Getting a family portrait is a rare event in our household which is ironic considering many families come to me to make memorable portraits for them.
Another irony? I confess I am EXTREMELY camera-shy. I much prefer to be behind the camera than in front of it. I am the first to offer to take a picture so I don't have to be in it. I also am not a big fan of how I look and I am not photogenic, not even a teeny tiny bit.
If I had the means and the opportunity, I would travel to Indiana with the fam to have Bobbi and Mike photograph us. I seriously heart their style and I love their fun personalities. My husband doesn't like taking pictures either. If anyone could get my family to cooperate and loosen up and have a fun time with a session, it would be them.
But alas, I do not have the means (soccer, music lessons, and other kid activities are expensive and I can only work part time) nor the opportunity (our calendar is kind of full with school, practices, games, meets, lessons, meetings, and various other activities).
So?
So that means I am forced to throw together an opportunity and usually it is short and sweet. Every session of my kids that you have seen here has lasted no longer than 30 minutes. And the ones with all of us? Maybe 10 minutes at the most. As a result, our family portraits have been few and far between. We did one in 2009. Before that, it was 2005. And before that, 2001.
This past weekend, we went up to our cabin to put it back together. This past winter, it had flooded and the inside had to be completely gutted and redone. We spent the weekend cleaning and putting furniture back in it and getting it back in the condition for family and friends to enjoy. So on Sunday, right after we got back from church up at the "true lake" (we laugh about this every time we are there - at a testimony meeting once, someone got up and bore their testimony that Panguitch Lake was the true lake), I made my family get dressed to get a family picture.
It took us longer to get dressed, walk out the front door of our cabin, and trek across the meadow than it did to get this shot.
One of the photographers I follow on facebook Michelle of Pinkle Toes Photography posted the following in her status back in May -
"If you have not had family pictures taken within the past 3 years, promise me right now that tomorrow morning, you will find someone to do it. I don't care if it's a neighbor, I don't care if it's a portrait studio, I don't care if it's a tripod and a remote. Just do it. We have no guarantees in life, but at least we can have the photos to prove that we were here, we were together, and we were happy."
I can't tell you how many times I have said "I will get our pictures done when I drop a pound or two or twenty!" How is it I tell my clients that I live to capture their personality and beauty because everyone, no matter who you are, or what you look like, possesses it, but I don't think I do?
Like I said before, I have this firm belief that I am so not photogenic and that if on the other side of the camera, I will break it, but inspired by what Michelle has said I decided WE NEED TO DO THIS. My kids are growing up fast and before I know it they will be gone and out of the house.
So I handed the camera over to my SIL to snap a pic and here we are. It is far from perfect. I don't like the way I look but it is us. Together. Now. As we are.
And because the only pictures I have of Ryan and I together ever are just vacation pictures, I had my SIL Jen snap one of us too.
