As the self-proclaimed “Picture Queen,” you know I love taking pictures!  Anyone that is near me is subject to be in a picture no matter what they’re doing.  At work?  Picture time!  I love whipping out my phone/camera to capture moments when my coworkers are acting anything but professional.  Those pictures are for my viewing pleasure only; although some occasionally will make their way to Facebook.  Oops – sorry, not sorry!

With my family, though, I take a BUNCH of pictures because I want to capture the moment we’re in.  I want to live it, yes.  But I want to take the picture to reflect back on how I was feeling at the time it was taken.

Holidays when everyone is gathered around looking their best – we are snapping away.  We must have pictures by the tree, pictures on the lawn in front of the house with the colorful Fall leaves around, even pictures on hayrides enjoying the wonders of the season.

Vacations – everyone takes hundreds of pictures on vacation. No?  It’s just me?  Okay …

Babies!  Who doesn’t love taking pictures of their sweet babies to share with others?!  I said a long time ago that my babies might have flash burns on them (if there is such a thing) from all the pictures I have taken through the years.

But they are our treasures long after that moment has passed!

There are those who do NOT like being in the pictures because they’re afraid they don’t look good enough or take a good picture.  Girlfriend, please!  Get IN the picture.  So what if your makeup isn’t perfect, your hair is a mess, or you feel you gained too much weight from Halloween to New Year’s Day – GET IN THE PICTURE!  Your family will want to look back on the good times shared with you.  Let them see your beautiful face smiling back in all of those pictures that they will surely cherish.  Don’t take that away from them.  That’s their joy in looking back over them time and time again.  Let them see you IN them, not just know you were there behind the camera capturing the moments.