Portrait Paranoia, Year Three or It Only Gets Worse As They Get Older

For the third year in a row I scheduled portraits to be taken of Delaney but this was the first year we didn't go to a department store. Instead, the photographer came to us. And, this year, I was photographed in all of my pregnant glory too. As I've mentioned in years past, I have a neurotic and compulsive need to capture the perfect image of our daughter and that leads to a lot of stress on the day of the shoot. Today was no different. I knew it could go either way. Delaney would play along or she wouldn't. For some reason I'd deluded myself into believing that since she is a year older and extremely more verbal I could encourage her to work with me and the photographer and we'd have a lovely morning filled with nothing but picture perfect poses. Ha. Ha, ha. Ha, ha, ha.

Delaney sensed something was up when her daddy gave her an early morning bath today rather than the evening one she's used to. And when our photographer arrived to set up her backdrop and lights, Delaney knew something special was going on. She opted to ramp up her personality a bit and playfully fought us for most (if not all) of the shots. She was sassier than normal and gave me a pretty hard time. Bribing her with lollipops and the promise of ice cream cones didn't phase her. She was in full control and she knew it. I'll be shocked if any of the photos turned out well and it's nothing to do with our photographer. She is talented. She was patient. It was me, the nearly-eight-months-pregnant, out-of-breath, out-of-energy, waddling mother who couldn't seem to control her child who will be to blame. But, who knows? Maybe, like last year, I'll be pleasantly surprised at the outcome. And maybe the lesson I finally need to learn is that I can't control everything, even the perfect picture.

Comments

[MamaChristy]

I can't wait to see the pics! I'm sure that at least one will come out great. :)

[Allie]

Someone was up late last night. I was beginning to wonder if you were going to miss yesterday.

[Daisy]

Sometimes the less perfect pictures are the best memories.

[island jen]

I've started a photography business and children are my specialty... don't worry- NONE of them cooperate, that makes the 10 shots that turn out AWESOME such a treasure for the parents. I'm usually met with jaws dropping and asked "When did you take this?" or "How do you get my child to look at you like that??"
I figure they are actually trying to wish me away... LOL
I think you'll be surprised at the outcome of the shoot... back drops or not.