Enjoying a picnic outside, 1-year-old Caleb crawls over to me and pulls himself up using my shoulder. Nose to nose, his eyelashes tickle my cheek. I guess my eyelashes brush against his face, too, for at just that moment, he erupts in laughter and tosses up his hands. I can see all four teeth in that wide smile.

His laugh lightens my heart. It loosens my shoulders. It relaxes my forehead.

His favorite food is oranges. I can smell the sweetness on his skin. His cheeks are sticky, and I love it. My bald baby has delicious cheeks.

The light is soft. Everything is glowing. And I know… this is a moment I want to remember.

These are the times when your heart says… this is it. You know what I mean?

This moment. This one right here. I want to remember this. I have to remember this.

Baby Caleb is 11 years old now. I found this excerpt cleaning out some old files and I can still see this face in my memories and in a photograph from that day that I treasure.

He used to toddle around to all the prints on our walls and ask, “that me?” Our middle boy did the same thing, searching the walls for himself. Now, our youngest asks the same question, dismayed when it’s not him pictured and overjoyed when it is. They love being on the wall, talking about their memories and triumphs.

If you’ve ever noticed photographs giving you that same sense of belonging, you can trust that emotion. It’s research backed! According to psychologists, portraiture builds self-esteem and helps children develop confidence.

A study conducted in 1975 showed that children who took Polaroid instant photos of themselves with provided cameras and created scrapbooks had a significant increase in their average self-esteem behaviors. David Krauss, a licensed psychologist, said in this article that showing a family as a family unit and creating a safe holding space for kids in the image is helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of the family unit. In this “to-do” list-type of article, the number one listed activity foster families can do to bond as a family is to hang photos in the home.

Photographs can be used to support a sense of belonging, as people “feel special” when they see themselves in photos, according to Penn State Extension. Photographs support learning by capturing moments that are opportunities for teaching and showing an individual’s work in progress. The display of photographs help connect children to their families and are used to help children revisit meaningful experiences.

According to this article by Fracture, displaying family photos at home raises children’s self-esteem — giving them a sense of belonging and importance in the family. It helps children establish their identity and sense of self and provides children with an opportunity to voice their opinions and feel involved in family activities. Photos also support the mental health of seniors by allowing them to reflect on their lives and remember how they fit into their family. Photos displayed in the home can even diffuse conflict and serve as a healthy coping mechanism for stressors.

In an interview given to the Daily Mail, Professor Geoff Beattie, Head of School and Dean of Psychological Sciences at the University of Manchester said, “We cannot underestimate the power of photographs to keep us feeling linked to others and belonging. They cement us into our networks…

‘When children grow up surrounded by photographs, it gives them a richer understanding of where they come from, which helps with confidence.”

Portraiture offers a connection to something bigger and encourages communication within the family.

Counselors even use portraiture in youth counseling!

My photography email and social media messages are receiving lots of happy planning notes about fall family portraits. And it made me think of you, of all of us. As you can tell, portraits – especially ones printed and displayed in our homes – are powerful. You might already know our story of how we started in portraiture. (If not, you can read it on page 3 of our wedding magazine.)

Maybe you have a similar story about how portraits have strengthened the emotional threads of your family. I hope this research helps you feel emboldened in your story.

And, give us a holler if you would like our help documenting your family in these days of wonder! We’d be ever so happy to be of service.

You can see more of our family work here.