Saturday, December 13, 2008

The great family photo debate

It's the most wonderful time of the year...family photo time! The experience that can either be rewarding or a weird way to torture those you love the most. After I told one of my relatives I'd found the perfect solution for us this year- take a picture of JUST the kids- she commented that she was always disappointed to receive a photo of just the children vs. the entire family. I guess she should prepare herself to be disappointed with me (sorry, Mary...maybe next year). I do love family photos best and I love having them, even if just for my own frames and scrapbooks, but some years it's not feasible/reasonable/worth the trouble. Last year we all got dressed for the picture, went to a scenic spot, had a friend leave their warm house and come outside in the cold to photograph us, and it took about an hour. That's a reasonable time for a photo shoot, but it's a lot to ask of a 2- year old, baby, and husband...not to mention of the friend who has graciously offered to take your picture for free. And after an hour our smiles looked less than genuine. The year before that, when we were just a family of three, we had a friend take a picture of us at a Fall party and it took five minutes to get a great shot, and my husband hadn't even showered that day. (Plus, I looked pretty good, which all women have to admit is the standard for a good family photo...)

So this year I made an executive decision while my husband was at work. I gave the kids an early bath and dressed them in coordinating pjs and spent about 7 minutes photographing them on our bed. The pictures turned out great, everyone was genuinely happy, and post-partum mom didn't have to deal with organizing a family picture OR being in one. :) So maybe I had some ulterior motives.

Would you rather send no picture than just a picture of the kids? Do you take a "Christmas picture" every year or just use a good shot you got earlier in the year (which only works if you aren't having babies at lightening speed...)?

Here's one that didn't turn out:

9 comments:

Meg in Tally said...

Didn't turn out? It's precious! Later on this one will be a keepsake of the kid that couldn't sit up by himself! LOL!!!

I'm guessing the REAL one has Thomas upright and perfectly adorable?

Anonymous said...

i LOVE that falling over baby... when maxx was three months old i TIED him to a chair to get a cute photo.

just a hint... putting make up on them to make them look like members of kiss is always a good option...

Jax said...

I love this photo of them! It's hilarious. Someday when Thomas can sit up, you should show him this picture so he can see how far he's come.

Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt said...

Hey aren't you glad you have friends that give you huge floofy hairbows?

;)

And since I know what you look like I guess I can let the kids photo slide.

This year.

Laura said...

That is sooo cute!

I only do whole family photos every other year. This year we were supposed to use a photo taken at a family reunion on the big road trip, but the photo was never sent. So, we paid $20 for a friend-who-is-a-photographer to photograph all of us. It was either that or a picture of us in front of the Grand Canyon.

Kahlua Keeping Koala said...

You are brave. Postpartum I do nothing for weeks - perhaps that's why I get so depressed...

IT's absolutely beautiful. I've heard the "show me the parents too..." comment from others. But we'll let it ride this year.

We pick a picture from earlier in the year. Pic of kids if nothing else.

busymomof10 said...

Love the picture Brite!

As you know, the family picture thing will only get harder as your family grows!!! We have twelve to try to get looking decent (meaning -- both eyes open, no scowls, no fingers up their noses, etc.) all at the same time. It's pretty near impossible!! You just have to take what you get and go with it!

Anonymous said...

hey brite, were those pioneer woman cinnamon rolls good? i was thinking about making them this year for my neighbors. let me know if it was a worthy venture...

Kelley said...

Oh that is so cute! Definitely Christmas card material!

What a blessing to be having babies at lightening speed :-)