Portraits of Your Child

Portraits of Your Child - More Than Just Pictures

As the trusted name in portrait photography in the Albury/Wodonga region, Artisan House of Photography has helped many families over the years celebrate some of their most cherished milestones.

We have shared the power of the printed portrait.

Increasingly, psychologists and parenting experts are saying what parents themselves have known all along: Photography plays an important role in promoting children’s healthy self-esteem. It’s a role that we are proud to embrace.

Dr. David Walsh, founder and director of Mind Positive Parenting, describes the origins of self-esteem theory, addresses some commonly held misconceptions, recommended what parents can do to build healthy self-esteem in their children, and shared some fascinating brain science facts about why portrait photography plays such an important role in building positive self-esteem in children.

It’s probably not surprising that a sense of belonging plays a central role in fostering healthy brain development in children. “With that sense of belonging comes security” says Dr. Walsh.

The importance of connection plays out in different ways and can take many forms. There are several ways that parents can reinforce a strong sense of belonging throughout childhood:

• Forming friendships based on common interests creates strong bonds that serve them well into adulthood. For some kids it’s sports, or music, or science.

• Children should try as many interests as possible so they can see which ones they really like.

• It’s important to remember that the first, and most important, team they belong to is their family.

According to Dr. Walsh, that is why photographs of children — be they school, team or family photographs — help them establish a deep and unshakable sense of belonging. He says, “One of the reasons that photography is so powerful is that we’re a very visual species. We have, of course, five senses but we have more brain cells dedicated to vision than all of the other senses combined.” For that reason, Walsh says, printed images are particularly powerful in reinforcing one’s sense of belonging.

We are also reminded that it’s not just children who get a boost of self-esteem from photography. Portraits serve as important markers of milestones in everyone’s lives. “When we see photographs of ourselves at celebrations or family events, they reinforce belonging, which is so critical to all of us, not just our children.” Photographs are an important part of a family history.

David Walsh, Ph.D., is the author of Why Do They Act That Way? A Survival Guide to the Adolescent Brain for You and Your Teen and No: Why Kids — of All Ages — Need to Hear It and Ways Parents Can Say It. His latest book is Smart Parenting, Smarter Kids: The One Brain Book You Need to Help Your Child Grow Brighter, Healthier, and Happier. He also founded, and is former director of, the National Institute on Media and the Family, now part of Minneapolis-based Search Institute, an organization whose mission is to advance the well-being of adolescents and children. You can read more of Dr David Walsh’s research here: http://drdavewalsh.com