The Photos You're Forgetting to Take This Summer

When you think back on your favorite summers growing up, chances are you don't remember them in perfectly posed portraits.

You remember the feeling.

The smell of sunscreen.

Bare feet on warm sidewalks.

The sound of sprinklers.

Catching lightning bugs until it got too dark to see.

As photographers, we spend a lot of time helping families preserve milestones. But some of the most meaningful photos aren't the ones where everyone is smiling at the camera.

They're the little pieces of life happening in between.

Here are a few moments worth capturing before summer slips away.

Dad at the Grill

Maybe it's burgers. Maybe it's hot dogs. Maybe it's just someone standing over the grill while everyone else plays.

Years from now, your kids won't remember exactly what was on the menu.

But they'll remember who made dinner.

The Messy Stuff

Sticky popsicle hands.

Watermelon juice running down little chins.

Sandy feet.

Mud after a summer storm.

Wet towels piled by the back door.

Life isn't clean, and that's part of what makes it beautiful.

Grandparents Watching

One of my favorite photographs isn't always the grandparent looking at the camera.

Sometimes it's Grandma watching the kids play.

Or Grandpa quietly pushing a swing.

Those moments often say more than words ever could.

The Family Dog

Dogs somehow become part of every summer memory.

They're chasing balls, lying in the shade, sneaking bites at cookouts, or following the kids from one adventure to the next.

Don't forget to include them in your camera roll.

The View From Your Backyard

Not because it's extraordinary.

Because it's yours.

The tree that always blooms first.

The porch where everyone gathers.

The swing set that's slowly being outgrown.

The garden you've worked so hard on.

Someday it won't look exactly like this.

The Evidence of Childhood

Bike helmets tossed in the grass.

A baseball glove sitting by the garage.

Dance shoes in the backseat.

Pool goggles drying on the patio.

Tiny flip-flops lined up by the door.

These little details become surprisingly meaningful years later.

The Quiet Moments

Not every memory has to be exciting.

A child reading in a hammock.

Your teenager sleeping after a long day at the pool.

Someone coloring at the picnic table.

The family dog napping in a patch of sunshine.

These are the moments that often tell the story of a season.

The Sky

Don't forget to look up.

Summer skies are part of the memory too.

Sunsets after baseball games.

Fireworks lighting up the neighborhood.

Storm clouds rolling across the fields.

Cotton-candy skies at golden hour.

Sometimes the setting deserves a photograph just as much as the people inside it.

Get In the Picture

This reminder never gets old.

Hand someone your phone.

Use the timer.

Take the selfie.

Your children aren't looking for perfection.

They're looking for proof that you were there.

As photographers, we absolutely love creating beautiful portraits. But we also know that the photos you'll return to over and over again are often the ones you almost didn't take.

So photograph the little things.

Photograph the ordinary.

Photograph the evidence of your life.

Because someday, those ordinary summer days will become the stories your family loves most.