The Days of Grace - Photographing Children's "Stages"

I am surprised when I hear parents say things like "I want to get family portraits taken, but I'm waiting for her front teeth to come in", or "he's at such an awkward stage right now - shouldn't I wait to get pictures taken until he matures a little bit?".  

I have always loved taking pictures of kids when they are in a very specific "stage". Why? Because it doesn't last forever. That's the whole point in documenting it. Gaps in their teeth, awkward smiles, gangly arms and legs - that's who they are, and that's what I love to capture. 

Last night, I photographed a family of three that were such good sports. Not only was it about 90 degrees out, the humidity was insane, and family portraits wouldn't be at the top of anyone's list.  

When we started the session, this little boy had his pet dog "Grace" with him.  I asked him to go sit on a bench, and one of his parents said "Oh, but leave Grace here. She doesn't want to be in any pictures." As a parent paying for portraits, I'd be tempted to say the same thing, but I could see his hesitancy in having to part with her while trying something new.  Additionally, this is a stage, and I think it's important to capture it, so I told him to go ahead and keep Grace with him. 

Some day, in the not so distant future, Grace will be relegated to the foot of his bed, and then his closet, and then a box somewhere. His parents will fondly recall the Days of Grace, and wish even for a moment that they could see him standing there in the evening sun embracing his pup, unsure of what to do or say.

Now they can and always will.