This Is Us Sessions | Capturing the Beautiful Chaos of Everyday Childhood in St. Louis

The Moments You'll Miss Most Aren't Usually the Perfectly Posed Ones

When you imagine the photos you'll treasure years from now, it probably isn't the perfectly posed smile.

It's the way your toddler ran through the yard wearing cowboy boots with shorts. The way they carried their favorite toy everywhere they went. The way they laughed when you sang their favorite song for the hundredth time that day.

Those are the moments that make up childhood.

Those are the moments This Is Us Sessions are designed to capture.

What Is a This Is Us Session?

A This Is Us Session is less about posing and more about documenting your family's real life.

Maybe that's:

• Running through the sprinkler on a hot summer day

• Baking cookies together in the kitchen

• Swimming at your favorite pool

• Exploring a creek

• Picking flowers

• Reading books before bedtime

• Playing with favorite toys

• Snuggling on the couch

Instead of directing every movement, I simply follow along and document the magic that's already there.

These sessions are relaxed, playful, and child-led.

A Recent Session That Stole My Heart

Recently, I photographed an adorable two-year-old little boy who was absolutely obsessed with Toy Story.

For twenty minutes, we simply let him play.

There were no complicated poses. No pressure to smile. No expectations.

We sang songs, followed his lead, and let him explore his world.

In just twenty minutes, we created over 100 beautiful images that perfectly captured who he is right now.

His excitement. His curiosity. His personality.

His mom later told me she cried when she saw the gallery.

Not because the photos were perfect.

But because they captured a season of life she knows will be gone far too quickly.

The toys will change.

The little voice will grow.

The toddler cheeks will disappear.

But now she has photographs that bring her right back to this moment.

Why These Sessions Matter

Children change faster than we realize.

One day they're carrying Woody and Buzz everywhere they go.

The next day they're headed off to school.

Then suddenly they're asking for the car keys.

As parents, we're often so busy living these moments that we forget to preserve them.

This Is Us Sessions freeze those fleeting seasons before they slip away.

Ideas for Your Own This Is Us Session

Not sure what your family would do?

Here are some favorite ideas:

For Toddlers

• Playing with favorite toys

• Splashing in puddles

• Sidewalk chalk

• Bubble play

• Visiting a playground

• Feeding ducks

For Families

• Family game night

• Backyard campfire

• Gardening together

• Ice cream outing

• Family picnic

• Evening walk

For Older Kids

• Baking

• Sports practice

• Fishing

• Reading together

• Craft projects

• Bike rides

The best activity is usually something your family already loves doing.

St. Louis Lifestyle Photography That Feels Like You

These sessions are perfect for families who want more than traditional portraits.

They are for parents who want to remember:

• The missing front teeth

• The favorite stuffed animal

• The way their child laughs

• The messy curls

• The tiny hands

• The everyday moments that mean everything

Years from now, these are the photographs that will transport you back to this season of life.

Ready to Document Your Family's Story?

Childhood moves fast.

Don't wait until the season has passed to wish you had photographs of it.

Let's capture your family's story exactly as it is right now—beautiful, messy, joyful, and completely yours.

This Is Us Sessions
✔ 45-minute lifestyle session
✔ Child-led and relaxed
✔ Location of your choice
✔ Approximately 45 edited images
✔ Perfect for families, toddlers, and documenting everyday life

I'd love to help you preserve this season before it becomes a memory.

Book Your This Is Us Session Today

Let's capture the moments you'll never want to forget.

Terri Anne To the Moon and Back Photography & Doula Services
Serving St. Louis, Cedar Hill, Jefferson County, and surrounding areas.