Say cheese...

I've got lots of candid shots of my kids, but not very many more formal, posed pictures of all of them together. And so, it's time for me to get out the camera, dress all the kids up, pose them somewhere nice and green in the yard, and attempt to take their picture. I don't mean to be melodramatic, but this prospect has me all nervous and just a little scared.

I used to get their picture taken in a studio, but it's gotten to be too much of an ordeal. First, you have to pick a time to go when it's not anyone's nap time, then you have to get them all dressed and make sure they don't soil their clothes, then you have to do their hair all cute and not let them mess it up, and then you have to drive at least 30 minutes away to the nearest studio (that I can afford). Do you know what can happen during those 30 minutes? Well, a lot, apparently. Then, when you finally get into the studio, you have to get all the kids to look at the camera, smile, keep fingers out of their own and each other's facial orifices, and be still--all at the same time. Those poor little photographers are completely wiped out by the end of the session and get a weird, crazed look in their eyes and a whole-body twitch. I'm sure they're seriously rethinking their career choice or thanking heaven above they're only doing this till they graduate from college.

I have a very talented sister-in-law (Sarah, I'm talking about you) who is a great photographer. I've considered asking her to take their picture, but I treasure her too much to risk losing her friendship over this.

And so, I'm left with only one other option: taking their portrait myself. I'm planning on doing it this Sunday after church. That way, they're already dressed and their hair is already done. I'm writing about it now because I need some time to get psyched up for it.

I'll post the results of our photo shoot next week, but for now, please enjoy this lovely photographic progression of shots taken for Father's Day last year.