Family Photo Shoot

Man are family photo sessions a lot of work!!  Not that they necessarily need to be, but they always are!  Have to find a photographer or studio, and there is such a range of quality, style and price (you can literally spend the equivalent of a small car on photos if you aren't careful!).  Then there's the setting - made easier if you go with a studio, but ya gotta spice it up a bit and go OUTSIDE once in a while. 

Once you have your Groupon purchased (tip: take your time and look for a photographer whose style is what you are looking for.  Be sure the price is right for you and most importantly, for us at least, find a package that includes some digital files that you can do with what you want and not just all prints especially if you want to share with family, get reprints or even just save a soft copy for the future).  After the deal is bought, the photographer scheduled, location secured and the date is approaching - then there's wardrobe.  How to coordinate but not match.  How to look casual but not bummy.  How to go with a fun theme but not be too trendy and dated.  And then lord forbid, you have to do any shopping to make it happen.

Finally, the day comes....time for hair and makeup (for some of us).  Excitement and nerves as you realize this is the snapshot image of your family that will be used and viewed for generations.  That one day your children will have children of their own with which they will share these images (and hopefully won't be too embarrassed to do so!).  That on day a much grayer and wrinklier, David and I will look at this photo and remember how precious our growing boys were and just how good we really did look despite at the time, we were both convinced we need to spend more time in the gym.

Then it all comes down to the end result - and I think we all agree - it was ALL WORTH IT!