do your kids cooperate with photos?

Small hijack: my mom wants a picture of our family so she can put it in HER Christmas cards.

Ok, I feel a little better now.

Well, good news, I hope. We got a different session for early next week, slightly later than yesterday evening, and DH might be able to be there. If he's late, we're absolutely waiting for him this time.

[peggyfromwastate]

Hope it all works out!!!

[houseelf]

We have gone through variations of this through the years. Last Friday, we had all of my mom's grandkids try to make a portrait together. Unfortunately, they had a train table in the waiting room of the studio which DS2 did not get to play with at all before the shoot. He was one pissed off little toddler and every picture shows it. If this was just my family, I would have blown it off, but it was extended family and we had gone through the trouble of setting up an appointment over the break in a city two hours away and purchased coordinating outfits. Kris actually called me during this fiasco and I asked her if she would run away with me because I was annoyed, embarrassed, and overwhelmed. Anyway, I *hope* that they can photoshop his one good face pose into the best group picture. I haven't seen the shots yet. My mom deserves at least one good shot of her grandkids.

Honestly, however, at this age, it is just hit or miss. Your best bet is photoshop.

[alison]

You can totally Photoshop a different face into the picture you like. It might not look natural, but you can do it! Dh photoshopped my parents' dog into a photo once! .

[SoonerTexan]

The Christmas Cards Rejects: I made the awful mistake of waking him up from a nap and trying to immediately take the picture--he's just awful for the 1st 15 minutes after waking up. Then he's fine. It had to be done that night though--he only shaves once a week (for their weekly "colleges" meeting) so I had a short window...

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[MDPhDWife]

Ever since the girls were infants I've taken them to the JCPenny or Sears to get an annual Christmas photo of them and 8 out of 10 times it's a nightmare and stresses me out. The photographers there aren't experienced and getting everyone to smile or cooperate at the same time is always a challenge. When they were younger I went through great lengths to schedule our appointment w/ nap & meal time which proved difficult because I had to also coordinate the appointment I would make for them to get their hair done. Drives me nuts! While we are at the mall and their hair is done, I usually take them for their Santa photo too. It's gotten easier as they've gotten older but I still dread it every year.

This is why I pay good money for my photographer - she's great with the kids and takes the time to get great photos. Our session in early November was a JOKE! I was positive that A was going to be a handful and R was going to be easy and it ended up being exactly the opposite yet B still got amazing photos of both of them and several great family photos.

Cheri, your photographer is AWESOME!!! I love love love how your kiddos portraits turn out every year!

[SuzySunshine]

Thanks and I don't mean to insinuate its the only way you'll get great photos. Jenn P has a great photographer too and mine does use photoshop when necessary. We took A to a studio, I think it was Kiddie Kandids, once and it was a nightmare so we always go the professional route.

[ladymoreta]

Could you talk to your photographer about using a different lens? I'm not sure of the terms, but I have one where I can stand really far away, and it zooms in a lot. Maybe if the photographer were farther away, you could get him into a more relaxed mood, and then do something like "look over there!" Or maybe even just have more candid shots, rather than a posed, everyone staring at the camera picture?

I'm dreading if/when DS starts to rebel against pictures. I love posing him and taking pictures!

I hate the stiffly posed pics to, so I go with a more "photojournalistic" approach when selecting photographers. Somehow the a,ways managentonget several great pics of the whole group. More like this www.parigostudios.com

Oh -didn't see Cheri's post. . Brandi (Cheri's photog) is really great, too. Hers and mine are two very different styles - it's a matter of preference. I also agree with the value of using someone with training & a good portfolio. Sears and the like just hire off the street, but there are also a lot of folks who just happen to have a flair for it and hang out their shingle as a pro. Their results can vary widely, and you could end up with a mess. FWIW, it doesn't have to be super pricey. My photogs are $100 for the sitting fee & you buy prints ala carte (5x7 is $14). I checked out another photographer here (my pilates instuctor's best friend) and was floored. $200 sitting fee,and a 5x7 was $70!

I hate the stiffly posed pics to, so I go with a more "photojournalistic" approach when selecting photographers. Somehow the a,ways managentonget several great pics of the whole group. More like this www.parigostudios.com

I haven't seen Cheri's pics, but I love the ones on that site - creative & full of life. That is *not* what we'll be sending out this year! LOL... Oh well, we'll see if we can find someone when we're settled in next year.

My photogs are $100 for the sitting fee & you buy prints ala carte (5x7 is $14). I checked out another photographer here (my pilates instuctor's best friend) and was floored. $200 sitting fee,and a 5x7 was $70!

You have a great price! The one I checked out was a whole heck of a lot more. I was so shocked, I didn't even shop around anymore. What really got me was the hourly post-processing fee. And then the sky-high minimum order.

My sister was so pissed that day but now, we all love the pictures of her crying. While I don't want to advocate forcing kids to do something that scares them, the pictures are very sweet in retrospect.

They did get one of DS peeking over the sofa. I was too upset to order it, but maybe I should! If he had been in any of the other photos, I'd get the electronic copies & do some photoshopping. But he wouldn't come out for any shots. We'll see what we get next week.

[Chrisada]

I'll let this last picture session speak for itself.

Oh - that's crazy. A post-processing per-hour fee? No way. The Parigos come to you (might even be willing to meet you somewhere between here & Witchita once you move for a small up charge ). No hidden prices. They. Are. Awesome. If you look on their blog in May 2010, May 2009 and October 2007 you'll see us. We're even in their pricing PDF (I think Davita's daughter might be, too).

Oh - and no minimum order, either.