Most families are so busy nowadays; children are busy with their own social circle and school, parents are always working, and grandparents have their own lives and health to think about. At times, even if everybody lives in the same property, they do not even see each other and spend more quality time together. It’s like every member is an aggregate — physically present, and yet mentally and emotionally tuned out. It’s quite a sad situation when physical “closeness” also fails at holding family members together. It presents so many negative effects that compromise not just the integrity of the unit but also every individual’s development. The feeling of loneliness also impacts health in ways most people do not even recognize. But the good thing is that all of these can be properly addressed and corrected. With commitment and effort, the real essence of family can be restored. Action for Happiness, a movement for positive social change, presents a bounty of solutions for those people who want happiness and more joy out of life. It offers studies and suggestions on how people can reconnect with their loved ones and develop stronger relationships that will allow all of them to realise their fullest potential as individuals contributing to a much bigger goal, and of course, become so much happier. One of the simple activities that people can bet on to reconnect them with significant people in their lives is engaging in family portrait photography. The experience and the end result present so many values that can prompt positive change. When people gather in one place for one specific goal, unity is fostered. Likewise, the typical dynamics of a photo session where everybody is assigned a place to stand in represents and reinforces their role within the unit, reminding them that they are truly a part of something bigger. What happens when people are reminded that they are indeed a part of something bigger than themselves is they come to acknowledge that not only are they responsible for their own lives but they can impact the lives of other people as well. This creates in them a higher sense of selfworth and confidence to “be something in the life of another.” A family portrait is the perfect representation of this connection; every little thing – happiness, joy, accomplishment – that happens to one person affects another and creates something much bigger and more powerful. Likewise, family pictures also allow people to connect to a cherished memory easily; this is one of the reasons why so many people, in times of emergency, would actually rescue family photos first instead of other personal possessions. At Gap Studios, the professional photographers are dedicated to making family portrait photography an event to celebrate connections, as well as making the final outcome of the event a strong reminder of the real good things in life. So if you’re struggling to reconnect with your family, this activity is definitely worth the time and financial investment to put together — harness all its great benefits with the help of professionals who truly understand its value.