The first day of school always feels like a milestone. Watching my kids —now 6, 9, and 11— ride their bikes to school, I couldn’t help but think about how quickly the years are moving. Parenthood has a way of sneaking up on you: one moment you’re carrying them into preschool, and the next they’re packing their own backpacks and calling you “bruh”.
People sometimes say you only get 18 summers with your kids. Whether or not that number feels exactly right, the truth is clear: childhood is fleeting. These days are precious, and they don’t last forever. Two of my kids are halfway out the door at this point 🤯!
Kids grow up fast—don’t let these years slip by. Fall in Chapel Hill, Durham, and Carrboro is the perfect season to pause and capture lasting family photos.
In my own family, the pace of life makes this especially obvious. All three of my kids play sports, which means practices or games almost every day. The constant activity makes time move even faster. That’s why I’ve come to value family photo sessions as a kind of pause button. For an hour or two, a family is all together in the same place, enjoying each other, looking their best, and creating something lasting.
And lasting matters. You don’t want the only pictures of your kids to be snapshots on your phone that you scroll past in between emails or texts. Professionally crafted images—printed, framed, or collected in a photo book—become tangible reminders of who your family is right now. They turn fleeting moments into heirlooms you’ll treasure long after the kids are grown.
As we turn the page into fall, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Durham come alive with color. The bright reds along Bolin Creek, the golden light in Carolina North Forest, and the warm hues in our neighborhoods make this one of the best times of year for family photos. The earlier sunsets mean sessions can happen at a kid-friendly hour, and the crisp air brings out cozy layers and smiles that feel timeless.
So as your family gets back into the rhythm of the school year—homework, carpooling, soccer cleats in the trunk—consider hitting pause. Let’s make time to capture your family as it is today, in this season. Because the years really do go by fast, and a printed photo is one of the best gifts you can give yourself to hold onto them. Head over to my contact page to book a session this fall!
