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DEL.ICIO.USTorturing, oh I mean, capturing our family circa 2008
Do you find it hard to take family portraits? Do you go to a studio or shoot it yourself at home? What are your favorite shots of your family or from your childhood?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
We are supposed to have our family portrait made this weekend for the church directory, and I am dreading it.
While I love the concept of the formal family portrait and love seeing families captured in time — their fashions, their haircuts, and sometimes even their missing teeth, it’s just not always easy accomplish with multiple children.
Somehow my grandmother managed to do it with six small boys, but the last two times I have taken my three children to a studio for pictures things got downright ugly.
My oldest had to be taken to the bathroom multiple times to be disciplined. The baby didn’t want to separate from me so she pretty much cried the entire time, which does not make for precious pictures. My son was just generally mischievous throughout the photographs resulting in adorable, yet not grandmother-approved, kooky smiles in many of the shots.
Despite living in the age of digital photography where almost anyone, with enough patience, can take a successful family picture, I still feel the need to torture myself and my children at a portrait studio at least once a year.
I guess it’s because we always had them taken when we were little. I’m pretty sure my mother kept the Olan Mills on Memorial Drive in business throughout the ’70s and ’80s.
My favorite family photo was taken when I was about 5. My dad has on a blue leisure suit with a thick striped tie. My brother also is wearing a leisure suit — peach according to my mother. He was about 8 and his hair was homage to John-John Kennedy of course. My mom had on a peach “knit” blouse. I’m pretty sure that would just be called polyester now. She also had a slightly curly version of a Dorothy Hamill haircut. I looked the most normal of the bunch — pale pink Easter dress, short curly hair with bangs.
Another favorite is our misguided church directory photo from the late ’80s in which my mother worked a little too hard to coordinate our clothes. We were all in blue so we look like one giant blob with four heads popping out.
I was encouraged a few weeks ago at the grocery store when I flipped through the Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt family portraits in People magazine. This magazine paid $14 million for photos that looked just as harried and disorganized as my own. One of the older boys didn’t have a shirt on and was lying down so his upper torso was completely hidden in the photo. Kids were looking the wrong way and not smiling in most of the shots. Heck, Angelina didn’t even make it out of her nightgown for the photos. Apparently I’m not the only one having a hard time getting my kids to cooperate.
But I realized looking at them that the Jolie-Pitt photos were great because that’s how families really look and act. (In contrast, the Jennifer Lopez shots with her twins were so staged and so ridiculously uptight they didn’t look natural at all.)
The best photos we have of our family were taken at home like the Jolie-Pitt’s. (Although they didn’t cost $14 million.) Walsh was 3 months old and Rose was 2. The photographer stayed with us for about two hours just shooting the kids in their natural habitat. He got us in our favorite rocking chair. He shot Rose in her red toddler bed. He shot the baby rolling around on his blanket on the floor and lifting his neck. I love these photos because they are beautiful, but also natural.
With this new insight, I am just gong to try to relax and not mind if my daughter’s hair is disheveled or if my son gives a goofy grin. For better or worse, that is our family circa 2008.
You can reach Theresa at ajcmomania@gmail.com. Column and blog ideas are welcome!
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By DB
September 22, 2008 7:03 AM | Link to this
We had a multi-generation picture taken for my parents for their 50th anniversary — to get EVERYONE — five kids, ranging from 5 to 18, and six adults, in the same place at the same time looking presentable was an interesting exercise :-) Which is why most of our pictures are candids!
We had tried it a few months earlir with a professional photographer at a garden site, but the pictures were so bad, we ended up not being able to use any of them.
The latest foray was at an “insta-print” studio in Virginia. Our appointment ended up starting about 45 minutes late, which played havoc with the little ones. Then the fun started — which picture to choose? “I don’t like that one, so-and-so is smiling too weird”, etc., etc.
By ebaby
September 22, 2008 7:16 AM | Link to this
I am the youngest child in my famliy and am 29 years old. My father still insists in taking family pictures and it is terrible. There is one sibling that just cant suck it up and smile. He is almost 40! Maybe he is scarred from years of family portraits.
I made my husband go with me twice when we were newly married. I dont think he minded much, but if it were a yearly thing he might want to kill me. So far, I have only taken my baby once and it was painless. I hope to be able to take portrait pictures at least a few times before my kids graduate HS. I dont think yearly is necessary considering how many pictures we take throughout the year. I can see myself torturing my family every 3 years though. In the end, almost all the participants will appreciate it.
By HB
September 22, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this
Couple of things: first, good for you for not worrying so much about the next church portrait. If you don’t think of it as such a big deal, I think you’ll probably get the picture you’ve always wanted. When parents are relaxed, kids just don’t act up so much. Second, for those occasional “studio” photos, I recommend Wal-Mart. They tend to have the same basic lighting/camera set-up as other low-to-mid-range studios, and you’ll save a lot of $ that you can use to hire a really good photographer now and then like the one Theresa mentioned who spent a couple of hours at her house. Even for that sort of session, if you’re on a budget, check with your local art school and see about hiring a photography student, but ask for sample of their relevent work first — someone great at landscapes won’t necessarily be good at capturing nice people moments. They may not be set up to sell prints, but you can probably negotiate a good deal for them to shoot, edit, and provide you with a CD.
By Great Photos
September 22, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
Frustrated with the formal, stiff family photos or the ones where someone is looking the wrong way or squinting I decided to try a photographer that was recommended to us. She was great and we had a wonderful experience with family photos in a garden and home setting. The photographer (Trisha Addicks) was terrific. She even got our two dogs posed in the photo! She was great at getting everyone in posed - yet very natural - photos. I was impressed. She had great ideas for poses and kept the kids organized and smiling. They were the best we every had.
By nurse&mother
September 22, 2008 9:31 AM | Link to this
We do yearly (sometimes twice a year) photos at a professional photographer. My husband is made to join us about once every 2-4 years.
As to the everyday “natural” pictures, a good digital camera can capture those “slice of life” moments. I carry my camera with me anywhere I think I can take some great photos. Most of my favorite pictures are candid shots around the house.
We missed our church pictures this year. Maybe we can get some retakes.
By Numbers Guy
September 22, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this
I’m not a picture person. I was there, and -at least for now- my memory still works fine, thanks.
My brother-in-law, however, is a picture/video freak who has to have a camera or vidcam at each and every function. He even bought a mac to supplement his perfectly functional PC to do media projects. I don’t need or want my life recorded, and this has been a source of argument in the past. We finally decided that he could record to his heart’s delight at any function held on his property - if he does it on mine, I get to break the limb of my choice.
We did a professional sitting when the boy was about 2, and another when we went to visit said bro-in-law 4 years or so ago. The spouse probably thinks we’re due for another one, but I’m not bringing the topic up.
By Stacey
September 22, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this
None of the adults on my side of the family likes to take pictures so there are no photographs and very few snapshots of me and my siblings as adults. The only photograph I ever saw of my father was taken before he and my mother even started dating and it disappeared when I was a teenager. I can only recall two snapshots of him while he was awake and they were both taken in the mid 70’s. My mother last had a portrait done in the 70’s, 25 years before she died. We do have several snapshots of her though. Mama had tons of pictures of us as kids. We always said we were going to take a family portrait before Mama died but just never got around to it and that’s something we are all sad about.
By A. Nony Mouse
September 22, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this
Two years ago I got the kids together and we had a very nice professional protrait done at a really upscale studio. It was numbingly expensive. However what I got was great. We coordinated, all in black; as a nod to my sons walk on the darkside, and jeans. We picked a set that suited us and got some great portrits.
The whole experience was worth every penny I spent. The studio took the time to do a consultation two weeks prior and it made coordinating everything so easy and I would totally do it again. I have snap shots but I never look good in them so I really love this set of pictures.
By lwa
September 22, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this
the best pictures the kids have taken were those not planned. we were out at the mall, looking descent and i said.. “let’s go to Sears and take some pictures.” they turned out great. when we plan and plan, our expectations are high and results low. when we don’t plan, we have no expectations and everything turns out great.
By nurse&mother
September 22, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this
Mouse- where did you have your pictures done (if I may ask)? Is it in Atlanta?
Iwa- I have found that when I go to the photographers and I think the pictures are going to be great, I find that they are usually good, but not fantastic. Usually when we leave and I felt like everything was going wrong, those typically are our best ones! I’m sure you’re right about the expectations.
Numbers Guy- I laugh at your post because I can be a little over zealous with my Nikon. I have a reputation for snapping tons of pictures. My mom in particular hates me carrying my camera everywhere. I find it funny, though that she comments that I take “the best pictures”.
I do not do much with a camcorder. I’m horrible (picture is bouncing up and down, I forget the TV is blaring, I keep talking in it etc.) Also, I don’t know how to do a lot with pictures on the PC.
By new mom
September 22, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this
We had NEVER been picture or video people—that is, until our little one came along. I won’t say how many pictures we’ve taken of her this past year, cause I know someone will flip out, but it’s in the thousands. And we realized that our previous camera wasn’t fast enough to catch the little squirt in action (lots of pics of the top of her head) we ended up “investing” in one of those big clunkers. But the quality is night and day difference.
As far as her portraits go, after pricing out several fancy photographers, we decided to try a chain studio for baby’s six month pics (with very low expectations) We were thrilled with them, and have since gone back for her nine month and year pictures. It’s not nearly as expensive as the others, and that allows us to have them done more often. The hardest part is deciding on the pictures, especially when you just want the ‘special’ and have to pick one pose!!
For her 1 yr portraits, we decided to have a pose with my husband and myself with our daughter, and it turned out great. We have some snapshots with the three of us (when we are around someone else to take it!) but mostly our snapshots only have one or the other in them.
I love having so many pictures of her…she is growing so fast, I sometimes don’t even remember what she looked like at a certain age until I see the pictures or watch videos. One thing is for sure—we might take a lot of pics, but we have never regretted a single one!
By JJ
September 22, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this
I don’t do professional. Between my bother, my mom and myself we have tons of family pictures. Oh and the ones they take on cruises. We had the whole family get one together last year in Alaska.
I’ll be lurking most of this week. I fractured my shoulder over the weekend and I’m in a bit of pain. Typing is very difficult.
So you all have a great week, and keep it clean…..
And Lakerat Please lay off MJG. We have had enough of your comments about her.
By new mom
September 22, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this
JJ, sorry to hear about your shoulder!! Ouch!! I hope you can take it easy and that it feels better soon….If I knew where you live I would bring you dinner…
By Smart Ace
September 22, 2008 11:48 AM | Link to this
Funny, we just had our family pictures taken on Saturday at Target. The kids were pretty good though no complaints.
Sorry about your shoulder JJ that sucks.
I for one am all about Lakerat just STFU!!!!
Does anyone listen to the garbage Lakerat spews anyway? I don’t anymore.
By fer
September 22, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this
I need some help w/ what to wear. We are trying to line up a family portrait (6 adults, 2 young kids). I don’t like the everybody-wear- exactly-the-same-thing shots but the hodge-podge of everyone doing his/her own thing isn’t pleasing either. Is there a happy medium?
By JJ
September 22, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this
Thanks NewMom That’s very sweet.
I only had ONE glass of wine before I took my spill…..I lost the second one. Alcohol Abuse… ha ha
By A. Nony Mouse
September 22, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this
Nurse&Mother, It was Garrisons in Douglasville. I have had pictures taken there twice and both times were great. It was not inexpensive but all the pictures are a WOW!!! They have an really expansive studio with many sets. They are great with kids, dogs, everyone.
Right around easter they do a special and you get the kids photo made with a bunny. We did that years ago.
My other favorite picture is me and the girl, she had been crying and I was comforting her. Someone took a picture and it was breathtaking. It just enveloped our whole relationship.
By nurse&mother
September 22, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this
What does STFU stand for?
By Belle
September 22, 2008 12:30 PM | Link to this
Don’t get upset over the family portriates. They can be a pain to get taken but you never know when you will lose one or more of those people. I INSISTED on a family picture 2 years ago. I begged, pleaded and finally got my parents, sister and her family and my husband and I to get dressed up and go. The sitting was awful and the picture was just ok but by the end of the year both my parents had died and this was the only group picture we had. It is very very special now. I don’t think anyone in our family will object to the portriat nightmare anymore.
By new mom
September 22, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this
Hi fer, we didn’t like the matchy-matchy either…but also didn’t want it to look chaotic.
Our happy medium:
My husband and I both wore black shirts and jeans, and we dressed our 1 yr old in a cute pink fall top and jeans. That way the focus is on her! It worked for us, but I’m sure there are lots more folks out there who’ve done the picture thing longer than we have and have more advice!
And nurse&mother, I think it stands for a way to tell someone to be quiet, but just not for mixed company. That’s as far as I’ll go. :)
By Sherrybaby
September 22, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this
My lovely Louisiana sisters take a yearly Christmas portrait of their grandkids (5 kids ages 12-2)frame it and give it to me as a Christmas gift. It makes me feel like a part of each growing family.
By JJ
September 22, 2008 1:00 PM | Link to this
nurse it means shut the “f” up!!!
By Kathy
September 22, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this
Our daughter is 3 and we have yet to get a family portrait done. It is just one of those things that is not real high on the money list. We have been taking our daughter to Target to get her pics done. They have done a good job. I wish they would spend more than the 20 minutes they allot you for your session. Emma just does not do well with strangers sometimes and I feel like they rush and we all get frustrated. I mainly get the “professional” pics done for the grandparents (my inlaws seem to have this thing for wanting pictures even though my MIL takes a trillion). I am an avid scrapbooker so I am constantly taking pictures. The candids I take are sometimes better than the studio ones.
JJ….sorry about your shoulder. When you are all healed, my brother is an OUTSTANDING massage therapist if you need the kinks worked out of the rest of your back (I’m sure you’ll be sore).
newmom….how was vacation?
By My3Kids
September 22, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Family portraits…just a dream of mine. Sad right?
Hope yall are having a good Monday.
Growing up, there was only one that was even taken. Unfortuanly, my brother was not in it. Just my sister, me, and our parents. My dad never wanted to do them until he got older and now it’s to late. Although he preferred family get to togethers and quick photo ops.
My husband laughs at me everytime I ask and tells me to grow up. JERK! He flat out refuses to get his pic taken and really won’t allow anyone to take a pic of him at all. I want to get one of me and the girls but we never seem to have the time.
By lakerat
September 22, 2008 1:28 PM | Link to this
JJ -
Sorry about the shoulder - I had rotator cuff repair about this time last year so I can really “feel your pain”.
I am really confused as to why some of you are so down on me participating in this forum, especially the recently reformed LAME person who is now a Smart Ace. I am only presenting one person’s point of view - and not once have I said that these thoughts and comments are absolutely correct -just opinions.
By JJ
September 22, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this
Thanks all, for the well wishes.
Lakerat It’s just that you continue to dig at Mother constantly, and it’s time to move on. We don’t want her to leave, or you either, but these constant digs are her are unnecessary. You seem hellbent on pointing out things about her with just about every post you do…..That’s all…..
By new mom
September 22, 2008 1:54 PM | Link to this
Hi Kathy! We had a great vacation, thanks for asking! It was great fun, a great amount of work, and a great bit exhausting. ;) I now understand doing the whole family vacation, it would have been nice to have a few minutes just me and my husband. But we woudn’t trade it for anything. We only took 300 pics! Little baby girl loved the beach, and loved the taste of the sand even more.
I wasn’t going to mention the place we go, at the risk of sounding like I’m a commercial for them, but after reading some other posts, I will say we love Portrait Innovations. Yes it’s a chain, and possibly more expensive then walmart/target, but they are sooo patient with you, spend however long it takes, and can really capture some wonderful expressions. We started bringing in our daughter’s toys as ‘props’ instead of using the studio ones, that way we can look back and say ‘oh look, remember how much you loved that book?’ etc. This last picture we got a shot of her hugging her favorite stuffed kitty, it’s precious. They aren’t pushy either, the hardest part is struggling with yourself over how much to buy. But if you purchase the $69 package and up, you get a CD with every picture included. So worth it!!
By My3Kids
September 22, 2008 1:59 PM | Link to this
JJ…ouch! I have never fractured any part of my shoulder, but I have completely ripped it from all three sockets…twice. And neither time was done the same way. Take it easy…really don’t over do it. It will make it worse!
By Mary Beth
September 22, 2008 2:01 PM | Link to this
We get the kids together to take a photo every year for our Christmas cards. It used to be such a hassle and they would be smiling in the first photos but toward the end of the session they were all frowning. It is a little harder now with two in college to get them together but I think it means so much to the kids now. They start asking at Thanksgiving when are they getting their Christmas card picture taken. Every now and then my husband and I will get in the photo. Those are usually the ones taken on vacation when we are all together. They are priceless and each one has a story to go with it. One time I made my daughter’s Christmas dress but had not put the buttons or zipper in the back so I just pinned it together and took her picture. No one ever knew but us and now that picture is one of my favorites!
By lakerat
September 22, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this
JJ -
I really don’t mean to continually “dig” at her - if you could re-read my posts from last week you would see that I gave her kudos on her comments re: the dating forum, only to have her come with snide remarks directed at me that were not even related to the topic at hand. Hence, my responses to her digs - remember, it takes two to tango! And, as you can probably tell, I love to dance!
By nurse&mother
September 22, 2008 2:08 PM | Link to this
Thanks Mouse for the name of the studio.
Also, thanks to all for the definition. I should have known.
By fer
September 22, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
Thanks, new mom. Come on, the rest of you, give me some more ideas.
By DB
September 22, 2008 2:28 PM | Link to this
To add to my first comment: We were never ones to professional document each and every moment, but I can’t even begin to tell you how many photos we have of the kids BD (before digital). And now that we have digital — omigod. I’m relentless about backing them up, and I can’t even tell you how many CDs we have.
Every Thanksgiving, we gather at my in-laws home for the big dinner. With everyone there, we get a group snapshot, and my MIL uses it for her Christmas card. I usually had to photoshop my head in the back, because I was the one taking the photo :-), but once we got the hang of the delayed shutter, we were good to go!
By Katie
September 22, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this
We do family pictures every year since our daughter was born (she turns 4 in October). She has very high functioning Cerebral Palsy. She has some serious behavior problems due to her brain injury and is prone to melt downs. Our 2 year old is a handful just because he behaves like a normal 2 year old boy. It is not easy.
However, we make it a point to take yearly pictures as a family just to have something to look back on.
We take them to a place that is kid friendly and where the photographer seems very laid back and relaxed. We also do it during an “off-season” time meaning not around the holidays or mother’s day or father’s day.
We also go in there with the expectation that these will not be perfect pictures and that we are there to have fun. We are paying good money for this, so we should enjoy ourselves. I have snacks and toys for the kids (along with changes of clothes and a hair brush and hair ties).
If we can do it, anyone can. Seriously. You have to go into it with the expectation that things may not go as you have hoped AND that there is no such thing as a perfect picture. And if you are prepared for the worst, things wind up turning out OK.
By Stacey
September 22, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this
Mouse…Someone else has mentioned Garrison’s in Douglasville in the past so when I finally do breakdown and have a family portrait done I will give them a try.
New Mom…I have a friend who goes to Portrait Innovations in West Cobb every year for her Christmas pictures and they are always gorgeous! I know several people who have used them and I haven’t seen a bad one yet.
I had Glamour Shot type pictures taken several years ago and while the experience was fun and the pictures were nice, it was VERY expensive and people don’t even recognize that it’s me on the pictures. My son said one day “Mommy, that’s YOU! … Why don’t you look like that now?” Gotta love little boys! LOL
By Stacey
September 22, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this
fer…A couple of years my sisters-in-law and I had pictures made of all of the grandkids for my MIL. We dressed them all in blue jeans and whatever long sleeve red shirt they owned and it looked really good. Both the shirts and jeans were different styles and had variences in shade of red and blue. We just had them done at one of the “instant” photo places in the mall where they take the pictures with a digital camera and have your prints ready in an hour. The backgrounds they offered were cheesy (IMO) so we chose the solid white and solid gray background for all of the poses.
By Edward
September 22, 2008 3:10 PM | Link to this
If younger kids are unhappy with the proccess, why not ask them how they would compose a few shots? What they would wear? Who they would pose with? This trick might work with some of the older complainers as well.
By bobbi
September 22, 2008 3:21 PM | Link to this
My family has never been really big on taking pic, especially family pics, partly cause there 6 kids ranging from 15-42, so geting all of us one the same place at the same time is especially difficult, moreso now because there are 3 teenagers, and I myself am in the military. I’m lucky if I make it home once a year, granted since I moved back to the states it will be a little more often. My last trip home my older sister was dying for a family pic, (its been almost 10 years with all of us together). She didn’t want a pic that was posed and structured, she wanted one that was more our style, she also didn’t want to be too cheesy and all of us wear the same out fit. so we decided on a compromise. The girls would wear solids tops, and the boys would wear simple plaid tops, bottoms could be jeans or khakis. The pics turned out awesome. We did fun poses in front of huge magnolia tree, some were us making a human pyramind, or us playing in the grass, or just us looking relaxed talking and having fun with each other. it was a nice contrast between the solids and the plaids without looking too chaotic. More importantly, everyone was comfortable, thats probly partly why it was a good experience, noone fussing over uncomfortable clothes. This is also the year with the first grand baby,she was grumpy most of the time, but even pics with her crying are precious. We also, in this techno age, all took pics with our digital cameras over the course of my visit. Some of those candid shots are way better than anything you could get at a studio. Overall it was very successful. However my sister did say next trpi she’s gonna pay a friend photographer to come over to our house a spend a few hours taking pics.
By A. Nony Mouse
September 22, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
when we had our pictures done there was a family doing one too. there were maybe 15-20 including infants. all the men were wearing black suits and red ties. The little fellows too and the ladies were in red dresses, with the little girls all matching in red too. It was dramatic but, our black turtle necks looked like ‘US”.
By fk
September 22, 2008 6:29 PM | Link to this
We don’t take formal family photos. That’s just not us. My son has his picture taken several times a year…three sports, and that who he is at this junction in his life. Plus, a big one this year…high school graduation! We have nice pictures of the three of us on vacations, weddings, Christmas tree shopping, etc. Many photos have been taken at the beach or poolside. Have only a handful of pictures where all of my siblings are present (there are ten of us, living in four different states). They are all informal, taken at family gatherings, etc. They are the best kind. And, with the age of the digital camera, you know if a shot has to be retaken immdediately. Have great pics of my parents with their children, children’s spouses, grandchildren, granchildren’s spouses and great-grandchildren. Last big party, we took a photo of just the in-laws. I love the digital photos b/c I can send them to anyone and everyone.
By FCM
September 22, 2008 7:03 PM | Link to this
JJ- OUCH! Wine wasn’t enough you had to head for the RX Pain Killers? Just Kidding…..I am so sorry to hear your hurt. My Mom blew out her elbow in a stupid household stunt. Those joints just don’t like to forgive. I will keep you in my prayers.
As to the photo—I got lucky to have a couple of ‘hams’ who think every camera was made for their little smiles. However, I don’t usually join them in the photo—I see no need to document me getting older and wider….not that I don’t try to battle both! I know they are my fault. I do think I may do step in the Christmas photo this year…..I would hate to never be in one. The last we had of that much ‘family’ was when the youngest was a baby!
My mother insisted on a ‘family’ portrait this year. Sawyer Photography did a great job—-they are digital and he did the touch ups right there. Mom wore a bright jacket and then my brother, his fiancee, Dad, and my oldest wore blue. I wore teal and the youngest wore orange….all colors in the jacket on Mom. We were all on a white background so it really pops. I had been sick and was so not into getting a photo. Then he had me stand…..later we digitally unenhanced areas I felt needed it on me……if only I could under go surgery to do that for real (sigh).
I have the family portraits from when I was 3, 22, and the one I just mentioned all framed together and everyone compliments them when they come in.
By Lisa
September 24, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this
HI All, So many to read I read about half - all great stories. My family of 5 took a pictue us in front of grandma’s apartment when I was 5 (1970). I found it about 10 years ago and blew it up to 4x6. I love seeing it and comparing the next generation to it. It’s the best non portrait ever (black and white too). The only family portraits (after age 5) were my 2 brothers bar-mitzphas. Very fancy tuxes etc, and of course my wedding.
In 1996 I took my newphew to K-mart (Olin mils) awesome and painless. Then(2001) my son was born. I did the hospital newbies etc. In 2001 Sears took pictures of my 1 month old son and my 4 month old twin newphews. 3 infants so hard but so worth it.
Then I discovered Kiddie Candids (in a local Babies r Us). Both My son and daughter had their 3/6/9 months and yearly photos there. They charged $15 a sheet or make packages of individual or group shots. They came out great. The family photo, last taken almost 4 years ago, was torture, but so worth it.
Sometimes I went to JC Penney’s with discount coupons, awesome pictures but you had to wait to get them, Kiddie Candids gave you the pics 20 minutes later, such a time saver.
My kids now 5 and 7 get school photos 2 times a year and so so cute. Maybe some of you should hire the school photographer (ours is life touches)I think it’s the one JC penney uses.
Please take photos even bad candids as my children want to see pictures of great grandparents and I don’t have more than 10 or so decnt ones.
Bold:Avid photographer near NYC