So many of you have said “I can’t believe you got ANY good images from our session!” And I’m always glad that you are surprised and pleased with your images.

I can tell you though, it isn’t always easy, and the hardest children I have to shoot are usually my own. It is called Photographer’s Child Syndrome, and almost any photographer you ask will tell you that it is hardest to take pictures of your own family.

Now, last year I had a photographer friend of mine do our family pictures and the kids were really pretty well behaved. Well, Robbie in particular as he always seems to be the problem for me.

Well, whenever *I* try to take his picture it becomes a HUGE battle of wills. And no one ends up winning truth be told.

So I had struck a deal with the boy. Just a few pictures, then play after. Life will be good. Should have known he would renig! As soon as we got to the park it was trouble. Actually it started at home with an argument over clothing choices. Off to a bad start (he had agreed to let me pick his shirt too. I should have known better)

We get there and I start with the girls so I can get my camera settings set. They are usually pretty cooperative.

Then I try to get him in the picture

Then the girls decided they should join in too

So, of course no amounts of threats or counting would work, so home we went, which just escalated the tantrum.

After much more fussing, and a serious meeting of the minds so to speak between my son and I, we tried again.

Of course it quickly went downhill from there LOL

As it turns out I did get some images to use for our cards, and it will be in classic Valentine style LOL. I won’t share just yet. I’ll post the card closer to Christmas.