All I really wanted was one framer of the kids at the pumpkin patch! Seriously, why must this be SO HARD?
I think a lot about becoming a professional photographer, but as evidenced by my ability to take staged photos of my own children, I don’t think I have the touch. Nearly everyday I read blogs about how to become a pro photographer!!, how to take great pictures!!, how to get children to stop looking like doofuses in your pictures!!
I guess I need to study the sites that are devoted to how get your children to stop looking like doofuses a little more.
I also either need to obtain a cattle prod to keep people and their butts out of my pictures…
The picture below! It is so cute, actually…except, wait…someone’s butt is ruining my picture.
Maybe next year!
A year ago, I couldn’t get a good picture of the kids either. Two years ago I was definitely not on House Hunters.
The hardest photos I have to get are those of my kids. You know, just in case you were wondering.
You should try to play around with photoshop and see if you can’t get that butt outta the shot. It is time consuming but fun to remove stuff from photos.
Domestic Extraordinaire´s last [type] ..I think my children are trying to kill me
I actually love these pictures! (except for the random butt- no one needs to see that!) I, too, have given up taking anything resembling a posed picture of my kids and just pray for a good candid. What kind of a camera do you have? (Sorry- I have serious camera envy and am trying to save to get a better one than mine right now.) I know that using a prime lense will beautifully blur all backgrounds- random rears included.
Sharon Byrne´s last [type] ..My Inner Dork is showing
I have at Canon 50D and was using my 24-70 lens. It doesn’t help that I was taking pictures at the worst possible time of day, wish I could have used a larger aperture to blur the background more!
Oh girl – You don’t even know the struggle I have with this also. My 2 little girls (ages 2 & 3 ) are the worst kids ever when it comes to pictures . I can’t get them at all to look at the camera – So now I just take pictures and call it good – So when they grow up , I have proof that I tried my best , but they would not cooperate .
Oh man! I will attempt to curb my camera envy. Ha. I learned on a super awesome Canon something or other…you know…back when cameras had “film” and pictures needed to be “developed.” Its totally frustrating to take a gajillion shots and only get a couple good ones. Totally love your pictures though.
Sharon Byrne´s last [type] ..My Inner Dork is showing
This is EXACTLY why I have started photographing other people’s children for practice. My kids are so sick of having a camera in their face that Nate is almost rude about it when I pull out the camera.
I recently did a post about what REALLY happens when I try to photograph my boys together. Hint – it includes punching:
http://jonandlaura.blogspot.com/2010/09/anatomy-of-photo-shoot-with-two-boys.html
PS. I love summer pics bc they can wear sunglasses and you can’t even tell they aren’t looking at the camera!
LauraC´s last [type] ..A mommy milestone
Haha! I’m so with you on this one…..I start taking pictures of my kids this time of year in hopes of getting a shot that is good enough for a Christmas card…..it just may take me the next 3 months. Nothing works with my kids….not even bribery.
ha ha! I totally empathize. I have a beautiful one of one of my sons from the summer. It has a very large busted woman in a very skimpy bikini top – just right so I can’t crop it!!
Cortney @ Evan Has Landed´s last [type] ..Wordless Wednesday- Passing Time
You could always Photoshop a target over that butt.
lceel´s last [type] ..Slightly Wordy Wednesday
I quite happen to like the second to last. Your daughter’s face is cracking me up.
C @ Kid Things´s last [type] ..The Faces of My Daughter
That’s just about how our trip to the stupid pumpkin patch went, too. My daughter wouldn’t cooperate, and even when she just naturally looked cute without bothering to pose (haha! Mommy caught you!), some random kid would walk in front of her. It’s really a wonder I didn’t become violent right there among the pumpkins. Happy fall!
Mary @ Giving Up on Perfect´s last [type] ..He Knows Me
Damn, that one is so cute, minus the butt of course! Any chance you could post process that thing out?! (and it’s not just you, btw)
I think all those pictures are gosh darn cute! I feel your pain. Our Christmas card home photo shoots every year are so hilarious. I pray for ONE good photo to use out of the hundreds we take. My kids are 2 and 4. I’m hoping it gets better in a couple years.
PopMommy Pam´s last [type] ..Giraffes and Ice Cream Cones
I bribe my kids with Smarties. I must have told you this before right? Hmmm. I can’t remember for certain if I have. Ok, well, I keep smarties in my camera bag. They get one each (not one packet, one smartie) for each photo they don’t look like jerks in. My older two especially like to passive-aggressively cover their mouth with their hand, or do some weird fakey smile. (Smarties are great b/c they are not messy, not sticky, and can be eaten quickly w/o showing up in the next photo.
Also? I think it’s a million times easier to photograph someone else’s kids. Our own kids are sick of us and comfortable with us…
Marie Green´s last [type] ..Our Groove
You have told me the Smarties trick, however I had forgotten, so I’m very happy you reminded me!! Now I know what I’m stealing out of the kids trick or treating loot.
I hate when people walk into my photos too. /sigh
I want a good picture of my three kids together and every time I try it is an unmitigated disaster, even with my adult daughter trying to help. I think it’s easier with other people’s kids. Just a theory.
amy2boys´s last [type] ..Music & Molasses
My favorite post yet. Someone in the room, reading along with me, MAY have snorted.
(shhhh… I’m alone today.)
Still they’re great shots.
(you’re not the only one who daydreams and obsesses about becoming a “professional” photographer…)
Auburn Gal Always (Keri)´s last [type] ..seven
Please…I take photos for a photography business and for the newspaper and I always get kids with goofy looks on their faces, or butts in the background or cleavage..yeah…cleavage…from bystanders. that’ll ruin a photo.
LOL. Clone the butt out of the photo.
P.S. I very rarely stage…I learned that the hard way. Of course when I do maybe 1 comes out…and it’s never in the cookie-cutter-family-portrait way
Sarah´s last [type] ..She can turn the world on with her smile
I’m with Iceel – Photoshop that butt out of there. You can do it!
And by the way? Best. post title. ever.
Thank you for noticing, I thought my title was pretty clever!!
I am so ready for our trip to the pumpkin farm! I love the pics there…
The butt shot was great. Maybe Photoshop?
tracey´s last [type] ..If thats not love- what is
The 3rd photo – love how you can see the pure joy in their faces. No butts about it. If they ever grow up and grumble that they didn’t have a happy childhood, whip that photo out.
PS-tell me Girl w/Dragon Tattoo is worth it? I’m having a hard time getting “hooked”
Nicole´s last [type] ..A blanket of love
Awsome pics. LOL
Good Photography takes time. Make sure the focus is on the kids and the background needs to be blurred so it does not ruin the picture as much. Play with F-Stops and everything about the camera and you will become better. And always practice. I do enjoy the pictures of the kids. They look very nice.
I just sent my best attempt to you.
Texan Mama´s last [type] ..Give Her One More Chance
I am a professional photographer and I can say that after 5 years of having my own business, my own children are BY FAR the worst subjects to photograph. They don’t listen to their mommy. In their defence, they have been photographed so much, they are done. I can also say that starting at the age they can move, until about 4, is the most difficult age to photograph. Don’t give up on persuing photography. You can’t measure your talent based on your own kids! I wouldn’t be a photographer either if that was all I had to go on.
Katie´s last [type] ..Fall Fun even though it doesnt feel like fall right now
I agree with what Katie said – getting your own children to do what you can do professionally is super difficult. Plus, I like the pictures – I think they are natural looking (of course, it helps that subjects are so cute).
Jerseygirl89´s last [type] ..Hair-esy
I think it’s hands down the most difficult thing to get good pics of your own kids.
Also, the pumpkin patches never have good lighting hours! They need to stay open an hour or two later so the sun isn’t beating down upon the kids!
also.. someone has to know how to photoshop that butt outta there
[...] much better than the pumpkin patch photo shoot fiasco, if I do say so myself. (Which I just did.) Hooray for open shade and epic amounts of candy [...]
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