Is there a secret formula to creating and fostering family happiness? Can we somehow bottle it? An interesting blog post was written by Eric Barker, “6 things the happiest families all have in common.” As a specialist in family pictures in the Reston, VA area, we are always interacting with families – happily, we might add. However, if this fellow knew something we did not, we wanted to hear it!

Alas, there isn’t a magic formula to ensure your family’s happiness. There are, however, some key things families can do in the pursuit of collective and individual happiness. The article offered six reasonable and achievable tips based on scientific research, according to Barker.

As a photography studio, we love to work closely with our clients to produce extraordinary family portraits. Building relationships with them, and getting to know them moves us closer to better and better pictures. This is one reason we take the time to write this blog! Here are a few tips offered in the blog post worth reading. They certainly got us thinking.

1. Dinner time matters: There’s a lot of research indicating that families who eat dinner (really any meal) together are less likely to produce children who drink, do drugs, smoke, get pregnant, commit suicide, or develop eating disorders. According to the article (and others we have read), families eating at least one meal a day together have children with “larger vocabularies, better manners, healthier diets, and higher self-esteem.” It doesn’t matter which meal you sit down to enjoy with your children. Just pick at least one a day.

2. Roots: Children familiar with their family history and family narrative possess a stronger “sense of control over their lives, the higher their self-esteem, and the more successfully they believed their families functioned.” Photography helps provide families with a sense of real history and roots. Photos passed down through the generations recall relatives long gone but still remembered. Today’s family photos convey to children a sense of family. In the future, those same photos become real memories and are examples of roots. Photos can be invaluable in a family’s narrative and story.

3. Stress: Parental stress affects your children. One survey found that children asked what wish they wanted for their parents, the children overwhelmingly said they wanted their parents to be less stressed.

4. Check lists: Families creating checklists are happier. It’s best to write lists of things that tend to go wrong such as packing for trips, grocery store visits, school supplies, etc. Checklists help a family stay on track without stressing over the possibility of forgetting something. Check it out!

5. Let kids make some decisions: “Scientists have found that kids who plan their own time, set weekly goals, and evaluate their work build up their prefrontal cortex and other parts of the brain that help them exert greater cognitive control over their lives. These so-called executive skills aid children with self-discipline, avoiding distractions, and weighing the pros and cons of their choices.”

6. Grandma makes a difference: Study after study shows that children who spend time with their grandmothers have less stress, are better adjusted, have better manners, and tend to be more compassionate.

Although we instinctively knew some of these, we found them all very interesting! We hope you did as well.

If you are ready to schedule family pictures this summer, contact our studios near Reston, VA. Add to your family’s happiness with family portraits!

Family Photographer, Family Pictures

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Reston, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
 
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
 
Best,
 
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
 
Professional Photographer

Our business may be focused on providing professional pictures for families throughout Northern VA, including Dulles, VA and Brambleton, VA, BUT we also love to eat!! We wanted to share this amazing list with you from Thrillist, “The Best International Eats in the DMV.”

These restaurants are the real thing, truly authentic.

Here a couple from the list that we’re thinking about visiting:

Los Hermanos, Dominican, in Columbia Heights, D.C.: I might be brave and try the oxtail!

El Chalan, Peruvian, in Foggy Bottom/Arlington, VA: Can you say ceviche? Yum!

Huong Viet, Vietnamese, in Fairfax, VA: Pho all around, please!

Get the full list here on Thrillist, The Best International Eats in the DMV.

Professional Photographer, Professional Pictures

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located in Dulles, VA, near Brambleton, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.

Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.

Best,

Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!

Professional Photographer

Photographers will tell you that there’s so much more to Maryland than Baltimore or nearby Washington, DC or our backyard of Leesburg, VA! If you haven’t set out to explore any of these nine small towns, you could be missing out. They run the gamut from waterfront to sleepy town. Grab your car keys and get going! Don’t forget your camera!

Ellicott City:

This reportedly “haunted” town is situated between Baltimore and DC. From its stone mill buildings to it shopping and a brewpub, you can’t go wrong in this town that has retained much of its historic charm.
If you’re a whiskey lover, check out Judge’s more than 250 varieties.

Berlin:

Not quite like its namesake in Germany, it’s still worth a visit for its architecture and natural setting. Often overlooked by beachgoers heading to the Coast, those who do stop will find historic buildings and a relaxed feeling to this small town. Check out Toy Town Antiques or the old Globe Theater dating back to 1917. The Runaway Bride and Tuck Everlasting both filmed here and no wonder! It’s beautiful!

Hampstead:

If you love photography and history, grab your camera when you visit Hampstead where you can travel back in time along Main St. Hampstead. Stately colonial homes, historic police station, and antique shops dot the small downtown. History buffs will enjoy the Civil War markers throughout town that will take you up to Gettysburg an hour north.

Crisfield:

You can’t go any further south without ending up in Chesapeake Bay. Bordered by Tangier Sound and the Pocomoke River, this is a water-lover’s paradise. It’s referred to as the “crab capital of the world” (we haven’t confirmed this claim, but you can try)! There’s every water sport including fishing, marsh sanctuaries, maritime museums, and, believe it or not, a crab derby every Labor Day! Don’t forget to try the hard blue crabs while in town – to eat, not race!

Eastport:

So near, and yet so far! Eastport is just over the bridge with a far more laid-back feel than Annapolis. You won’t lack for history or beauty here, though. You’ll enjoy the view back toward Annapolis in this town with a resort-like feel. Plenty to do in town from kayak rentals to the Annapolis Maritime Museum and oyster festivals.

Takoma Park:

This might be a DC suburb, but you leave everything behind in this hippie-vibe town. There’s vegetarian-friendly restaurants, vintage clothing stores, yoga studios, and music shops. If that doesn’t sound granola enough for you, check out their annual jazz and folk festivals.

Havre de Grace:

Halfway between Baltimore and Wilmington, Havre de Grace is like a mini New England beach town. From it’s own boardwalk to its newly restored Concord Point Lighthouse. If you love duck decoys, you’ll love the Maritime Museum or Decoy Museum filled with nearly 3,000 wooden decoy ducks.

Monkton:

Drive 20 minutes out from Baltimore toward Monkton and you’ll hit horse country. Stately homes dating to the 1800’s, along with gorgeous countryside and horse farms make up this town. In the summer, you can rent an inner tube and float down the Gunpowder Falls.

Oakland:

This is Oakland, MD, not Oakland, CA – so there’s a big difference. If you love fall colors, head here. There are 54ft waterfalls gush in between the lush autumn leaves at Swallow Falls State Park. Deep Creek Lake here is the state’s largest body of water and a good place to jet ski, go boating, and tubing. Downton Oakland offers art, books, and an old fashioned ice cream parlor in an antique-filled shop.

For must-eat foods and more info on these 9 Towns, follow this Thrillist link.

For more information on traveling in Maryland, follow this link to VisitMaryland.org.

As Leesburg, VA area family photographers, we’re always interested in hearing about previously not visited places in our state and our neighboring states. If you find or know of any special spots, we’d love to hear about them!

Family Photographers

Ever After Portraits is comprised of Mindy Belcher and Joriana Belcher Anderson, a mother-daughter portrait photography team located near Leesburg, VA in Northern Virginia. We specialize in timeless and emotive fine art family portraits.
 
Family means everything and capturing those precious moments to preserve forever will mean family heirlooms for you to share for years to come.
 
Best,
 
Mindy & Joriana – Contact Us!
 
Professional Photographer