family photo time

Being a mom who is obsessed with preserving memories of her family is a big job.  At least I make it one.  I've learned a few lessons.  I got a card for a free newborn sitting and a digital 8x10 so I took Maximus because I thought, "Hey, it's free.  What could go wrong?"  Well, we enter the "studio," which happens to be in the lady's basement, and the scene from Napoleon Dynamite comes to my mind where Deb is taking Pedro's photo and needs something soft and billowy.  The process was long and slow.  The photos were fine.  Of course I thought they were cute.  They were my newborn.  But I didn't really like her style, and I won't even say how much they were because it is embarrassing that I paid that much for photos that I don't LOVE.  I am a wimp, and didn't have the guts to just walk out with the free one.  So, when Maximus is 18, he will say, "Well, I can't go to college because my parents spent the money on a photo shoot.  But, hey, I have these sweet pictures of me as an infant sleeping and for whatever reason I am butt naked on a soft and billowy blanket."  Just kidding, I didn't spend that much.  And maybe when I am not so bitter about the whole experience, I will post the photos. 

Fast forward a month and it is time to think about Christmas cards.  

There are reasons why we haven't had a family photo taken since Samuel was 10 months old.  The biggest one is that it is a pain.  Thinking up outfits, getting everyone dressed, getting to the appointment on time.  All of this while trying to keep everyone happy enough to smile for a photo.  And, well, for the reason that I wrote about above, our photo budget was just about spent. 

I'll admit, a certain six year old made a few of my photos really really hard to smile for but we got one.  ONE.  One photo good enough for a Christmas card.  That was all I was asking for.  So the rest of these are just a bonus.  What a more than pleasant surprise.  

I got a photo that I love of each of my kids (that I love, too :)).  Merry Christmas to me (in my head, I sing it to the tune of the Happy Birthday song).  All for a mega reasonable price.  And that, in my mind, makes things even more beautiful.

The photographer started off with some individuals of the older kids...

She was the gem of the family.  Agreeable and helpful.  Thank you, Eva.

 I think he doesn't know how to fake smile or be happy on demand or whatever it takes to get a natural shot.  But this one works for me.  

 I want to kiss those creases on that forehead.  

 Can you believe this shot?  He was so fussy and somehow she got this one.  I need to blow it up and hang it on my wall.  Automatic smile on my face every time I see it. 

 I wanted to show off the "Big Bro" and "Big Sis" t-shirts that I bought for Eva and Samuel but they didn't really show.  But I guess it doesn't really matter, my eyes go right to their faces.  Yeah, and we kind of thought that Maximus might have the Lisa Ling eye thing going on (and if you don't know what I am talking about that is because you are nice and those things don't matter to you) and this photo kind of confirms that thought.  Figure he will outgrow it.  

 Can't speak for Karl, but it turns out the experience wasn't all that bad.  It only took an hour.  And when I saw the photos, it was totally worth it.  I swear the kids have already grown since these were taken.  And it has only been three days.  

Lessons learned:  All photo shoots are not created equal.  A crappy photo shoot can, if anything, make you really really appreciate a non crappy photo shoot.  

Camera Indecision

Best Friend modeling her Canon XSi

Karl says to me, "Do you love all the compliments you get on your blog?"  Such an easy question to respond sarcastically.  Too easy.  So, yes, I love them.  I do get an occasional, "Mom you look pretty" or "You are a really good cook" (after I opened up a can of raviolis), but as far as compliments go, I don't get a whole lot since most of my time is spent with a 4 year old and a 6 year old.  Most of what I do doesn't really drum up compliments (laundry, sweeping, you know...), and that is natural and normal, I suppose.  But, really, who doesn't love a compliment?  

In short it goes like this:

Christina, would you rather

a) clean the toilet

b) clear the self-clutter-producing counter, again

c) go stop Samuel

d) go encourage Eva to hurry

e) read a nice comment on your blog

Answer:  Easy, e.

So, thanks for the photo compliments.  I love them.  They are such a nice little break from the same old routine (or non-routine, we are kind of chaotic).  It is especially nice to get compliments on something I worked at.  I also love compliments like "Your kids are so cute" or "Your kids are so funny" but I didn't really work at that, they just came out that way.  

I took a couple of classes (not like the community ed. one we took a few years ago) from Nicole Hill (a for reals pro photographer) and it made me take my camera off "auto" and opened up a whole new world to me.  I know I will never be a pro or anything but since I take a billion photos, it was really good to get some direction.

My birthday was about a month and a half ago.  Karl gave me a big ol' envelope full of cash to go and buy a camera.  But the problem is, I can't decide what to get.  Isn't that always the case?  If you can't have something, you know exactly what you want.  

I have been using a Pentax k100.  I bought it from my sister for a few hundred dollars and it has been a really good camera to learn with.  I love it.  I also love that I have dropped it a few times and Samuel has dropped it even more and I don't need to have a heart attack whenever it happens.  The problem is that I need (yes, need) to get some lenses and it isn't worth it to invest in lenses for this camera.  I want to go either Nikon or Canon and am leaning towards Canon just because I have noticed that the photographers that I admire use them (of the ones whose cameras I have seen).

 

Canon came out with a Rebel with a video mode called the T1i that I am leaning towards.

Pros:  Small, video mode might be fun with cool lenses, eliminates the need for me to carry around a video camera in some cases.

Cons:  I might wish I got something fancier.  The handle is a little awkward.  It isn't out until May.

There is also the XSI that is kind of like the T1i but without the video mode and records in a few less megapixels.  But I don't need that many

Pros:  The cheapest option

Cons:  The cheapest option

But then it makes me wonder if I am going to spend the money if I should go for the heftier 40d 

Pros:  6 frames per second (perfect for taking a bunch of dance and play shots and then choosing a decent one from the sequence).  Only $90 more than the T1i.  

Cons:  Would be too heavy to take some places.  So big it makes me look like I know what I am doing.  Uses a different memory card so I would have to start a whole new system.

or maybe I should "invest" and get the 50d.  

Pros:  6 frames per second.  Bigger viewing screen.

Cons:  More money.  All the same cons as the 40d.  The envelope that was provided might need to be added to on Mother's day and our anniversary to buy this one.

I do know that I want these two lenses:

The Canon 18-200 mm lens, kind of a jack of all trades, all in one that will let me take pictures of my kids and my food when they are near and far.

&

The 50 mm f/1.8, a relatively inexpensive lens that will let me take photos with a low f-stop with means I need less light and the background with be more fuzzy. 

I hate decisions.  If you are a good decision maker, please help me.  I change my mind every few minutes but maybe writing this will get me one step closer to a decision.

I meant for this to be a short post, but apparently, I am incapable.

who has a picture of her mom laughing her head off?

I do.  And I love it.

Thanks, Justin Hackworth.

He is doing this project called 30 Strangers and I saw something on it when I was looking at blogs and avoiding all the things that I should have been doing.  Well, my procrastination/terrible housekeeping skills paid off.  I knew they would, someday.  We were so lucky to be one of the 30.  His focus was moms and daughters, as many generations as we could.  Check him out, I think his stuff is pretty amazing.

I take so so so many photos.  It was kind of fun to be on this side of the camera.  Not like watch your kids on the roller coaster fun or out to lunch with the girls fun.  This was a fun that I have never experienced.  Yes, I was hoping he was going to make me look like a super model (you're lying if you say you haven't secretly hoped that before).  Yes, he made me look like me, instead.  Yes, I understand that is perfectly alright.  He had some major make-you-feel-comfortable-in-front-of-the-camera-skills.  I didn't know photographers were this good.  Like, my wedding photographer?  During my bridal shoot I told him I didn't want to sit the victorian looking chaise lounge that the pulled out. If you know me, you know it doesn't suit me.  He kicked the thing across the floor and said, "Who is the photographer here?" Uh.  I don't know.  The scary guy that just kicked the chair?  Maybe it is because  I took my kids to Target to get their photos.  With Justin?  He knew just what to say to make Eva stop doing the fakey smile.  He didn't make us hold any fakey flowers or tilt our head like we were posing for the D package.  I walked away all feeling all giddy and super impressed. 

These are the photos he posted (in order of my favorite):

Oh, and to top it off?  After the shoot we walked over and got some gelato and sweet Eva picked me some flowers.  Lucky, huh?