My mother-in-law "suggested" we have the boy's pictures taken for her Christmas present this year. We take a million snap shots throughout the year and my computer at home is filled with pictures of them, but this wasn't what she was talking about. No, she meant the dreaded "family picture"...you know, put on some-what cordinated clothing, comb your hair and smile pretty for the wierd person waving the feather duster and repeating "fuzzy pickles" a million times. If you have a mother, or a mother-in-law, you know that the subtle (or not so subtle) suggestion means that you will immediately get in the car and participate in the antics of the photographer to hopefully catch the perfect moment.While Chris and I have many friends who are accomplished and/or budding photographers who would have 
made this experience much more personal and quite memorable, we have procrastinated until there is no appropriate outdoor setting and 30 degree temperatures. Thus, we herd into the portrait studio with the rest of Cool Springs for 86 "fuzzy pickles" and a couple of "smelly feet". The gift that I'm sure my mother-in-law thought was $9.95 as advertised in the coupon that accompanied the "suggestion", rounded out at about $200 by the time we included all the pictures that our friendly photographer suggested, Chris requested and Caleb was going to die without not to mention a brown shirt for Chris, jeans for Derek and haircuts for everyone
made this experience much more personal and quite memorable, we have procrastinated until there is no appropriate outdoor setting and 30 degree temperatures. Thus, we herd into the portrait studio with the rest of Cool Springs for 86 "fuzzy pickles" and a couple of "smelly feet". The gift that I'm sure my mother-in-law thought was $9.95 as advertised in the coupon that accompanied the "suggestion", rounded out at about $200 by the time we included all the pictures that our friendly photographer suggested, Chris requested and Caleb was going to die without not to mention a brown shirt for Chris, jeans for Derek and haircuts for everyone (except me, who you will notice desperately needs one).
Time is flying by and we are just trying to hang on and keep things going. The craziness of these times will soon be forgotten. So, while our photo shoot might not have been the most exciting two-hours of our holiday season, we left with a couple pictures that we'll have in the years to come. Pictures that we can look back on and remember that Caleb had just celebrated his 6th birthday, Russ was laughing so hard through the entire shoot that we had trouble getting pictures of him with his eyes open and without the plastered "smile" and that Derek HATED his haircut. We'll remember that Chris was not at all happy that we were getting our pictures taken and that Caleb kept telling Lauren (our photograhper) "he is a police man, that's why he can't smile." It was hysterical.
Time is flying by and we are just trying to hang on and keep things going. The craziness of these times will soon be forgotten. So, while our photo shoot might not have been the most exciting two-hours of our holiday season, we left with a couple pictures that we'll have in the years to come. Pictures that we can look back on and remember that Caleb had just celebrated his 6th birthday, Russ was laughing so hard through the entire shoot that we had trouble getting pictures of him with his eyes open and without the plastered "smile" and that Derek HATED his haircut. We'll remember that Chris was not at all happy that we were getting our pictures taken and that Caleb kept telling Lauren (our photograhper) "he is a police man, that's why he can't smile." It was hysterical.
I don't know if everyone's experience in front a photographer is as stressful and exhausting as ours, but I'm hoping not...or maybe I'm hoping so because if not, then there's even more wrong with us than I think! Regardless of the hoops it took to get there, our family has once again, been frozen forever in the picture. 
2 comments:
Even though it was drama getting there, they turned out pretty cute. The one of the boys I think is great...I am "suggesting" that Ninny & Unc get one of those for Xmas...as well as a fam shot.
The only thing my dad wanted this year was family portraits from his children. We did pics yesterday and pretty sure we went to the same place as you guys. They took seventy or so pics and used a lot of fuzzy pickles and smelly feet....not to mention the stuffed puppy and duck. I tried so hard to stick to that $9.95 package, but you know how that goes....
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