Mom is often the one preserving everyone else’s memories—but she deserves to be part of them, too. Here’s why you don’t need to wait until you feel ready to step into the family photographs.

The photographs I love most often happen a few seconds after the “perfect” one—when everyone stops posing, the kids start laughing, and your family simply becomes themselves.

If you’ve ever said, “I’m awkward in photos,” you’re not alone. Here’s what I wish every mom knew about posing, confidence, and finally getting in the photograph.