This family did **what* during daughter's grad portrait session?

Once in a lifetime, there comes a moment when a family realizes the time they've spent together under one roof is coming to an end. For the Johnsons, that moment arrived when their eldest daughter, Emily, was about to graduate from high school. Determined to seize this last, unique opportunity, they decided to do something extraordinary - they combined their family portrait with Emily's graduation session. What they ended up with were portraits Emily was proud to post on Senior Sunday and personalized family wall art of those precious fleeting years that still live on in their home to this day.

** While the names in this story were changed, the story these families all share is true. **

In the midst of the chaos and excitement that often surrounds the final year for a high school student, we recognize that this is also a major life transition for a family that should never be overlooked. For some parents, it is the hint of the end coming as the firstborn leads the way out of the nest, knowing the other children will soon follow. For other parents, this is the youngest child finally stepping into their own and marking the final chapter in the greatest family adventure.

Any moment now, the lives of everyone in your family are about to change and diverge. Your lives will weave and intersect as you go, but they will never come back together as they are here and now.

• What will ground these beautiful connections you have shared? 

• What will remind each and every one of them about this special place and time?

• What will point them home?

We understand that graduation is not just about the individual; it's about celebrating the love, support, and togetherness that brought each graduate to this point...it is about the family too! This is why Jared M. Burns Photography offers complimentary portrait sessions to the families of senior grads! This means, that when you book with us for a senior grad portrait session, we welcome you to reserve a little time for your family to have a portrait. For most families, 20-30 minutes is all it takes and there is no extra cost.

Achievements, milestones, and memories go hand-in-hand. This is why we believe art is prestigious, but family art is preeminent.

Here are the TWO things we cannot do for you. We cannot stop the rain from coming in the next 4-5 weeks and we cannot stop the kids from growing up fast. However, we can help you preserve this special moment if you act before this season comes to a close.

This is a moment your family can never return to.

Don't miss it.

We can help you keep it!

Why am I sharing a photo of my family?

You may be wondering why I am sharing a photo of my family. Well, I'm a father and I am proud of them, need I say more? Actually, there is more to the story behind this cherished image...

We just got back from a memorable trip to the breathtaking island of Maui! We soaked in the golden sunsets, embraced the warm ocean breeze, and created precious memories that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. Towards the end of our time there, we had the opportunity to capture this beautiful family portrait, an image that encapsulates the joy and love we experienced together. I don't say this to boast but to highlight why such an image represents everything truly wonderful about this 2023 summer for us.

Already, this portrait is a treasure to me. It reflects the bond we share and serves as a reminder of the laughter, the adventures, and the irreplaceable moments we spent as a family. Every time I look at it, I am transported back to those peaceful shores, reliving the magic of that vacation and feeling grateful for the blessings of my family.

Portraits hold immense significance for fathers too. These images represent our role as protectors, nurturers, and pillars of love in our families. Like time machines, they allow us to return to shared experiences and reminisce or reflect on the beautiful journey of fatherhood. The moments along the way may be fleeting, but memories never have to be.

It is simple. Fathers love portraits because fathers love their families. Maybe they don't have the emotional realization as quickly as moms, but I guarantee they will. We want you to carry all the same joys of fatherhood with you on your life journey!

Are you living like your house is burning down?

What if I told you your house just burnt down?

The good news is your family members and pets are all safe. You had a great insurance policy in place too. Yet, in that very moment, what is the only other thing in the world you wish you could still go back and save?

So here we are. You don’t need me to convince you of the intrinsic value of photography. Your mind already went there. It wasn't the car, a family heirloom, or a special collection. Am I right? The next thing you value most in life are those are memories of your family. They are irreplaceable. They are priceless.

People all around us are living like their house is burning down and they aren’t even aware. Let me explain. Every week I meet with portrait clients and ask them a very important question.

“When was your last family portrait?”

How would you answer that? How would you guess they answer? Nearly every family tells me the exact same thing…."Oh my goodness, it was back when the kids were really little!"

So what do they have to show for the in-between years? The kids are now grown and all memory saving opportunities since that last portrait are gone. When it comes to protecting their precious, personal moments, it is like their home has been burning for 15 continuous years unnoticed. There isn’t a single portrait from the mid-family stages in life.

You might tell me that this is partly due to photography turning digital; that in the last 15 years, we don't take, share, a enjoy images like we use to. You would be correct. This indeed is a contributing factor but…

…the house is still burning.

Be honest for a moment. When was the last time you printed one of your memories? When was the last time you put a portrait on the wall?

Today, only 1 in 50 people actually print a digital image and display it in their home. Those empty walls all around represent countless missed memories they will never get back. It is like they are willingly living in the home with photo memories that went up in smoke. More accurately, they never existed.

This is the reason we do business differently.

We protect the one-of-a-kind stages in life. We want our client’s memories to come to life, be revisited anytime, and compliment a household of love. This is why we are a full-service photography business that specializes in personalized, emotional art for your home. We are making heirlooms that matter, that enhance family bonds, and that are guaranteed to increase in personal value with each passing year.

Has some life slipped by for you?

Have you lost a few years in there somewhere? We can help! It's never too late to start preserving new memories, but you do have to act today. They will be gone tomorrow.

Can Family Portraits Boost Mental Health?

Did you know displaying portraits in the home can improve the mental health of your family? I was surprised when I stumbled upon this article citing studies showing a direct connection between photography and a child's improved self-esteem or understanding of family worth. However, as I read on, it made a lot of sense!

David Krauss, a licensed psychologist from Cleveland and proponent of family health through meaningful photography explains,

"I think it is really important to show a family as a family unit. It is so helpful for children to see themselves as a valued and important part of that family unit."

Another psychologist named Judy Weiser in Vancouver who studies the effects of art and photography says,

 "It lets children learn who they are and where they fit...the uniqueness of their own family and its story."

Cathy Lander-Goldber, as a social worker in St. Louis found;

“Displaying photos prominently in the home sends the message that our family and those in it are important to one another, and we honor the memories we have experienced.“

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Simply put, family portraits communicate a powerful message that resonates to the core of every child's being. "I belong."

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In our experience as a photography business, we have found all this to be true! Often, past clients let us know how important the family portraits have become to them. Fathers admit when they get home from work and the first thing they see is the family in the big portrait above the couch, it puts their whole evening into perspective. Mother's have secretly caught glimpses of their children studying the family image. There is also nothing like the pride a mother feels when guests in her home notice the family art because they immediately understand what is most important in this household.

When was the last time you updated your family portraits?

What message are you sending to your family members?

We can't stop them from growing up, but we can preserve a special moment that will live forever! Bring home the family memories as art, it's time to make a statement about what is most precious in your life. Together we can create emotional memories that live on as personalized works of art on your wall.

Learn more about the psychology of portraits…

• Phototherapy: A First Attempt to Consider the use of Photographs in Art Therapy by Mark Wheeler

• What your home says about you by Dr. Linda Papadopoulos