But it's one thing to have a nice idea in mind and quite another to do something about it.
I'm not immune which is why I set a goal in 2012 of getting in at LEAST one pic with my kids every month.
This is a secret to my success - I like small, doable goals that I can build on.
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I should tell you January was easy because we were on holiday. However, I also had to consciously hand the camera over to D and say "take a pic of me with the kids" ...a LOT (plus I'm fussy so if it didn't work, I had to do it a lot).
For February last year I have ONE pic of my FEET with the kids' feet. That's it. Pathetic but I got my pic.
March got slightly easier and then I fell into my rhythm which is...
- whenever I'm with someone who's into photos (Cat took some lovely ones of K and me last April at Bambanani) I hand over my camera to also get some pics of me with whichever kid is available and willing.
- lower my expectations of "perfection" and "happy smiling kids" because this is my life, right? flawed and imperfect and very real
- grab any opportunity (always have the lipstick handy) and just get the pics
- get okay with self-portraits (to be honest, these days some of my self-portraits are TONS better than the ones from other people)
Isn't that amazing? 80 more than I would have had otherwise...
And as at end May, I already have 73 pics and there's plenty to come.
I love it!
Since this is working for me, I'm never taking that off my goals list....
Kristen Duke (incidentally, she shares a birthday with my kids) said on her blog once that one of the nicest things you can do for a mother is to take HER camera and get some pics of her with her kids. I happen to agree. So next time I see you, ask me to take a pic of you and your kids, not just of your kids. (that's for you, Caren :))
Do you make a point of getting in photos with your kids?
How comfortable is it for you?
And now I want to show you some pics of me with the kids - I handed the camera to D and the 3 of us played in the leaves!
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| I took this one of Connor's hands |
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| and this one |
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| Look how they're looking at me - I love their expressions |
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Beautiful photos Marcia. I am just about never in the photos...sometimes(ofter) I wish K would take over the camera.
ReplyDeleteThat picture of Connor's hands is AMAZING!!! :) :)
ReplyDeleteI need to do a better job of this! I was doing pretty well when the girls were babies, but I know I've really slacked off...I was just thinking about that the last photo book I did. There were so few pictures of the girls and me. :/
J usually huffs and puffs when I ask him to take pictures [or even be in pictures...or pause while I take pictures]. (Of course then he loves the pictures -- any pictures -- when he sees them. HA!) I need to remind him how important that is to me.
When my friend D had her baby last Monday, I made sure to take the camera to the hospital. I got some beautiful pictures, and I know she loves them. I hope to visit again this week and get some more. I totally agree with what you quoted...definitely one of The Best Gifts!
Great post, Marcia!
Love that :) And how very impressive at the number of photos you've got with your kids!
ReplyDeleteI love that you make a point to get in the photo with the kids. I too do that because I'm usually the one taking the photos. I want to be remembered too ;)
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ReplyDeleteOops - sorry deleted previous - spelling terrible. Oh I adore that first photo. I really need to get more but I also have to ask H to do it. But I certainly have more than previous years
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos - wow! 80/73 photos is plenty! Well done.
ReplyDeleteI really do have to make more effort on this front too. If I'm lucky i'll get one or two a month of me with Nicola, and then usually the bulk of our together photos are usually in October or there abouts when we have a shoot by someone else.
LOVE the leave throwing ones! Stunning!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI generally avoid photos but I am trying now to be more present in them - since loosing weight I actually don't mind seeing myself!
Love the photo with the silhouette! And yeah, I struggle with getting photos of me + kids since I'm always the one with the camera. When I remember to ask TJ to take some, though, he gets awesome ones. I've definitely gotten over my imperfections to just get some photos, and we do a pro shoot of our family every 6 months so I have those as well.
ReplyDeleteomg. love the hands photo!!!! so great.
ReplyDeletei totally get this. i make a point to get shots of b with the kids....but there are so few of me with them. then i see the ones that he takes and they're totally weird. maybe i have to be more purposeful about it??
I should make more of an effort. I really love this set of pics.
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