In the course of almost every session with a new client, I can be pretty sure that they will comment on how many portraits of my own kids I must have at home. Usually, people say something like “I bet the walls in your home are FULL.” Well yes, I do have portraits of my kids here. Quite a few, in fact, and most of them are biiiiiiig. But I don’t have as many recent photos as people would think, because its not often that I have the time to photograph my own kids. And even less often that they want to be photographed. I made a promise to myself to capture more of my own kid’s moments this year, so yesterday when I found myself with some unexpected free time on a beautiful late afternoon, the kids and I headed out to shoot a little.
So… this is what it looks like when a photographer takes her outgoing and adorable “four and three quarter” year old out to do portraits on an unusually cold December afternoon in South Texas.
We had just gotten out to our location and already, her patience was worn pretty thin… she chose the outfit, and she let me choose the location, but she really wanted to do her own posing. Since Charley’s posing is usually very “Hannah Montana” and that’s not really the look I was going for (since I just wanted a Christmas portrait for the grandparents) I told her she couldn’t art direct these. But she was cold. And she needed mittens. And maybe a cute matching scarf. With little pom-poms.
So once I realized we were nearing the meltdown stage, I decided to let her wiggle a little bit. She was cold and she just needed to move a little more. The whole project was totally worth it just to get this series of dancing shots. She obviously gets her wicked rock-star dance moves from me.
We were exhausted and very cold when we got home, but the whole experience reminded me of how much I need this time with my kids. I help other people document their family history every day, and yesterday reminded me of how important it is for me to make sure that my family history is being recorded, too. And yes, we did get some “pretty shots” of Charlotte. I’ll need to go back out with Mac, who would always rather be behind the camera than in front of it, but as far as Charley is concerned, we accomplished our mission for the day.
And yes, Laura, the selective color is just for you. I know how you love it. 
One big shout-out: BETH, I am getting your emails but I don’t think you’re getting mine, and the phone number I have on file for you has changed. I hate for people to think I’m ignoring them, so I hope you check the blog!
