Moms are always multitasking. It comes with the territory. There are always more things to do than there is time to do it, and so we make it work. But there are two roles which are nearly impossible to fulfill simultaneously - mom and photographer. And when we try to be both at the same time, it often doesn’t turn out the way we planned.

Let me know if this sounds familiar.

You pick up your camera to document their amazingly adorable little faces, and then it starts. Mom, come play legos with me. Mom, open my snack. Mom, read me a story. Mom, I have to go potty. Being a parent has to take precedence, and so the camera gets put down.

Or how about this…

The kids are playing, no one is fighting or getting hurt, and it’s all kinds of cute. The stars have aligned. They’re being silly, and hilarious, and you want to capture every moment. You grab your camera, and then…they ask you to join in. So of course you oblige, and again, the camera gets put down. What choice do you have? They’re playing freeze tag, and it’s your turn to be it.

But here’s the thing - you’re doing exactly what you’re supposed to do. You’re being present in your children’s lives. Yet at the same time, we want these moments to be preserved, remembered. These long, laughter (and tear) filled days with our littles are exactly what our lives look like right now. You should be in those photos. Hiring a pro allows you to focus on one thing, being a mom. Let’s let the photographer take care of the rest. Otherwise, your family photos are missing a key part of your family - YOU.

The other day, we were lucky enough to experience an 80 degree day in the middle of April. So my family and I decided a backyard cookout was in order. We spent the entire afternoon and evening outside, ate some burgers fresh off the grill, and played until the sun went down. It was glorious, especially after what can only be described as the longest winter ever. Naturally I brought my camera with me outside. Here are a few of my favorite photos from that day. If you’ll notice, I am not in them.

I did attempt to get in a few…and was photobombed by the dog.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love each and every one of these photos. It’s just not the whole story. In addition to these, I’d love to also have some images of me and my girls, interacting, playing, laughing, basking in the long awaited warm afternoon sun. And one day this summer, I plan to hire a photographer to capture just that - while I relax and enjoy just being mom.