Family Photo Traditions: Capturing the Moments That Matter

Time passes quickly, doesn’t it? One day it’s preschool and tricycles, and the next it’s proms and part-time jobs. Life moves fast—but one of the best ways to pause and hold onto those fleeting moments is through photos.

Photographs let us relive the stories that make up our lives. And when we take similar photos over time, we create traditions—visual reminders of how we’ve grown, changed, and stayed connected.

What Is a Family Photo Tradition?

Family photo traditions can be anything you do consistently:

• The kids in front of the Christmas tree each year in their new pajamas
• Cousins lined up at the beach during the annual family vacation
• The classic first and last day of school pictures

These aren’t just snapshots—they’re a record of your family’s legacy. They tell your story, one frame at a time.

Family Photo Traditions: The Kids and The Old Man

In our home, one of our favorite traditions started with a wooden carving we affectionately call The Old Man. We bought him at a chainsaw carving festival almost 20 years ago, and he’s lived on our front porch ever since.

That year, on the first day of school, it seemed like a good spot to snap a quick photo. And so it began—a tradition that continued every first and last day of school, with the kids posing beside The Old Man as they grew taller year by year.

Even now, after the kids have finished school, the tradition continues. My husband started a new job and took his picture with The Old Man on his first day. What memories these photos evoke!

Why Photo Traditions Matter

Starting a photo tradition can be as simple or as detailed as you like. Whether it’s a quick pose in front of the same wall or a carefully recreated group shot, these rituals offer some wonderful benefits:

• They capture a series of moments in time
• They give your family a visual history
• They become something everyone looks forward to
• They bring laughter and nostalgia
• They help you honor and remember loved ones

Start Your Own Photo Tradition

It’s never too late to start a photo tradition. You might take a family photo during every holiday dinner in the same spot, or photograph your child holding the same stuffed animal on each birthday. It doesn’t have to be complicated—it just needs to be consistent.

One powerful way to begin is by recreating an old photo. My cousins, sister, and I started doing this years ago. In 1988, we took a beach vacation photo together. A decade later, we recreated it—and again, many years after that. We’ve repeated the tradition over the years, much to the amusement (and eye rolls) of our own kids. We even reprinted the photos, had them framed, and gave them to our grandmother. It’s become one of our most treasured family photo rituals.

What Are Your Family Photo Traditions?

Do you have a favorite family photo tradition? Is there a certain pose, location, or group you always photograph together?

If not, now’s a great time to start. And if you already have one, I’d love to hear about it—and even better, see your photos!

Let’s celebrate the simple, beautiful ways we hold onto our family stories.

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