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From Moments to Milestones

Marin Lens
FROM MOMENTS TO MILESTONES

By: Amelia Plumb | September 2, 2025

Every season of life brings its own rhythm — quiet stretches, busy schedules, and everything in between. As a photographer of 16 years, I’ve learned that growth doesn’t just happen in the “big” moments — the graduations, Mitzvah’s, or milestone birthdays. It’s just as present in the tiny, in-between moments that often slip by unnoticed… unless we take the time to capture them.

A photograph has the power to freeze what the mind can’t hold forever — the way your child’s hair curls at the nape of their neck, two missing front teeth, or the chaos of a family kitchen that’s somehow more love than mess. Years from now, those images will do more than remind you of what someone looked like, they’ll bring you back to who you all were in that season.

The magic is in how photographs let us re-live our growth. You can see it in the gap-toothed grin that becomes a confident smile, the sleepy newborn who becomes a wiggly toddler, and the couple who starts out shy in front of the camera and ends the session laughing together like teenagers. Our lives are full of these transformations, but we rarely notice them in real time — it’s only when we look back that the change takes our breath away.

Small moments matter just as much as milestones. In fact, sometimes they matter more. Those are the threads that weave together the bigger picture of our lives. When we choose to document them — with our phones, with our cameras, or through a professional session — we give ourselves the gift of remembering, long after the details might have faded.

And here’s the thing: those moments deserve a place of honor, just as much as the big ones. Creating an album or a little coffee table book lets those memories live where you can see them, touch them, and revisit them anytime. There’s something special about flipping through pages, feeling the weight of the memories in your hands. Kids especially love photo books — it’s a way for them to see their own story, to feel important, and to know they’re part of something bigger. Imagine a book dedicated to each of your children, filled with their own little milestones and everyday adventures. Or just one day captured, that tells a story from waking up to going to bed. They’ll treasure it now and maybe even more as the years go by.

This season, let’s not just take the photos — let’s make them last.

You know the ones… your kid’s crinkly nose laugh, the freckles that only show up in summer, or the way the light hits your living room just right. These are the everyday bits that tell the real story.

If you’re wondering what to do with all those photos piling up on your phone, I’m happy to share a few of my favorite easy (and affordable) book-making sites. They’re perfect for flipping through with your kids or setting out on the coffee table so those memories don’t just live in the cloud.

I’ve been photographing families for over 16 years, and I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is to have your story printed and visible — not just saved somewhere, but celebrated.

Amelia Plumb is a Marin-based lifestyle photographer with over 15 years of experience capturing families, seniors, and small businesses. She was recently named Best of Marin Photographer by Marin Magazine. Amelia is also a mom of two teen daughters and believes that the best photos come from real moments. When she’s not behind the camera, you’ll find her gardening, walking the trails of Mt. Tam, or creating colorful art with 35mm film. You can find her work at ameliaplumb.com or on Instagram @ameliaplumbphotography.