You know the women who take their kids in to get photographed regularly and who have yearly family photos that go out with the Christmas cards?
I’m not one of those women.
I have tons of candid shots, but as for getting everyone in for studio shots? Nah. Not so much.
I am blessed to have the world’s most wonderful photographer as a close friend. Brigitte is married to Max, who went to cub scouts with my husband. She is uber fabulous and she makes me look GORGEOUS with her camera. If there is a great photo on this blog 8 times out of 10, Bridgy shot it. If you live in the Cache Valley area, I highly recommend her.
Bridgy has taken to giving me a photo shoot for Christmas or birthdays and I love it. Usually it is just me and her dorking around with the camera.
Either that or doing something for my blog like telling the internet I’m pregnant.
Given the fact that I have all this lovely photography support around me, it’s down right sad that I don’t have my family shot more. In fact, our family has not had a family photo taken since the one we had right after Matthew died.
There is a lot of reason for this. Part of it is that I’m lazy as hell. Also…we were scheduled to have our family photo taken the day of Matthew’s funeral. Instead, Bridgy took photos when we buried him. This was not the photo that anyone thought we would be taken.
Instead, a few weeks after he died, Bridgy took our photo and then photoshopped Bug into it.
I am loathe to replace it.
However, it is time. We aren’t going to replace the big portrait in our living room until the baby comes but it was just WAY past due to have some decent photos of our family taken.
So, we had a family photo shoot yesterday. It was POURING rain, so we did most of it in Bridgy’s studio but we did brave the rain to take a few outside shots. They were ok, but it was NOT ideal conditions.
The boys LOVE having their photo taken.
Bridgy took some of Jonathan and I.
It was going so well, but I couldn’t help copping a feel. ( I am sure that we are Bridgy’s most interesting clients.)
Just to let you know, the payback for groping man cleavage is harsh.
I wonder if Bridgy could edit this so that I could hang it in my living room? (Hell, I may do it anyway!)
It was a pretty quick shoot, but in the end, I think this is the one we’re going with.
I might even attempt Christmas cards this year.
(That crackling sound your hearing is hell freezing over. Just so you know.)
So, what about you? Are you a photo slacker like me or do you document your familial life responsibly and send out photos with your Christmas cards? Inquiring minds want to know.
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That is so awesome. I like the photos. You got to second base with Jon….lol
Then he got to second base too. lol
The kids are growing up.
I love all the pics. Bridge is an awesome photographer!
First, I LOVE LOVE LOVE that last photo. Perfect. Second, I am rarely without a camera in my hand and I have tons and tons of pictures of the kids, but almost none of the four of us together and no professional ones. I should get on that….
HeatherPrides last blog post..Gone Visitin’
That last photo is just great. The photo of the “Spontaneous Breast Manipulation” isn’t bad either. Both of ‘em.
lceel ‘Uncle Lou’s last blog post..A New Stool
My wife and I have planned to send out Christmas cards and a photo for years, but do we ever do it? Nope! In fact our twins will be a year old in two days and just today had their first professional photos taken. Our goal is to get a family portrait done in the coming weeks for Christmas…let’s see if we follow through.
Mike Wiltons last blog post..Social Media In The Workplace
The last photo is fantastic!
I don’t have a family of my own, but my parents still take a photo of all of us at Christmas, and that’s used for the cards they send out the following year. I’m sure when I have a family of my own, I’ll be organizing photo shoots plenty early to make cards.
Sharons last blog post..Friday Love List – Nothing planned this weekend edition!
I have gotten much better in the last few years about the family photo.
And I love them all, but most especially the last one.
mamalangs last blog post..Gone
As you know, we do the annual shoot.
Your shots are amazing. I vote for an inclusion of the feel shot.
Angellas last blog post..And So It Begins
I LOVE that last photo!!! Your boys are so handsome and are growing up so quickly!
I take photos a lot, and include them in our Christmas letter. I’ve been doing that since Colin was a baby.
Sharons last blog post..This is Coming… Sooner than you think!
I heart your coat in the outside shots. I’m a huge fan of long coats. I have a bit of a problem with them, in that I have to buy at least one each year.
These are great! I think you should use the boob grab one for a special Christmas insert. ;-) I can see your kids get your sense of fun and being theatrical. It’s awesome.
sizzles last blog post..WTF Friday: Just Eat It
Total slacker here. I don’t think we have more than 1 or 2 family photos of all of us.
I must admit though that when we got married we started doing the santa hat thing-in our wedding garb-and have done it every year. Most are taken on vacation or on a fun family outing. This year I think we’ll take them at my daughter’s new college!
Headless Moms last blog post..Are You Doing Your Part For Breast Cancer?
BTW-you have a beautiful family!!!
Headless Moms last blog post..Are You Doing Your Part For Breast Cancer?
I love the one of you all jumping off that wall. It looks so fun. But I have to tell you the one of the whole family hugging, that is a picture of love right there.
I haven’t had a family photo taken since before I divorced my first husband 26 years ago. I cut the kids pics out of that one, and threw my ex-husband’s face in the trash, hahahaha.
Karens last blog post..Another Gluten Free Biscuit
Total slacker. Fortunately for me my twins’ preschool pictures for 3 years were so incredibly awesome that I didn’t feel the need to schedule any separate shoots. A little worried about their kindergarten photos, which are next week. This leaves no “formal” family shots, but since my husband has a disorder that makes him unable to resist ruining all photographs with a silly face, I guess it is what it is.
Laurins last blog post..Vegging Out and Making New Friends
Great pictures, Loralee. I saved the boob grope one, I might want to use it as wallpaper.
witchypoos last blog post..Spreading the Luv
OK still lurking until I read all the archives, but HAD to comment on how much James has changed from the pics I have seen. Love you, love your family!
New reader delurking to say that those are some cute pictures! We pretty much get two photos a year of our little man and they are done at preschool. We don’t take enough except at birthdays and Christmas.
Susans last blog post..Oh the vampires!
I love the jumping picture. So cool. Sad that I don’t live in Cache Valley. I need some good family pictures taken.
glittersmamas last blog post..Happy Monday!
We did portraits this summer just in case I lost my hair and/or got scary looking. We too were well overdue!
My favourite one is me standing in a hot pink and orange bra and my pants. It’s my statement about cancer. Something along the lines of “put on your big girl panties and get out there and fight”. It won’t make the Christmas card, but it was sure cleansing to do.!
4s last blog post..Goofus and Doofus or Doofus and Goofus
Well, we have only had one “family” Christmas so far, and I was on top of it with a fancy newsletter complete with lots of pictures. I think I set the bar way higher than it needed to be though as I can only think of one thing to put in this years and most people already know that we moved. So much for tradition.
MacKenzies last blog post..Awesome Antique Show Find
Thanks for a good laugh! I love all that groping going on. True love, that is!!
Your family is adorable!
Britts last blog post..General Conference Part II
Because I have a rockin’ camera, I usually tell myself, oh, I can take the pictures, screw Walmart. (We had a bad experience with an idiot photographer there when my daughter (now 6) was 4 months old – haven’t been to any portrait studio since.) I wish I had a Bridgy. I try to do family portraits using my tripod and remote, but they often leave something to be desired.
As for Christmas cards – I handmade them once. Well, twice. Now I usually go the Costco route – because then I get envelopes! But if you ask nice, I’ll design you your own digi ones to get printed… :)
falwyns last blog post..doing the (personal) impossible
Love that last photo!
I used to be good at getting the kiddos pics taken, but have slacked off over the years.
We’re pretty good at the annual Christmas card though.
I take more photos than anyone ever could possibly need, and send them out every Christmas. My mom trained me well. :-)
bethany actuallys last blog post..Mr. Bernie
Great photos! I love the one that you are planning on going with. I am a photo slacker. We have yet to take a family portrait even though I won a silent auction and all I need to do is schedule the appointment. I do take tons of photos of my son but we have few of the three of us together – either my husband or I are always behind the camera.
Renée aka Mekhismoms last blog post..Warm and Fuzzy
You guys are adorable. I especially like the one of you all jumping. Too cute.
Sues last blog post..Uh…Er…Yeah.
Oh my hell those rock! I have always wanted to be one of those women, but I so am not.
Seriously LL, those pictures are fabulous. Fabulous.
That is all. resume normal activities now.
Rachels last blog post..Monkeys, Texans and Ta Tas : Weekly Winners
I win, we’ve have never had a family photo. I attempted a few with my cruddy camera and a tripod, but we’ve never had a professionally taken family photo.
Brigitte is great. She was mine and my sisters wedding photographer.
I like that one outside by the fence.
Mellys last blog post..Toddlers love it, babies not so much.
Adorable photos! I’m positively seething with jealousy. And yes, that means I’m a total family portrait slacker. We used to do it a lot more before Liam was born. We had one done when Liam was 3 months old and haven’t stepped back into a photo studio since. GAH.
Marilyns last blog post..Virginia City with the In-Laws
*sigh* those photos are gorgeous. I was only going through snapshots today and lamenting that I have no professional ones from when my kids were little.
Now 2 of 3 of them are taller than me and the youngest is catching up.
Higher heels methinks.
And I agree, the last one is the winner, but I would totally put the groping ones up in the bathroom
Amazing pictures! I love the 2 with the barn doors. We do family pictures every November, but just something cheap like Kiddie Kandids.
Rachaels last blog post..Trying to Let Go
these pics are great! it’s makes all the difference when the photographer is a friend… you can just feel how comfortable you all are having your photo taken by her.
you are a downright handsome bunch, by the way!
Vanessas last blog post..self portrait challenge – contrast #4
I love the last shot.
Our family photos sit in drawers. I haven’t hung any family photos since we moved here. I really must do another one this year – losing 115 pounds has rendered me unrecognizable in my own pictures. This one will be just me and the girls, as we are now. And I’ll even hang it up.
annas last blog post..amy understands
We are terrible about documenting our life in photos. We always mean to, but it just doesn’t happen… And we have never once sent out Christmas cards. Maybe that will be different once kids are on the scene. But probably not…
Jill – GlossyVeneers last blog post..Invincible
Those pictures look wonderful. I’ve always hated going to studios as well. It is hard to get family candids though.
Jims last blog post..Pet Extravaganza ’08
I’m loathe to go to JC Penneys to get the kids’ pictures taken, but I really should. I haven’t done any of the baby and here he is one in a couple of days.
Your pictures look great and you are oh so lucky to have someone close to you that can do such a good job! The photo you picked (the last one) is wonderful: one big family hug. I also like the one where you’re all jumping off that ledge… lots of fun.
elizabeths last blog post..Time is on someone’s side, but I don’t think it’s mine
Awesome photos, and CONGRATULATIONS!!! I suck at getting the family photos done too. And Christmas cards? What Christmas cards? I say you’re way ahead of the game if you do any at all!
Kazas last blog post..Sleep "Training" AGAIN
I totally adore those photos!!!!
I think about getting photos done from time to time, but I always feel like I should wait until I have more people to send them to. Even though I know my family might enjoy having a current photo of Kasey and I. I don’t know. It always feels like such a family thing to do. I’m not sure if it’s appropriate when you’re dating. Who knows.
I do know photo cards are just about my favorite holiday card to receive.
SparklieSunShines last blog post..An Angela In Hand Is Better Than One Overhead
Every year I say we should take family pictures and every year we don’t do it. My sisters boyfriend takes awesome pics but he recently sold his professional camera.
BTW
Your pictures are beautiful.
marthas last blog post..Monkey Doodle turns 3
That last picture is the best family photo I have ever seen!! I also have a friend who is awsome with the camera and takes pictures whenever we are together, I am sure she will be doing one for Christmas this year since it is our first Christmas with a family and yes I do plan on sending cards with the pics. in them.
i take the kids for photos all the time. all the damn time. way too often. but we’ve NEVER had a family shot taken. i’m guessing we won’t, either, until my oldest has a bat mitzvah in, um, 5 years…
alis last blog post..i gotta poof. or that’s so magic.
Like you, I have a BFF who is a photog. She takes pics of the boyz every year for our cards. I alternate every year between using one of the 3 of them together, and using 3 separate pics of each of them – it’s soooo much easier to get a good pic of each of them ALONE!
Trenches of Mommyhoods last blog post..Eldest’s 7th
I love those pictures – ALL of them!! We’ve one or two amateur family shots, but more of my 3 guys since I’m behind the camera. And about 40 zillion of the boys. I keep saying we should have a family photo taken, I just haven’t gone ahead and scheduled it…
And replacing the other one? Just move it, there’s got to be a place for it somewhere. No need to put it away. :)
I’m a total slacker. I love the family photos. Y’all are very photogenic.
Rachel (Louisiana)s last blog post..Lighten up and buckle down
LOVE those pictures! I really have no reason for photo shoots yet, but my boyfriend and I were talking about finding the cheesiest Christmas sweaters possible and going to have our portrait made next time he’s in town. His mom hasn’t met me yet, so we were going to send her one for Christmas. It’s ashame that my cats are such bitches, cuz it would be great to get a shot of us in our Christmas sweaters while we’re each holding one of the cats…
Corys last blog post..slowly but surely…
No, we’re not a professional photo kinda family, even thought my cousin is a photographer. Our last one was when Bri was 9 months old, she’s almost 7 now. We threatened last year to send a pic of us in White Sox gear to all the Cubs fans in our families, but didn’t do it. I don’t even remember why.
Jennifer As last blog post..I’d like a meal without trains or bendy straws.
I love the oh-so-formal hands-on-boobs shot. I want one, too! For my Christmas card.
Ashleys last blog post..Oh, late flights.
You’ve got a beautiful family! LOVE these shots you’ve shared from the photoshoot!!
Raychelles last blog post..On the House
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