You know, I have found that the hardest people to photograph, is my family. Honestly! Doing single portraits with them is fine. However, doing the extended family Christmas photo is a whole different ball game. Let me first say, that I have been blessed with an amazing family whom I love very much. They are a family where we all actually like being together and look forward to the times when we get to see each other. So I have no complaints…until it comes to the Christmas photo. I tease my family that just how Jesus said that a prophet is not appreciated in his own town, neither is a photographer in her own house. Still, I guess when you know people that well, under-the-breath complaining and lighthearted teasing is in order.
Our photos used to be something we did around the dining room table, but I, being a photographer, have always begged them to ‘Please try something else!’ I see Christmas cards of other family’s photos, or even family’s whom I did their photos, and have always dreamed of having similar photos with my family. This year I begged and pushed to do it outdoors at a nice/retro location and I finally broke through! It was a little last minute, but it worked out. I rented a lens from LensGiant, scoped out some locations, chose a color scheme, then we synced up everybody’s schedules, and waited to shoot. Keep in mind, we all get together in the upper north every year and for future reference we plan to do this during the summer. We already knew that would be easier, but I was desperate for a good 2013 family picture. My dad and I had found a location with an old, seemingly abandoned building (there’s some question on that) which had a large open area, giving us lots of space and plenty of room for the dog to explore. We then waited for the ‘warmest’ day. The weather that week ranged from 7 degrees, to 17, 21, 27, 31, and 25. So with everybody in tow, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, we braved the day with a warmth of a whopping 31 degrees. After it had already snowed 8 inches! I have to thank my family for going through with it. I know it was a crazy idea, but they really did very well. There were complaints, and shivers, and ‘CAN WE PUT OUR COATS BACK ON!!!???’ but looking back at the photos, it was completely worth it. And plus, I don’t know what they were complaining about…we all went out to warm up at Golden Corral after the shoot, and then went home to take a well deserved nap. Best of all, we got to create memories. Thank you so much my amazing family!
“And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Genesis 33:5
