One thing that I’ve promised we would do is have family photos taken often – and at least once per year they would be done by a professional instead of us setting up a tripod in the living room. As far as I know there are only two professional family photos of my parents and all siblings in existence and both were awash in polyester and taken for the church directory (no need to mention that, as far as I know, that was the only time my dad ever stepped foot in the church).
We’d originally planned to do our pro photo shoot in January since that’s the month we became a family – it’s both the month J and I got married and became a family of two and Ava’s adoption month when we became a family of three – but we neglected to consider the need for annual family Christmas card photos which, obviously, need to be taken in the November timeframe in order for me to still not send them out in time for Christmas. Thank goodness our favorite local photographer, Anne Companion Photography, ran a mini studio session special (in her brand spanking new studio) just in time for us to get this taken care of.
Because after our experience the previous year – there was no freaking way that I was attempting THAT at home again. You can see some of those outtakes here.
We (at least, I) thought it would be easy. We dug up some kind-of matchy holiday-ish outfits and headed out. I also had plenty of mini M&Ms and other snacks to bribe Ava with in my purse. I’d scheduled a perfect time – late morning – so Ava would be fed and happy and not even close to naptime. I thought we’d covered all the bases and would be in and out of there in 30 minutes tops.
Heh.
She was clingy. Then she was obnoxious. Then she shattered one of the shatterproof ornaments that Anne was using as a prop. Then she whined. Then she tried to open the boxes wrapped up as presents. Then she dragged the prop rocking chair all over the place. Then she whined more. Then she whacked herself in the head about 10 times after watching J do it to himself trying to get the pouty child to smile – and we let her because it made her laugh and we got an absolutely beautiful photo from it.
Thank heavens that Anne has kids of her own because that means she gets it and doesn’t let it frustrate her a bit – and still manages to get lovely, lovely photos as well. Although I totally understand why she enjoys the newborn sessions that she does…much, much less chasing them around, for sure.
And one of my favorite photos from the shoot was a shot of Ava grabbing Daddy’s nose and me laughing at them. It was a great candid and as soon as I get off my tush, it will be framed and hung on the wall. (I’d post it but I didn’t buy the digital rights to it so I really can’t.)