Last year, I featured some pictures from a failed holiday card photo shoot. It was attempted right before we left for holiday cocktails at our neighbors’ house.
This year on New Year’s Eve, history repeated itself.
I looked at my children all dressed up (forget about dressed up – they were all DRESSED!) and thought, “okay – it’s go time.“
I herded everyone over to the Christmas tree, frantically kicking shoes, toys and unidentified objects out of the shot, and then proceeded to ask, cajole, bribe and threaten them to “stand still and look at me!“
It was a complete disaster as usual…
…but I was able to get ONE semi-decent picture of them:
Sadly, I had to make them sit – so the backdrop is the not-so-prime real estate at the bottom of the Christmas tree. Very few ornaments are featured there, and they’re all ones that I don’t mind losing to a stray karate kick or airborne toy.
And to add insult to injury, Eleanor looks like she has a Celtic cross growing out of her head (ornament courtesy of a wedding we attended in 2001 – continued best wishes to you, Cathleen and Sean!) Her princess crown from Target helps, but I may have to attempt some Photoshop editing.
All in all, I’m thrilled and expect to see even more improvement over the 2010 holidays. Who knows – maybe we’ll actually send out a holiday card. A girl can dream…
The "success" picture is adorable (though I agree that the cross sticking out of her head has to go LOL) but it's those outtakes that really take the (forgive me for the obvious choice) cake – they are hysterical and are the stuff that real memories are made of.
I love them all Kate. And I have to admit, when I first saw this photo in my email I thought it was funny that you put a tiara on her for the photo! Then I realized it was just an ornament – so funny! Better luck next year!
I'm laughing because we had the same problems. They ended up having to sit down and then still another 30 minutes of cajoling/threatening/bribing and finished product has only 1 of them looking at the camera.
In a series they would actually be pretty cute/funny :) Because any parent can relate! But that last one did turn out really well!
All of those pictures are completely adorable – and hilarious! I think anyone would enjoy a card with any of those pictures on them ;)
Happy New Year!
This is hysterical. I love seeing the failed photos, mostly because I have oodles of them myself. You wouldn't think it would be that hard to get three kids to sit together nicely and smile for what would literally take 4 seconds if they were good about it. But it is nearly impossible.
Loved seeing the out-takes! The personalities really come out. I get a big kick out of them. I do love the finished product. Particularly handsome Oliver looking so grown up.
Love the photos! I can't tell you how many I have to take before I get just one 'good' one.
Oh, yes! I gave up trying to get a "Christmas Picture." I just go through the millions I've taken throughout the year and pick a good one or three for the Christmas card.
I love the misses.
I am LOVING these pics!! So adorable!! I've missed reading your blog because I've been so damn busy.
I love the imperfect pictures the best. Because that reminds us how life truly is lived. Of course, I can say this, since I didn't even bother with holiday cards this year. But as I was moving to another country, I felt excused. Or I excused myself. Which is just as meaningful
heee heee! they are so darn cute. i always imagined i'd have adorable well dressed kids like that. oh well.
btw, in my wedding photos there is a microphone coming out of my head in every one. pre photoshop days.
I love them all!! I especially love the looks on the boys' faces in that first one!
I totally forgot to get pictures of my boys in front of our tree until Christmas day. Normally, I make them put on a full photo shoot when we decorate the thing, but they put it up with my husband one afternoon when I was gone, and for a brief moment, I was so heartbroken that I nearly made them re-do it, but then I forgot…and thus the late photos. Suffice to say, they were too busy eye balling their gifts rather than looking at the camera. I'll never have a holiday photo card!
I kind of like the cross sticking out of her head. It's character. :)
Oh my gosh Kate, your kids are so adorable. If you figure out the trick to photographing three kids, let me know.
However, I think these pictures have way more character than the perfectly posed ones.
Haha. That last picture is pretty good! I thought the celtic cross was part of your daughter's tiara. I can't even get a decent picture of my 2 boys – so I've no clue how you'd do it with 3!
You are sooo not alone in this. I take scores of pictures every year, and invariably, the ones with the best expressions are least in focus because they moved over as they smiled, and so it's a crystal clear picture of the branch directly behind them. The ones in focus are usually terrible. And if there were three of them instead of only two? I shudder to think.
Happy Holidays, though! Your children are adorable, funny faces and all.