Torture by Camera

 
Ah, there are few things quite so fun as playing in autumn leaves. 

 
...And there are few things as torturous to our family as a family portrait session.  Family photos = torture.  Simple as that.  Steve is adversely affected for several months, but at least the kids recover quickly...no visible scars or anything.  I should have had them play in the leaves FIRST, and then they probably would have been in better spirits for the camera-on-a-tripod-with-a-timer session.

 
I don't know what it is about trying to get everyone together and smiling at a beeping camera on a tripod, but it is sheer agony for everyone.  Right up there with toothpicks under fingernails (eew...okay, not really.  But close!)  The stress of getting everyone ready (and smiling) takes years off my life, I'm tellin' ya...and it's all Steve can do to grimace his way through my countless renditions of "Okay, let's try it again...and this time, sit up straight, look at the camera, and try not to yawn/close your eyes/turn away/pick your nose/hit your sibling or burst out crying, okay?"

 
 Note the glazed looks of masked agony on Steve's and my faces.  :-)  At least Hyrum looked happy to be there! 

 I really need to learn how to use photoshop so I can cut and paste everyone's best expression into one photo.  Until then, how about a vote:  do you like the first family picture better or the second one?  Neither one is perfect but then, neither are we so hey - it's all good, right?

 

Since it was a very chilly day I only made them do one pose (I had planned on spending quite a bit of time taking more candid versions of us walking along gorgeous leaf-strewn paths and stopping by the lake, but that was just not meant to be), and once again it came down to "Well, we took about 50 frames, surely there's one in there somewhere in which we're all looking halfway decent...that'll have to do because everyone is SO ready to be done!" 

Good times, good times. 

 

Next time I'm going to be joining the kids in the leaf-throwing festivities...why on earth didn't I think of doing that for the official family photo?  Guess I'll have to try again next year - because there's no way I'm going to be able to convince them to do it again anytime soon! 

By the way, thanks so much for all your kind comments about the Christmas tree - I'm so glad you like it.  Guess I'd better stop writing and start working on those tutorials for the ornaments like I promised! 

Comments

[April Howard]

I think I like #2 the best, but they're both good :) At least you're done for another year!

[Katie]

I like the first one better. I feel your pain in getting everyone to cooperate for family pictures. John is the worst one, but he had better get used to it. I'm not about to stop wanting family pictures!

[Edith Songer]

Originally I liked the first one better. Then I waffled. Now I'm no help to you. They are both great. In our family, we tend to choose the one where the kids look the goofiest, just to keep it real.

[Edith Songer]

I'm glad to hear there's another dad out there who hates the family photo scene. It's bad enough fighting the kids, but. . .

[Stacey]

Oh my, oh my! Where have you been all my life, or my Virginia life I should say! A little birdy told me you were talented, but wow! You are smoking mama!! I don't think we have "officially" meet...Stacey, from church. I own a girls party business in Occoquan if that rings a bell? I would love nothing more than to get to know you better and talk "crafty" "creative" craziness w/ you!!

[Michele Mendenhall]

I think I like the first one better, however they turned out very well for using a timer. We should have been thinking and gone while I was there, I could have pushed the button.

[Ann Inman]

Great pictures. I just can't believe those kids are that old. Has it been that long since you moved away? It seems that as we get older, we can't keep up with time as easily. I also love your site. Happy holidays!

[Denise]

Beautiful family:-D