Scroll through your camera roll right now. I'll wait.
I'm guessing you'll find hundreds (okay, thousands) of photos of your babies. First smiles. Messy faces. Sleepy snuggles with Dad. Grandma holding the baby at the hospital.
Now count how many of those photos have you in them.
If the answer is “barely any,” you are not alone, mama. I’ve been there too. Kids grow up in the blink of an eye. Mine are 21 and 19 now, and I regret not having more family photos with them. That’s why I want to gently (but firmly!) tell you it’s time to hand someone else the camera.
Why Moms Disappear From the Photos
We don't mean to vanish. It just kind of happens.
You're the memory keeper. You're the one who notices the moment, grabs the phone and captures it. Nobody else thinks to.
You don't feel "photo ready." Your hair's in a messy bun, you haven't slept, and your body looks different than it used to.
You'll do it "later." After you lose the baby weight. After you get your hair done. After things calm down.
Here's the hard truth: later doesn't come. Your kids will never be this little again, and this version of you, the one who is up at 3am, who knows every coo and cry, will never be here again either.
Why It Matters So Much That You're in the Picture
Your kids want to see you. One day your little one will flip through these photos looking for their story. They won't care about your stretch marks or your messy bun. They'll be looking for your face. Your hands. The way you looked at them.
You are part of the story, not just the one telling it. A family album without mom in it is missing its heart. Those photos say "she was here, and she loved me so much."
You deserve to remember it too. These early years are a blur. Years from now, you'll want to see what it actually looked like to hold your babies close.
Think about the photos you'd grab first from your own mom's albums. I bet a lot of them are of her holding you. Not the perfect posed ones. The real ones. Your children will feel the same way about you.
"But I'm Not Ready to Be Photographed"
I hear you. Let's talk through the big ones.
"I haven't lost the baby weight." Your body just grew and delivered a whole human. That softness is part of this season, and your baby finds it the most comforting place in the world. I'll pose and light you in a way that feels flattering and natural.
"I don't have anything to wear." Let me know and I'd be happy to help you.
"I'll feel awkward." Almost everyone does at first. My job is to guide you through every pose, so all you have to do is snuggle your baby.
"I'll do it next time." Whether your baby is two weeks or ten years old, there's no next time for this exact moment.
Why Go Professional Instead of Just Handing Someone Your Phone?
Phone snapshots are wonderful, and you should keep taking them! But a professional session gives you something different.
You get to be fully present. No timers, no asking your partner to "take a few more." You just get to hold your baby while I handle everything else.
Light and posing that make you look like you, on your best day. I know how to use light and angles to bring out the softness and beauty of this season.
Safety comes first. Newborn posing takes training. As an Ana Brandt–certified photographer, every pose I do is done with your baby's safety and comfort in mind.
Heirlooms, not just files. Professional images are made to be printed big, framed and handed down. They won't get lost in a camera roll of 20,000 photos.
Photos you'll actually love. No more deleting every picture of yourself. You'll finally have images of you and your family that you're proud to hang on the wall.
Let's Get You in the Picture
At my Port Chester studio, I make it easy. I'll guide every pose and make sure you feel comfortable from start to finish. Whether you're expecting, snuggling a brand new baby or chasing a busy toddler, there's a spot for you in these photos.
So here's my challenge to you, mama: stop hiding behind the camera. Your kids don't need a perfect mom in the picture. They just need you.
Ready to book your maternity, newborn or family session? Reach out here and let's create something you'll treasure forever.
Heather Tietjen Photography is a newborn, maternity and family studio in Port Chester, NY, serving families across Westchester County and beyond.