I’ve had many single parents reach out to me over the years to tentatively ask if I photograph families with only one parent present. This always throws me because OF COURSE family photography sessions are for single-parent families. Family photo sessions are for every kind of family!! But since the question has come up enough times, I want to take a minute to broadcast my beliefs about photographing families that don’t fit the “traditional” mould of two parents.

Nothing Is Missing At Single Parent Photo Sessions

One less parent at a session… honestly makes no difference at all. 😉 All the same things happen: everyone shows looking snazzy and a little nervous, midway through the session the silliness comes out, and by the end of the session everyone (including me) is high on laughter and excited about what we captured. There is never a single moment that feels lacking.

Your Kids Want and Deserve Family Photos With You

This is a big one! Just because you are no longer together with your kids’ other parent doesn’t change the fact that your kids are continuing to make family memories. Part of that memory bank is photographs. Just as you treasure images from your own childhood showing you with one or both of your parents, your kids will do the same. In fact, I’d say being a single parent is even more of a reason to have family photos made. To say to your kids, to yourself, to your community - we are here, we are together, we have everything we need.

Any Type of Family Is Right for a Family Photography Session

I can’t uplift single parent families without mentioning other types of families that look different than the most common, heterosexual, two-parent type. Same-sex couples, throuples, blended families, and kinship families are often underrepresented in the niche of family photography. I wish this wasn’t true. If you are part of a non-traditional or underrepresented family and you want celebratory and vibrant images of your family, get in touch! I would love to meet your crew! 😍