The Problem with “One Day”
“We’ll do it one day.”
When the baby sleeps through.
When the house is tidy.
When work slows down.
When we’ve lost a bit of weight.
When life feels… easier.
Sound familiar?
As a family photographer, I hear this all the time. And I get it – really. I don’t even have kids myself and still… Life is full-on.
You’re juggling everything, and the thought of adding a photo session into the mix might feel overwhelming. Or vulnerable. Or just not quite the right time.
But here’s the truth:
One day often turns into someday.
And someday turns into never.
And before you know it, another year has gone by, and you’re still not in any photos together. The kids are taller, your routines have shifted, the living room has changed — and there’s no image that shows what this season of your life felt like.
“One day” is often just fear in disguise
So often, “not right now” isn’t really about timing – it’s about feeling not ready.
You want to feel good in your body. You want the kids to behave. You want the house to be clean. You want life to feel a little more pulled together.
But here’s the thing: family photos are not about perfection. They’re about presence.
The people who love you – especially your children – don’t care if your hair was done or the cushions were straight. They care that you were there. That you showed up. That you existed in the story.
The beauty of now
Real life isn’t always tidy or photogenic.
But it’s always meaningful.
The LEGO pile on the carpet. The way your toddler climbs onto your lap without asking. The kitchen dance parties. The chaos. The softness. The tiny details that make your family yours.
This is what I photograph.
Not poses. Not Pinterest perfection. Just real life, as it happens.
Because it’s this version of your family that you’ll want to remember in five, ten, twenty years.
Being the client changed me
Last Christmas, I hired a photographer to photograph my own family – my parents, my sister and me. I spoke about this here (add blog post).
There were probably no proper photos of the four of us together in years – maybe ever. And as the one who’s usually behind the camera, I realised I was always documenting everyone else’s memories… and forgetting to exist in my own.
It was a vulnerable experience to be the client, to trust someone else with the task I usually do. But I’m so glad I did.
We have photos now – taken in the flat my parents had lived in for 39 years. A few months later, they moved out.
And I can’t tell you how grateful I am that we have those images – of all of us together, at home, in a place full of history and memory.
Had I waited for the perfect moment, we would have missed it.
This is your sign
If you’ve been putting it off… waiting for a better time, a calmer season, a cleaner house — maybe this is the reminder you need.
Not because everything is perfect, but because it’s yours.
If you’re ready to stop waiting for “one day,” I’d love to photograph your family. Not just what you look like — but what life feels like right now.
Find out more about my family sessions here, if you’re curious.
