The Hall of Shame: Why Family Photos Matter More Than We Realize

Every family has that hallway. Ours was lovingly (and a little dramatically) known as “The Hall of Shame.” I didn’t realize it then, but that mismatched, crooked, slightly embarrassing collection of prints would someday teach me why family photos are important—not because they were perfect, but because they told our story one frame at a time. Every family has that hallway.

You know the one—frames collected over the years, photos hung a little crooked, an odd mixture of decades, hairstyles, questionable outfits, and sibling attitudes. Ours was lovingly (and a little dramatically) known as “The Hall of Shame.”

When I was growing up, I used to walk past that hallway every single day. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. They were just photos—some truly embarrassing ones, if we’re being honest. But now, as a mother myself, I see it differently:

It wasn’t a hallway. It was a timeline.

A living record of who we were becoming. A reminder of seasons that slipped by quicker than we realized. A collection of the little moments that shaped us.

And now? I’m building my own “Hall of Shame.”

Why Family Photos Are Important (And Why Your Hallway Tells the Truth)

As a photographer, I talk a lot about lighting and styling and composition—but the truth is, the feeling matters most. Looking back, my parents weren’t obsessing over Pinterest-perfect outfits or “clean edits” (pretty sure the film lab rotated one of our prints the wrong way one year… and they still hung it!).

They just wanted to remember.

And as adults, we cling to those memories because:

1. Kids change overnight.
One day they’re tiny toddlers with sticky cheeks; the next, you’re dropping them off at high school. Photos freeze the in-between—the parts we don’t realize we’ll miss until they’re gone.

2. We don’t remember everything… but photos help us try.
Our brains blur the details. The photos bring back the sound of their laugh, the way their hair curled, the stage where they wore princess dresses every day.

3. Family photos tell your story long after the moment passes.
Your kids will value these images more than you realize. They become part of your family history—something they can pass on.

4. You deserve to exist in the memories too.
Most moms are behind the camera, not in the photo. One day, your children will look for pictures of you with them. Let them find them.

My Hallway Today

My hallway now looks… well, honestly? It’s not much different from the one I grew up with.
A little chaotic.
A little mismatched.
A whole lot imperfect.

But every time I walk through it, I feel grounded.

I remember the days when life felt extra loud or extra heavy. I remember the seasons when we were exhausted, but somehow still laughing. I remember how small my girls once were. These photos have become my daily reminder that the chaos was beautiful all along.

If I had childhood hallway photos available, I’d drop a few here — but since most were taken in the era of film, flash cubes, and questionable 90s bangs, here are a few favorites from my own kids’ hallway:

Why You Should Make Your Own Hall of Shame

Not every photo needs to be perfect to be meaningful.
Not every session needs to be styled to perfection.

What really matters is showing up.

Being in the frame.
Loving your people.
Letting someone else document it for you.

One day, your kids will walk through their childhood home — or look through the photo books you made — and they’ll feel what you feel now:
These were the days.

Ready to Start Your Own Hallway Story?

If reading this made you realize how quickly time is moving, I’d love to help you freeze a little of it.

Book your family session here → [connect] or join the email list to book when the time is right.

Whether your kids are in the wild toddler stage, the awkward tooth-gap stage, or the teenager-who-smirks-but-secretly-loves-you stage… these photos matter more than we realize.

Let’s tell your story — the real, imperfect, beautiful one.