Why do you hire a professional photographer? I will tell you why – because there is a scientific part of a child’s DNA that makes them not listen to their own parents…but they will listen to others. At least, that’s been my experience. Parents say things to me like, “Oh, you are so lucky to be able to get great pictures like these of your own children.” Um, well, yeah, I WISH I could get pictures of my own children like I can for other people. Very unfair.
But despite the overwhelming amount of luck I would need to capture a great image of my own children, I knew I had to face the challenge because my darling daughter just turned two. Now, did I already mention how hard it is to take pictures of my own kids? Well, let me add to that the very most hardest ages to photograph are 18 months to two years of age. Hands down. So lucky me! Oh wait, I forgot to add one more thing, my beautiful, darling, cuddly girl is also Miss Independent. Sure, you say, so is my two year old! Again, I would like to contradict you. I’ve met your two year old. I got you great pictures, didn’t I? Or if I haven’t’ met your two year old, I say to you that I’ve met a bunch and NONE compare to the willfulness of my sweet angel.
I had already put this off as long as I could. The week she turned two, she took a header and got a lovely purple goose egg on her forehead. Then we had that week of really cold weather. And now was the time – even though she had a mysterious scratch that ran the entire length of her forearm.
Fast forward – I know exactly what I want to do for her pictures. I have the outfit. I saw the beautiful field (special thanks to the Naperville Fire Department for letting me park in their lot and walk next door to this place!). I know the time of day when the sun will be “just so”. This should have been a red flag. As a photographer, I often have images in my head that I want to get, but the best laid plans never turn out exactly as I imagined. I should have known better than to plan anything with my own daughter as the subject.
Be that as it may, I was prepared. My husband was there to dispense Smarties. My son was there…ok, mostly he was just there. But we had puppets, we had candy, we had promises made in desperation that I cannot even recall. What do I get?
Mostly, crying, scared faces, or joyful ones when running away from me as I call, “Come back!”
NOT the faces I wanted.
But even through all of this, there were a couple of gems:
Round one: Photographer: 3, Miss Independent: 25
But there will be a rematch – you can count on it.
Love the pic of her walking away and I think the meadow ones are really cute.
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