Hey Reader—
You’re filming the wrong thing.
You’re filming the parade… but missing your kids watching it.
On Wednesday, the 5 of us loaded into the car and took a road trip to the happiest place on earth. 🏰✨🐭👑
Today is Day 2 at Disneyland…
Hopper pass day → California Adventure.
⏮️ Let me rewind for a second…
A few weeks ago, my parents celebrated their 30th anniversary.
So we surprised them.
We dug through all their old VHS tapes and stitched together a movie—
telling the story of their last 30 years together.
Tears were involved. (Of course.)
And in the middle of all that?
We found HOURS of footage from Disneyland.
Adam was 9.
I was 7.
Caitee was 3.
Baby Daniel—1 year old in the stroller.
My parents were young with their hands so full.
And my dad carried that camcorder everywhere. I remember it. 📽️
But here’s what got me.
Watching it back 20+ years later…
I caught myself thinking—
“Dad… I don’t care about the parade. I want to see more of us.”
I wanted:
Adam and I in our little autographed hats
Our lanyards with trading pins (and our emergency contact info—my mom drilled into us 😅)
I wanted to see my mom pushing the stroller down Main Street, juggling snacks, jackets, and timing everything around Cinderella’s schedule.
I wanted to see my dad in his long shorts, fanny pack, Blackberry clipped to his belt—smiling behind the camera.
That’s the part I missed.
That’s the part that mattered.
And that’s what I’m reminding myself of today.
Because yes—the castle is beautiful.
(And yes, I’ll absolutely be snapping a photo when Elsa makes an appearance ❄️)
But the bulk of my camera roll?
It’s us.
If you take nothing else from this email, take this:
👉🏼 Don’t just document where you are, document who you’re there with.
(Psssttt … that’s the real Disney magic. ✨)
I made you something super simple you can screenshot:
A “Storytelling in Your Everyday Photos” guide
So you know exactly what to look for—in real time.
Use it at Disney, the zoo, your backyard…
And if you’re thinking—
“Okay… but I would love for someone to capture this for me, so I'm in the photos…”
That’s what I do.
Grab your spot at my last Spring mini session day at Queen Creek Wash on May 9th →
Because 20 years from now, it won’t be the castle you miss—
it’ll be them. 🫶🏼
Warmly,
P.S.
Going to Disneyland soon? Snag this free shot list.
