Yesterday I got the gumption to finally get our pictures taken for a Christmas card. Until this point, I had been telling myself that Valentines or even New Years cards are perfectly acceptable. But suddenly, that wasn’t good enough. I wanted to be in contact now, with all the people that we aren’t going to see at Christmas, people we miss, people we love, while nostalgia is making the connection stronger.
So, I spent my morning at Target finding suitable shirts for everyone, ones without tears or stains or logos. Then, when the kids got home from school, I bathed everyone, brushed hair, curled mine, stressed, primped, planned. I called my good friend Kathi and she promised to show up at 4, Dave promised to come home from work… we were going to ROCK this photo.
I guess I didn’t realize how late stinking 4 o’clock is in the winter. By the time we all got out the door, we had about 15 minutes of good light. While I’ve always understood how the moms at my sessions can sometimes get a little uptight, I forget how hard it is to fight that frustration! It took me a good half-hour to calm down after all that, I ended it feeling upset and sure that after all that work, we didn’t have much to work with. Sophia was being a stinker, the kids were running everywhere, Franklin wanted to be held and followed me around crying, and my second chin and spare tire would not stay hidden. I’m sure I put extra pressure on myself… what kind of photographer am I if my own family pictures stink?
Anyway, we did get some that are pretty good. I’m not going to share the decent ones, those might turn up on my Christmas card. But here are my favorite out-takes:
9 Comments
Call me weird, but I’d use the nose digging one. It’s hilarious. BTW, did you know they cast the actors for Bella and Edward. It’s on the Stephenie Meyer website. Just thought you’d be interested.
Right on Sopie…
I meant Sophie. ha ha
Man, Matt is quite the jumper.
I’m sure they’re fine.
It’s not as if you’re critical on yourself or anything…..
You crack me up. It can’t be that hard to take a perfect picture with 6 people in it (sense the sarcasm). Ours sucked.
Shannon! You look like a hot babe with curled hair. (I am straight, I swear!) I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like that at church! I’m so glad we had you as a photographer! Our family pictures came out fabulous this year!
Shannon! You look like a hot babe with curled hair. (I am straight, I swear!) I don’t think I’ve ever seen it like that at church! I’m so glad we had you as a photographer! Our family pictures came out fabulous this year!
I feel your pain!
I tried to take pictures of my oldest and her fiance…they were late in the day, she kept fussing with her hair, he isn’t a ’smiler’ which ’she’ didn’t like…50 plus shots later and of course ’she’ wasn’t happy ’cause ’she’ looked fat…OY! Needless to say…I am not a photographer and clueless about Photoshop…
Which is ANOTHER reason to shout “Pick me!” for your photo give-away.
ps
happy birthday to your dad!
Ha ha. I think they look GREAT! And give yourself a break, you do amazing work AND you are a normal wonderful mom with normal wonderful kids who will act accordingly when they want to. I think “out takes” are the best pictures of all, they speak the loudest and they are the ones that usually start all the fun conversations of “Remember this one???” If only my pics turned out so great! I love them! Make sure you post all your good ones on here too, for all of us to see and oh and ah over!