Take the Photos—Even When Life Is Messy
- Emily Graham
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
I started out in photography by taking pictures of my own kids. They were my first subjects, and those early photos taught me so much—not about getting things perfect, but about noticing and preserving real moments. The everyday chaos, the quiet pauses, and everything in between. Those photos weren’t about perfection; they were about life as it happened.
Over time, though, I stopped photographing my own family as much. Life got busy, and work took over. It’s easy to let everyday moments pass by without pausing to appreciate them. When I wasn’t working, I’d tell myself I’d take photos later, but “later” often never came.
Recently, my husband was digging through old photos to find some for my 40th birthday party. What stood out to him wasn’t how we looked or where we were—it was the reminder of how much we’ve done together. Each photo brought back a memory: a trip, a milestone, or just a simple, happy day.
It also reminded me that life is always a little messy—and that’s what makes it beautiful. The photos I cherish most aren’t the ones where everyone looks picture-perfect. They’re the ones that show our real lives: house renovations half-finished, breastfeeding in the middle of a chaotic day, the kids in full-blown chaos, or moments when the mess and the joy collide. Those are the photos that take me back. They remind me not only of what life looked like, but how it felt.
That conversation made me realise how much I value those photos too. When I look back at them, I don’t see perfect compositions or great lighting. I see my kids when they were small, the places we’ve been, and the people we’ve shared our lives with. These images tell the story of our family, and that’s something worth holding onto.
As a parent, I’ve also started to think about what these photos mean to my kids. They love looking through old albums, laughing at silly faces or marvelling at how much younger we all looked. Photos connect them to their own story and remind them of their individual life stages.
This is why I’ve made a conscious effort to pick up my camera again at home. Kids grow up so fast, and the moments we think we’ll always remember can fade over time. Photos are a way of holding onto those moments. They’re not just for us—they’re for our children, and even their children. When I photograph other families, I try to capture the connections that make them unique. It might be the way a toddler rests their head on a parent’s shoulder, or the laughter that comes when everyone’s crammed onto the sofa. Those are the moments that matter, and the same is true for my own family.
Photos don’t have to be perfect to be meaningful. Some of my favourite images are the blurry ones, the slightly off-center ones, or the ones taken in messy rooms. They’re real, and that’s what makes them special.
So, I’m making an effort to document more of our everyday life. Not just the big events, but the small moments too—the things that make up the fabric of our days. Because in the end, these photos are more than just pictures. They’re our history, our legacy, and a way of remembering what matters most.
If you’ve been putting off taking photos of your own family, start now. Use your phone, your camera—whatever you have to hand. The moments you capture today will mean so much more than you realise—now and in years to come....
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