Sunday, August 5, 2007

The Boys Photo Shoot at the Park

I recently threatened Steve that I was going to take the boys to a mall photography studio (gasp!) to get their pictures taken because we can't seem to get a good shot of the two of them together. (Talking about a mall studio to a photographer is the same as asking a chef if they want to eat at McDonalds). I mean, we have shots of them rolling around on the floor together, or taking a bath together, or just generally goofing around, but as soon as we put them in some decent clothes and try to get them both to smile and look in the same direction, chaos ensues. It just doesn't work! It is like they smell it coming....."oh, no! A photo shoot, and Mom and Dad want a picture of us together. Let's scramble!" And to be perfectly honest, it is MOM that really wants the framer shot, not Dad. He is perfectly happy with all the casual shots.

So, I made an appointment for Monday with Picture People in the Frisco mall, and Steve said innocently, "Well, what's wrong with the pictures I take of the boys?". So I said I would give him a shot on Saturday, and if we got some good ones of the boys together, I would cancel the appointment. But deep in my heart, I knew what was going to happen.

So we get up, dress the boys in their new matching outfits (when did I become the crazy Mom that dresses her kids exactly alike for pictures) drive to the park, and it begins right away. We put the boys down on some rocks together and tried to get them both looking at the camera, and immediately Caleb is trying to get away. How do you reason with a newly turned one year old who just found their walking shoes that it is time to sit still, look at the camera, and say "cheese"? So they start getting fussy, and Steve is over it after about 3 minutes. This is why we do not do child portraits in our photography business. The boss does not have the patience for it. If the kids start fussing at all, he thinks it is totally outrageous to keep trying to get a good shot. So after about 20 minutes, we did get some good individual pics of the boys. But the only good one of the two of them together is where they are looking up and to the side at me acting like a crazy person and playing peek a boo and "I'm gonna get you" and jumping up and down and singing all at the same time. I just needed to be a little closer to the camera for this technique to work.

So as we are leaving the park, Steve says, "Why don't you go ahead and keep your appointment at the mall?". Seriously people, there are professionals for this type of thing. Don't try this on your own if you want to keep your sanity! Take your kids to a contained environment where they have tons of stuff to keep their attention and someone else get's to jump around looking like an idiot!





7 comments:

Anonymous said...

THIS is a hilarious post. You had me chuckling...I can picture you now - hopping around like a fool. That's great! And I don't care if you're one of "those" moms. You picked THE cutest outfits for your boys! Those shorts! Those cute shirts! That last picture of Seth is so amazing! Your kids are just as photogenic as you, my dear. Beautiful, Beautiful!

I like the individual ones of the boys. The one of them together is cute too, but I can see how you'd want them looking more at the camera. Steve gets a gold star for going along with this charade. I'm sure Dave would be OVER IT after the first shot. =)

Love you!

Cindy said...

ok, these pics are making me want little boys even more. they are so cute courts, seriously some beautiful boys!! i love the one where they are looking up together. it is a bit angelic. i must admit the first one of caleb james alone looks like he is in the happy hands club with napoleon.
thanks for calling today. i'll call you tomorrow. i love you dearly my friend. good blog...

Amy said...

Love these pictures and love these boys! Seth looks so grown up! You are not a crazy mom dressing your boys alike...it is real cute and real cute outtits! Hope the session with Picture People provides some good shots of the boys together...although, I do think the one of them looking at you being jumpy, clappy, happy mom is cute. Love you and I love the two girls who commented before me. :)

Anonymous said...

Awesome pics! I don't think you guys need the Picture People because the pictures are amazing!

Amy said...

So, I just took another look at these pictures and immediately started laughing out loud at the second one of Caleb. I was laughing because I was thinking about Cindy's comment about the happy hands club and napoleaon.
Good stuff.

amber. said...

Jack has the same outfit! Target is the best! We should have thrown him in there, too, just to up the chaos.

Great shots, court.

Anonymous said...

OH my goodness! How is it possible that seth is so grown up looking. When I look at the pictures of him I'm blown away- there is no baby left in him!!!! ~ Nicole