It's Not THE Daisy Photo, But It Will Do
I have a summer tradition that absolutely cannot be missed. For the past several years, it has gone a little like this:
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
The best thing about all of those photos is that the drama involved in getting the photos taken has always melted away shortly after it happened. If I think about it, I can recall which years were particularly painful, but it requires thought.
I don't believe in thought.
But if I do give thought a chance, I remember that pretty much every year something has made the process complicated. Some years I couldn't find the white sundress, some years there were problems with acquiring the daisies (they grow in my garden--I've had them since college and have transplanted/divided them all along the way), and often the photography studio is a BIG GIANT PAIN IN THE ASS.
Last year stands out as a perfect example of that.
Last year was so bad that when it came time to take this year's photo, I started convulsing and muttering things about how you can't make me walk into that photo studio in the mall because it is a hellmouth and the devil with the camera will eat my soul and NOOOOOOOO!
So I took the photos myself.
EXCEPT. I forgot a few key things.
1. Alexis' willingness to have *me* take her photo is somewhere between HELL NO and ARE YOU KIDDING ME. Sometimes she poses for me. Most of the time she does not. If I spend half an hour ironing a background and setting up lighting? OF COURSE SHE WON'T STAND THERE.
I had to go to war with a 6-year old in order to get two shots out of her. TWO. That's all she let me get.
2. I don't print photos. Like, ever. I have thousands and thousands of photos of the kid, but I can't seem to get my act together and get them printed. Framing them? That's a whole other level of HAHAHAHAHAHA! AS IF!
That's to say I took this photo over a month ago and haven't done a damn thing with it. If we had gone to the mall, a framed print would be hanging on the wall by now.
WHOOPS.
Oh well, at least I've managed to keep up with the tradition, even if the results aren't quite what I had in mind.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Reader Comments (14)
Your results are beautiful. I can't believe how grown up she looks, and I love her hair like this. I am so bad at actually printing the pictures I take. This one definitely needs to be printed asap!
Gorgeous!!!
Wow, such a difference from last year to this year! She's turning into a young lady!!
So gorgeous! How can you deprive your wall of this picture?
If you can't do it, maybe I could get this printed and shipped across for you if you share the bigger resolution.
Oh, that's a gorgeous shot! You cannot see the drama behind it, at all!
She is beautiful. I have so many pictures that I have taken and even have frames but they sit empty. It is one of those things on my To Do List that just never gets crossed off.
ohmydog, it is a spectacular photo! i realize i am not a professional photographer, but to my eye is is lovely. helps that she is naturally pretty and you are quite talented, but BAM, lovely. you can't tell me otherwise.
since the daisy is my favorite flower and you two are some of my favorite people, i might be biased. so be it!
I second the "what a difference from last year to today" she is lovely & your picture is great! Does she start 1st grade today?
This is my favorite tradition of yours, even if it does make me feel like a "less than" mama. I saw an idea recently of taking a photo from Kidnergarten and having the 1st grader hold it - repeat every year and each photo would have the subsequent years in it! I like it, but I kinda wish I had started it with my first child.
I think this picture is adorable and you did an amazing job, so no need for the photo place at the mall to keep up a tradition.
She looks so grown up! (I say that like I know her.)
OMG this pic is better then any of the so called professionals you took her to. She looks beautiful and so do the flowers. BTW did you forget YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER? So freaking impressed right now. Log into walgreens or walmar or any place and print the damn thing and frame it! haha j/k on the last part but totally not kidding on the first part!!
how she has grown! please make that stop.
I stink at printing/framing.
I love her curls. LOVE.