There are certain seasons of family life that you know you’ll want to remember forever.
A child graduating.
A missionary coming home.
A daughter leaving on a mission.
A sibling moving away.
Those transitions are a perfect reason to gather everyone together and update your family photos.
The Thatcher family did exactly that during their session at Cub River in Preston, Idaho.
Photograph Your Family Before Someone Leaves
The Thatcher family was extra fun for me because I had already photographed their daughter’s senior photos earlier this spring.
This time, I got to meet the rest of the family.
Their oldest son had recently returned home from his mission, and their daughter was getting ready to leave on hers. It was the perfect window to get everyone together and update their family photos before another big change.
You don’t have to wait for a milestone birthday or holiday to schedule family photos.
Sometimes the best reason is simply that your family is about to look different.
These In-Between Seasons Matter
We tend to think of family photos as something we take when life is settled.
But honestly, some of the most meaningful sessions happen during transition.
Before someone leaves.
Right after someone comes home.
Before a child starts college.
When everyone happens to be home at the same time.
Those moments can be fleeting.
A few months later, your family might be living in different places or working around completely different schedules.
Taking photos while everyone is together gives you something tangible to hold onto when you aren’t all in the same place anymore.
Get the Whole Family Together While You Can
If you have a child preparing to leave on a mission, you may already be realizing how quickly the calendar fills up.
Between work, school, family commitments, preparations, and everything else, it can be difficult to find a day when everyone is available.
My advice is to schedule the photos sooner rather than later.
You don’t need to wait until the week before they leave.
In fact, giving yourself some breathing room makes the whole experience much more relaxed.
Make Time for Individual Family Connections, Too
When I photograph a family like the Thatchers, I don’t want to only take one giant group photo.
We can photograph the whole family, but I also like making room for smaller groupings.
Parents with their children.
Siblings together.
The missionary with their family.
The child who is preparing to leave.
These smaller combinations tell more of the story and give you photos that will feel meaningful years down the road.
Choose a Location That Feels Like Your Family
Cub River in Preston, Idaho was a beautiful setting for the Thatcher family’s session.
Outdoor locations can make a family session feel relaxed and give us plenty of room to move between different backgrounds.
When you’re gathering a larger family, that space is especially helpful.
You don’t need an elaborate location. You just need somewhere everyone can be comfortable and where we can create a variety of images.
Family Photos Can Mark a Chapter
I love getting to photograph families more than once because I get to see the different chapters unfold.
I photographed the Thatcher’s daughter for her senior photos in the spring.
Then, just a few months later, I got to photograph the entire family as they prepared for another major transition.
That’s one of my favorite parts of this job.
A family photo session can be a simple way to say, This is who we are right now.
Before one child leaves.
Before another chapter begins.
Before everyone grows and changes again.
If you’re looking for family photos in Preston, Idaho, or you’re trying to get everyone together before a missionary leaves or returns home, I’d love to help you document this season of your family. You don’t need a complicated reason to take the photos. Sometimes being together is reason enough.
Regie is a Preston photographer, wife, mom of two, and middle school teacher who has been photographing people for nearly a decade. She brings a calm, genuine approach to every session and loves making people feel comfortable and cared for.
She specializes in weddings, families, newborns, extended families, and senior portraits throughout Preston, Cache Valley, Logan, Franklin County, and Bear Lake. When she’s not behind the camera, you’ll find her hunting, planning, reading, or enjoying mountain adventures with her family.
November 8, 2026
Regie Carter
