Over the last few days, I’ve chatted with so many mothers about posting their children’s faces online. Before anything else, please know this: it truly comes down to what you are comfortable with.
A great photograph isn’t always about a smile. Sometimes the most powerful images are the ones that leave a little mystery…a small hand reaching for a shell, a tiny toe digging into sand. These quiet details can tell an entire story.
Before every session, I send a simple form that includes the question: may I share some of your images on social media? As a photographer, visuals are how I share stories and help families see what it’s like to work with me.
But as my own little one grows, I feel the shift. We’ve chosen to share less of her online. And yet, with family and friends far away, social media remains the easiest way to stay connected.
The balance isn’t perfect. Instead, I look for moments where the feeling is clear even if the her face isn’t. Her hair and cape flying around her face as she twirls singing “Let it go”, her back turned as she leaps off a log, blackberry juice staining her fingertips.
That’s the heart of what I offer: storytelling that goes beyond smilingfaces. It’s the gentle movement, the love in a gesture, the fleeting details that make your family yours.
So when you receive that form from me, know this: I cherish the chance to share your images, but I honour your privacy just as deeply. Your family’s story matters and how much of it you share is entirely up to you.
