We’ve all done it - come to the end of a vacation and realize the only good photo of the family on the trip has everyone squinting into the sun to look at the camera and lets be honest: It’s not going to make it on your wall.

I like to make a yearly scrapbook of adventures our family has taken, and I am always trying to improve my photos to have a more editorial feel. I want to show the behind the scenes and the real experience of the trip, not just the “smile and say cheese” photos.

So today I want to walk you through how I get great behind the scenes images to bring the memories of vacation alive whether its through a photo book, printed photograph, or just your instagram!

Should you take your own family's photos? As a working photographer I say - go for it!

Pro-photography is not always the right fit for every family at every point. Sometimes you just need to do it yourself to save a few dollars or help get your kids over their fear of the camera. Whether its for the holidays or just because, you really can do it yourself - here are a few tips to help you get a great shot you’ll be proud to share, and maybe even frame! Read on to find out how to set yourself up for success, and see a few of my family’s own DIY photos.

They say death is a part of life.

And yet, we see the beauty of each morning.