This went better than last year, but still a challenge. It will be nice when I can say, "Sit there and smile, kids." And although these pictures are nice (and also better than last year's Babies R Us photos), Sears Portrait Studio held these pictures for ransom and kept me there for 3 hours waiting...waiting...waiting for them to put them up on computer that I knew I would hardly be able to see until I bought something. (I was planning to buy, but I was trying to convince them that making me purchase pics of proofs I could barely see from a computer screen was unfair and why can't I take them home and order later? I even offered to put down a deposit of some kind to be able to do this. But NO. They'd rather kidnap me and my dirty diapered, tired, crying and hungry children until I decided what to buy based on absolutely nothing but one goofy salesgirl's opinion. The same salesgirl, who, when I inquired as to whether a particular picture could be flipped so my kid was facing the reverse direction, said, "Oh, you don't want to do that. The other side of the tricycle has a missing pedal." Um, yeah. And I'm supposed to trust her to pick out pictures of my kids? Oh? Am I still writing in parenthesis? I am. I'll stop now and let you see the pics.)
I was going for an old-timey depression era farmboy look that was just begging to be sepia-ed. I was also looking for props the kids would be interested in playing with to relax them and distract them from the crazy, shrill faux sneezing lady that was snapping bright lights at them. In between some tears, we got these:
Aaron
Naim
Aaron
And one more try at getting both to look the right direction and smile...
...Can't be done. But I'm not a big fan of pictures where everyone just poses and looks at the camera with a big fake smile. Indigo girl had some beautiful pictures of her twin girls done that I was completely jealous of (they are password protected, so you'll have to trust me on that) but the photographer had them outside at a park, I think, and just took shots of them doing the natural stuff kids do. I might have to splurge for a real photographer next year, if possible.
It will be nice when I can say, "Sit there and smile, kids."
I'm guessing that will never happen... But it doesn't matter. These pictures are great!
Posted by: Amanda/Mayhem Mama | August 27, 2006 at 12:22 PM
The pictures are very sweet.
Posted by: Katja | August 27, 2006 at 02:09 PM
CUTE CUTE CUTE!!!! Thank you for sharing!
Posted by: Susan | August 27, 2006 at 04:04 PM
Very cute!
My photographer basically runs after them with her camera while we try to corral (sp?) them and get them to laugh. It's like herding cats.
Posted by: Linda | August 27, 2006 at 07:20 PM
Sorry, I am rolling on the floor about the tricycle pedal. Lordy, lordy it would make you weep if you didn't laugh. Wonderful pictures but I am entranced by the one with the wagon and book. They are so natural there and, of course, beautiful as well. You do such a great job.
Posted by: Gillian | August 27, 2006 at 10:02 PM
The bottom line is that they look really happy and healthy. They are cute kids, no matter what.
Posted by: shannon | August 28, 2006 at 12:03 PM
They are so cute!! The pictures came out great! I know what you mean about wishing you could say "just sit there and smile." We just had a session with our 19 month old son and it took a photographer with a quick trigger finger and my husband and I putting on a broadway show behind her to get a few great shots of him smiling in the right direction.
Posted by: Meredith | August 28, 2006 at 04:44 PM
That reminds me, the daughter and sil have stacks of pictures of my grandson in which they are working to get a 'Christmas Card Picture' and he is a roar. he will look like an orphaned two year old at Ellis Island. He gets very involved with the props. He keeps turning his head to see the gas fireplace flickering behind it's glass enclosure. Then it is a lovely shot of the back of Adam's curious head. Heaps of fun for them, but the grandparents adore all his outtakes.
Posted by: Gillian | August 30, 2006 at 12:03 AM
Naim looks like one of those people who just lives in the moment, whatever the moment is (a delightful quality).
Aaron is gonna be trouble. That smile!Those eyes!
They are great pictures.
Posted by: That Girl | August 31, 2006 at 05:33 AM
those pics are SO cute. i love that bike. the one of the two of them...i think aaron is pointing at naim?)..is adorable! i also am jealous of indigo girl's pics.
Posted by: karla | September 03, 2006 at 12:19 PM
Come back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We miss you!!!!!!!!!!!
That's whining, not shouting.
Posted by: shannon | September 08, 2006 at 10:18 AM
I miss your long, thoughtful posts, but I trust you're using the time for other good purposes in your life. Hope all is well and good with you and your family.
Posted by: Emmie (Better Make It A Double) | September 09, 2006 at 11:00 AM
If Shannon's not too proud to whine, then neither am I. I hope everything is going ok for you these days.
Posted by: luolin | September 11, 2006 at 12:28 PM