When I first became a mother, I planned elaborate photo shoots with my daughter. I hoped to capture every moment, every memory on film. I was absolutely amazed that I played a part in creating this lovely little person and wanted to document her journey here on earth. I had a schedule. She would get her pictures taken every three months–and that’s just counting professional photos. I would spend hours selecting outfits, booking appointments and picking proofs. I was disappointed when she refused to smile, fought me over wardrobe changes or didn’t want to be bothered. I spent hundreds of dollars on photography sessions, and after exhausting my energy and money, I ended up placing the pictures in a drawer, forgetting to distribute them to all of our family members. And as time went on, I didn’t stick to the schedule. Sometimes we took photos back-to-back. Other times we went months without posing for a picture. And you know what? My favorite photo is one that wasn’t planned! I hardly had on any makeup, and it was late at night on her first birthday. My talented cousin lit the picture beautifully.
Now, I don’t follow a calendar. I schedule Christmas card shoots, but other than that, we live life, snapping shots when we feel like it. This morning, a friend of mine, Joanne Wallington, who’s beautiful family is featured in this story, reminded me that you can’t control family photography. Here’s a simple way to get a shot without getting stressed.
Photos Courtesy: Danae Hampton
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BMWK – Please share with us your experiences with trying to get a family photo. Did you ever pay for pictures…only to forget to share them?