Love is in the air! Perhaps you’ll celebrate this Valentine’s Day with your partner, or your children, or your best friend(s), or your favorite pet…no matter who is on your list of people to show a little extra love to this Valentine’s Day, here are just a few of my favorite ideas to make February 14th a little more fun and thoughtful…(read to the end to find out how to win a special Valentine’s photo session giveaway…HINT HINT the direction are in #14!)

1- Schedule a Photo Shoot

Scheduling a photo shoot may not be everyone’s go to when thinking about how to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but (in my opinion) it ranks at the top of the list. Taking the time to be photographed with people you love and knowing that you get to capture that love just as it looks and feels right now is a gift that keeps on giving for years and years to come. Maybe this year you schedule a couple shoot only (and if you have kids leave them behind for the afternoon)…or maybe you plan to have the kids photographed alone and give the photos as gifts to your spouse…or perhaps you schedule a special pet session to show off your furry or feathered friend…or grab your best friend(s) and schedule a special themed Valentine’s photo session. Think hearts and chocolates and sparkles and let’s make a date to show off the ones you love in photos.

2- Stay in for a Movie Night

Snuggling up for a movie night with my spouse (and my kids) is one of my very favorite things to do…some of favorite date nights ever included browsing the aisles at Blockbuster and choosing the perfect movie to take home and watch together. (Personally, I would love to go back to that way of movie viewing where the physical act of choosing a movie together felt more intentional than just scrolling through the countless streaming apps.) But let me offer a few favorites that will make Valentine’s movie snuggling even more enjoyable…

About Time: I cannot say enough good things about this movie. We have been big fans since it first came out and watch it at least once every year. If you haven’t seen it, make this your must watch this Valentine’s (and if you have seen it, probably time to watch it again)!

Rome and Juliet: Watched this movie in theaters when I was 15 and goodness I love this movie. My son watched this movie for the first time in his 9th grade English class and could not agree with me less about my rave reviews for the movie. Maybe you had to be 15 when it came out? No idea, but I will forever love this movie and Valentine’s Day feels appropriately timed to watch it again.

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days: I just watched this movie with my 13 year old daughter and she absolutely loved it and told me “movies were just made better then!” Pretty high praise from a middle school girl if you ask me. Putting this movie out there as a fun mother/daughter Valentine’s special.

We Bought A Zoo: Probably not on the list for many people when they think of Valentine’s Day movies, but here me out…Our family recently watched this movie twice in one night. The 1st showing was with our younger 2 kids aged 9 and 11. The movie ended right when our big 2 (aged 13 and 15) got home and after telling them how much we loved it, they told us to start it over and so the 2nd showing began as the younger 2 siblings went to bed. It’s heartwarming and light and full of not having it all together as a parent but trying your hardest to raise good kids and show them the biggest love you can.

3- Cook a Homemade Dinner

You may prefer going out for dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but in our house we have a tradition where my spouse spends way too much on groceries and cooks a fabulous dinner at home (that maybe we could have eaten out for the same price, but where’s the fun in that?). I won’t offer any recipes here because I’m not the chef of the night, but I personally love this 23 year tradition we have going.

4- Order an Acrylic Block Print

A photo print of any kind is always a good gift to give, but the acrylic block print (the one in the middle of the photo) really does show off and gives an elegant feel to any image. It looks beautiful on a table top or significantly placed on a bookshelf. Print one from your newly scheduled Valentine’s session or from any past photo session with me.

5- Go on a Day Trip

Valentine’s Day 2026 is on a Saturday this year, which makes it very easy to take a little day trip somewhere to spend extra time with your favorite person/people. If you’re in the Greensboro area might I suggest a day in the mountains? (That’s where we will be spending Valentine’s this year!)

6- Purchase a Photo Album from your Last Photo Session

Hands down my favorite way to display and save all my favorite images year after year. There’s not enough wall space or table top space in every home for all your favorite images and an heirloom style album is the perfect way to beautifully show off those images. Crafted to last a lifetime and sure to make your heart flutter each time you pull it out to thumb through its pages.

7- Plan a Weekend Getaway

Maybe it’s not a trip on actual Valentine’s, but perhaps you spend your day planning your next getaway together (as a couple or as family or with your besties!)! My daughter asked me this morning if we had any upcoming travel plans, so perhaps that’s what I’ll be thinking about this Valentine’s Day too.

8- Make Handmade Valentine’s Cards

This might be more for the kids, but I’m a big fan of Valentine’s cards including something other than candy. When it comes to my kids, I have them pick out some random fidget or party favor and we make Valentine themed cards based off of the chosen items. One of my favorites kids Valentine’s, was when my oldest was in 4th grade and was super into making origami. So, he wrote out the instructions for making a paper origami Yoda and printed them off for each person in his class. (You’re welcome to try this on your own at home!)

9 – Print a Gallery Wall Display

There’s no right way to display your images, just make sure that you print them and show them off somewhere. For me, I have a gallery wall going up our stairs, I have multiple galleries walls that keep growing in my home office, I have an entire den covered in kids framed art and mixed with photos through the years…clearly I’m a big fan of this style to show off your favorite images.

10- Have a Game Night

This idea courtesy of my 9 year old when I asked her her favorite way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Admittedly, we do like to play games in this house. Some recent favorites include Sequence, Telestrations (do this one with family of all ages…we loved playing this with grandparents), Spoons, Golf, Chunky Monkey Business, Texas Hold’em (although my 15 year old hates when I play because I’m secretly very good but don’t take it seriously enough for his standards)…would love to know any family favorites you have!

11- Go on a Hike

Maybe hiking is not your thing, but similar to the idea of a day trip…a local hike or a destination hike has a way of connecting you to one another as you walk through beautiful places. Personalities are sure to come out and there is nothing but time for great conversation with people you love. Our dog Wally is also a huge fan of hikes and might like it more than the rest of us. Personally I recommend any hike with a waterfall or grand view at the top (makes it all seem more worth it somehow).

12- Order Deckled Edge Prints

Another stunning way to print your images is on this hand torn deckled edged papers. I’m a huge fan of texture and papers. When we lived in NYC, I would travel from the Upper West Side to Chelsea to visit my favorite paper store and just wander the aisles gawking at all the various paper choices. There is just something so beautiful about a deckled edge that truly elevates the image itself and also offers you so many more interesting framing choices.

13- Spend the Day with Your Best Friends

Whomever you call “best” in your life. Spend this Valentine’s Day reminding them that you care about them. Yes, Valentine’s Day is a made up holiday, but it’s a good reminder to be a little cheesy or a little romantic or just a tiny bit extra on Valentine’s Day (and every day). Hug your favorites a little tighter, make an extra phone call to those who live out of town, write cute notes, linger over coffee a little longer, eat all the chocolates and just have fun having fun together.

14- ENTER TO WIN A LOVED THEMED PHOTO SESSION!

Just for fun…and to share a little love this Valentine’s Day, I’m giving away an afternoon themed photo session with me. To enter, simply comment below with your favorite Valentine’s Gift or Tradition. I can’t wait to read your favorite things. I’ll choose the winner on February 13th!