A new year often invites reflection. We think about what we want more of, what we'd like to change, and how best to spend our time as the months unfold.
When it comes to creating family memories, there’s no one “right” way to capture or preserve them. Some people naturally document everything. Others deeply cherish their moments but struggle to slow down, remember to take photos, or feel confident doing so.
This guide is for both.
Whether you love documenting every detail or want to make memory-capturing feel more natural and less overwhelming, these ideas will help you move through the year with intention.
Before thinking about cameras or keepsakes, it helps to step back and consider how great memories are formed in the first place.
Instead of focusing only on holidays or milestones, look at the rhythms of your everyday life.
Ask yourself:
Some of the most meaningful memories come from:
These recurring experiences form the foundation of childhood and often become the moments children connect with most later on in life.
Everyday moments are incredibly important, but special experiences matter as well.
Trips, outings, and intentional experiences often stand out in a child’s memory because they break routine. They create a sense of “this was different,” even if the experience itself is simple.
When planning these moments, it is easy to feel like everything has to revolve around entertaining the kids. Activities should be age-appropriate, of course, but it is also okay to plan experiences that genuinely excite you.
You do not have to center every trip or outing around children’s activities for it to be meaningful to them.
Children learn by watching. When they see you enjoying a museum, a city, a show, a walk through a new place, or even a quiet coffee shop in a new setting, they are absorbing more than you realize. They notice your curiosity, your joy, and the way you move through the world.
Those impressions matter.
Some of the experiences that stay with children are not the ones designed specifically for them, but the ones where they witness the adults in their lives fully engaged and happy. These moments help shape how they understand adventure, exploration, and shared time.
Planning a trip or experience you truly care about does not take away from your child’s experience. It adds to it.
And just like everyday moments, these experiences do not need to be perfectly documented to be meaningful. Capturing a few photos, videos, or notes allows you to revisit not just where you went, but how it felt to be there together.
One important truth applies to everyone: meaningful memories do not require perfect photos.
The last thing we need in our lives is more pressure. When capturing your family moments, try to:
A slightly imperfect photo often carries more emotion than a perfectly staged one. These images help children recall what their lives truly felt like.
If you are someone who always has your phone or camera nearby, you may also find yourself feeling a little conflicted about it. Many of us quietly worry that we are not being “present enough” when we stop to take photos.
I used to feel this way myself. I remember being at a concert years ago and telling myself I should put my phone away... that I should experience the moment organically, without documenting it. We often live in these “shoulds,” adding pressure to moments that are meant to be enjoyed.
Over time, my perspective shifted.
I realized that using the technology we have to capture what is happening in front of us is not necessarily a distraction from the moment. When done thoughtfully, it can actually be a way of fully experiencing it. Balance matters, of course. Watching an entire experience through a screen is not the goal, but taking a moment to capture something meaningful does not pull you away from it.
Stopping to take a photo is a way of saying, “This matters.”
I have never regretted a photo I took while traveling, attending a show, or sharing a meaningful family experience. Chances are, you will not either. Pro tip: leave the editing/posting for later. Do that in your down time— while your kids are napping, when you're winding down for the night, etc. Don't allow this to be a distraction for you during the experience you're trying to commemorate. This would defeat the whole purpose!
Capturing moments does not take away from presence. It gives those moments a place to live beyond today.
If you already enjoy documenting life, here are a few simple ways to deepen that habit without adding too much more work:
These small steps help ensure your memories are not just stored, but revisited.
If capturing moments does not come naturally to you, you are not alone.
Many parents want the photos, but they:
Here is something worth remembering: Taking photos is not silly, self-indulgent, or unnecessary.
As a family photographer, I have seen countless families walk into sessions feeling stiff or uncomfortable. Some people joke their way through it. Others dismiss the experience entirely because it feels odd to them. Almost always, that discomfort fades once people relax and focus on their fellow subjects: the people they love.
Family photo sessions are not an everyday activity, and that is okay. They are meant to pause time just a little. Once families settle into the experience, what almost always comes through is the beauty of connection, not awkwardness.
And without exception, people never regret having the photos afterward.
You do not need an elaborate system or plan.
Try:
If you miss a day or a week, that does not mean you failed. The memory still mattered.
The goal is not to document everything. It is simply to notice what matters and give yourself a way to revisit it later.
Some moments move quickly or feel too meaningful to try to capture yourself. Working with a local photographer allows you to relax and be fully present, knowing the moment is being documented with care.
A quick online search or a search on Instagram is often the easiest way to find talented photographers in your area. Browsing recent work and reading reviews can help you find someone whose style feels like a good fit for your family.
Families often choose to work with photographers in a few meaningful ways:
These sessions take place within the first two days after birth and focus on the quiet connection and tiny details that are easy to let slip by in those early moments of a baby's life.
Studio sessions offer timeless images that document growth, milestones, and personality. Don't think cheesy mall portraits of the past...instead think high-fashion glamor shots of my mini-model.
These sessions capture families where life happens and often feel relaxed and natural.
Professional photos capture the moment. Thoughtful preservation helps your child remember it.
Preserving memories does not need to be complicated. The goal is simply to make them accessible rather than hidden away.
Each format plays a role in helping memories stay present as your child grows.
Memories become even more meaningful when they are shared.
Looking at photo books together, letting your child tell the story in their own words, and asking simple questions like “Do you remember this?” all help children build emotional connection and a sense of belonging.
The year will move quickly. It always does.
The goal is not to document everything perfectly. It is to notice what matters, capture what you can, and preserve it in ways that feel right for your family.
The moments worth remembering are already happening right where you are.
At Stareworthy, everything we create is rooted in the belief that real memories deserve to be remembered and shared. Through story-driven photo books and thoughtful photo keepsakes, our goal is to help families hold onto the moments that shape childhood.
Here is to a year filled with meaningful moments, and special ways to make them last!
