, I know that these days are fleeting and will be missed. So this year, I’m vowing to click more.  With the real camera, to freeze the moments before they slip away.

How often do you use a real camera to capture your children?