Tis the time of year when my mind turns to
the family photo
for the Christmas card.
The thought of this both sends smiles to my face
and shivers down my spine.
The act of the family photo includes:
1. scheduling a day that we all can be together for a couple of hour uninterrupted
and happy.
(oh, this has to also include the photographers schedule too)
2. planning our outfits for the pictures.
If you know me, you know I don't like too matchy-matchy,
but I can not leave it completely up to each individual,
as I would like for it to look like we are all in the same season
AND
the same decade.
3. location, location, location.
You have all heard it....
location is everything.
I think this theory goes for photographs as well.
I am always looking for new and unusual places for the shoot.
You won't see this family in a studio any time soon.
4. dealing with the terror of seeing myself in photos.
This means I will have to come to grips with what I actually look like
vs.
what I THINK I look like.
I have mastered the art of denial,
and until I see a picture of myself,
I still think of myself as the way I looked in college.
Seriously, when I think back to what happened yesterday or last month,
the vision of my self is me at 22 doing whatever I am remembering.
Imagine my surprise when I am remembering the pictures being taken as my 22yr old self
and then they come out looking like my 34 yr old self.
Quite shocking I tell ya
.
I deal with this by buying only a few with me in the frame,
and only displaying the ones with hubby and kids.
Problem solved until next year.
Long story short,
here are a few shots that I have gleaned some inspiration from:
any shot with leaves falling is an instant classic.
I ADORE this idea,
as long as my photographer is VERY friendly with the double chin delete button.
No need to remember the waddle.
One of my constant favorites,
a fancy-smanchy sofa in the middle of the road, field, or what have you.
We have a huge picture of mine and the girls legs
framed and hung on the wall.
This might be a clever way to include hubby in that this year.
The puddle pict.
Gets me every time.
Gets me every time.
Ok, I am sure this is an engagement photo,
but who says after 13 years of marriage we can't do this too?...
....Or this.
This is EXACTLY how the girls feel about
Hubby and I smooching.
And a school bus as a prop?
Just stop it...
Getting all kinds of inspiration!
Click here to see the holy grail of original location ideas....
all the time it took
to pick out the matching clothes in a
color that would look good on everyone,
and that everyone would be willing to wear
without pulling too many teeth.
(some teeth are ok)
The stress of making it to the studio on time
with teeth brushed, hair combed, wrinkle free,
trying to hide the tears that have run down the toddlers face because it just happens to be the one day that she missed her nap in three weeks and everything is causing a melt down.
Trying to remain calm when the photographer tells you to "act like you like each other!" When you know that hubby left you inside the house to fin for yourself with the curling iron that just happens to have a long cord, a 6 year old, a toddler and two dogs while he patiently waited in the car all while honking in two minute intervals.
Oh, and you had to apply your make up in the car on the ride to the studio, so you did not notice the foundation was not all the way rubbed in on the left cheek, until you went to look at the proofs. Fuming that no one bothered to tell you. And even if the only other two adults at the shoot were men, you are quite certain that it was noticeable if it showed up in the proofs!
Well, no more for me thank you.....
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
