"Shooting" four kids

Disclaimer....I am by no means a professional photographer. It is a hobby and I did take a class....you can tell in these pictures when (I was color happy last year)


We are taking the kids easter pictures this year on sunday. I have a love/hate relationship with the event. Love having the pictures but I am always leery of doing the shoot because it could go one of two ways.

way one:
We get everyone dressed only to have someone jack up their outfit on the way, someone falls asleep in the car and messes up their hair and is in a crabby mood when we wake them up.  We get there and there aren't any flowers because we were ahead of the bloomin' date. One kid randomly developes a terrifying fear of gnats and actively seeks them out only to scream. Someone does a face first slide in the dirt because "it looks fun"

Enter three years ago this is what we got

 I feel like these are so awesome they don't need captions.  Also, I sent Easter cards out with some happy and some crying because it is so "us". You can imagine my husbands excitement every year when I announce it's time for pictures! The following year we opted out of pictures and just took candid ones of the kind searching for eggs. Here is what we got.

 Those were cute and easy, BUT I really wish I had done an actual shoot. The shoot from hell was still in our minds so we decided against torturing ourselves and our children.

Way 2: Enter last year. The perfect storm. Cameron was still "into it" Riley was over her random gnat fear and Bradford was THE PERFECT age for a fun shoot. So we headed to the Grapevine Botanical Gardens only to find we were too early for the blooms, however we got some amazing shots and even put one on a canvas that sits on our mantle. Some of these are way "over edited" but as I often say, when you know better, you do better!

So here we go again and I was thinking about some things that might help me stay calm and shoot on....

1. Timing. Kids must be fed, well rested, fed and happy. If someone falls asleep on the way there then it is a recipe for disaster. We found 4 o'clock to be a great time.....it leaves room for bribing of fun dinner if needed. 

2. Instincts. If you fell it's going to be a cluster then in WILL! If you have a bad feeling or as a parent are in a bad mood you will not have a good experience......scratch the date and pick another. 

3. If possible get kids dressed AT the site. This one is important if you have a newborn or a slobbery mess kid. Also, try and do hair at the site. Bring all things for re-doing hair upon arrival. 

4. Have fun. Don't advertise to the kids that you are taking pictures. Just call it "looking at flowers" or "running in the park" I love the candid shots much better than the once where we made the kids sit and say "cheese" 

5. Bring bubbles. Kids love to watch bubbles and it makes for some fun faces.

6. Be prepared to get on the ground and get dirty. Some of the last shoot I was on my back or knees shooting up 

 MOST OF ALL: YOUR KIDS TAKE ON YOUR MOOD SO HAVE FUN AND LAUGH....IF NECESSARY BRIBE BRIBE BRIBE!!

Good luck and wish us luck! Happy shooting.

Top Two Tuesday

Last year I had one new years resolution with MANY sub points. My goal for 2010 was to become more domestic.  This basically turned into "become more like my Grandmother" I think I did pretty well on my goal.  I took three months worth of sewing classes with my BFF and we were able to complete a few projects, and I surprised myself with a spirituality journey that I never could have imagined!

Two of my quilts 

I was also able to complete my photography class and I learned so much about taking photos and I think it has paid off.  My $125 photography class ended up costing us 1500 or so on a new MAC and software plus I want a new lens and a flash but I LOVE knowing what I am doing with my camera now. 

This was a class favorite on our critique of freeze motion

I also think I got better on my own at cooking, although the idea was to take cooking classes.  I couldn't find a cooking class that worked for me though. I also wanted to take a cake class but I didn't get around to that one so I will table it because I really want to.

NOW FOR THIS YEAR'S resolutions.  Since it is a top two I will focus on two but I might list some more.

1. Become a more "go, see, do" Mom

 I think I am pretty good at this but the past few months I fell away a bit and I want to get back into the hands on routine of going to the park, museum, and zoo.  I want to spontaneously head to the park and run and just be with the kids. This includes our first family vacation to the beach hopefully we can make this happen!

2.  Watch LESS TV!!!! This is pretty simple to explain.  We watch too much TV, I want to watch less!

3.  OK I really need this one because it's something I want to work really hard to get better at.......BLOG MORE! I was doing so well and then I got away from it, but I really am going to be better at this!

4.  My friend just reminded me when she commented about a previous post.....I want to get my kitchen and bedroom organized!  I have a small space and I need it to work for our family in a major way!