Have you ever tried to take a Christmas photo of your own five children? There are reasons that there are professional photographers, and many reasons that I am not one of them.
I take pretty nice photos, the candid and artistic kind, but I can't get all five of my children to look at me and show something approximating a smile all at the same time. I know because I've tried. I've tried on many occasions at all times of day. I've dragged them outside when the sun is just peeking over the horizon and the day is new. I've taken pictures when the noonday sun illuminates all the world around us. I've shot them when the children are all curled up in a quiet moment in the house. I hate every one I've taken.
What is a mom to do four weeks to Christmas, on a tight budget that doesn't include professionally photographed Christmas cards, and a huge list of relatives who will be disappointed if they don't get a picture this year?
Is it that I haven't captured that elusive, and I fear fictional, perfect moment when the stars align and the children look exactly the way I imagine they will? Or is it that I have set my standard of what is acceptable too high? All I want are images which show how lovely our mob is and not make them cringe at their imagination of our lives. I worry about what other people think of us, and more truly what they think of the choices we have made. I have one chance every year to change the minds of the nay-sayers and this year I'm falling down on the job.
I have heard all of the trite sayings about paying no attention to the opinions of other people, but the truth is that deep down we all do. There is not one of us who really welcome derision and scorn. We all want a measure of approval for the way in which we lead our lives, even those of us who are counter-cultural. Maybe especially those of us who are counter-cultural. We live so far outside the boundaries of what is "normal" for the rest of society that it can make us question if we really are as strange as other people think us to be.
It's asking a lot of one photograph, and I know it. I don't care. I just want to shoot that one which makes people sigh and get misty-eyed and wish they could be at my house on Christmas morning because that must be a fun time. And it is, it really is.
6 comments:
Not that I wasn't already thankful to be living within a short two-three hour drive of the Creamers... but I'm even more so thankful now. I understand about the yearly picture saying to the world: "look, we are good... I can do it!" As much as I don't want to care what 'they' think, I'd still like to prove them wrong. ;-)
---> Little ol me, awaitin the professional portraits taken of her kiddos last week.
I've tried (and failed). Now it's all about PhotoShop. Take a picture of the background. Then put them in their approximate places (one at a time) as if they were sitting next to each other and take picture(s). Then cut and paste their precious little hearts into a single photo. Add some smoothing, voila!
Sometimes the best pictures are the natural ones (fighting, not looking, etc). We must appreciate reality and not live in fantasy!! I always strive for the perfect picture too though...
Colleen's point is similar to mine.
Firstly though, I know exactly what you are talking about Mom!
Its so difficult!
I tried this morning coincidently...out in the garden, in pretty dresses with their hair neatly done! Haha.
I always find the natural ones are the best by far, children don't look themselves, sitting their with a fake smile and awkward pose.
I would get them to all hold hands out in the garden (with nice background), then get them to run towards you, or walk.
Sometimes that makes such a lovely photo.
Keep getting them to then walk away holding hands, and then walk or run back to you (in a line), and you keep snapping till you get a good shot.
You should capture the laughter on their faces, but they have to obey and not let go of each others hands.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do:)
Oh, and I forgot to mention, I agree, it is difficult to not care about what others think...I have always cared too much.
However, since hearing a saying from Mother Angelica from EWTN, it has helped me a lot to let go, and concentrate on these words...
Mother Angelica - "Life is not a popularity contest."
Take another good look at the Easter picture I sent you. I never would have picked that one but the girl at the photo counter at Wal Mart said, "Really, it is the best one," even though I thought it was terrible.
Love, Suzanne
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