Happy Messals... Happy Messes: Portraits

Cora Jane's 2-year-old portraits
Quinn Elise's (just a little shy of) 6 month portraits

Before Quinn was born, I'd run by the portrait shop every few months for a quick $14.95 package of photos (one-pose-only) to send to the grandparents. Of course, these shops make their money off of people who spend more than the $14.95 special, so I've always felt a little guilty about using a portrait session. I'm really able to stick to my guns when necessary and choose the ONE best picture from the set of 70.

I hadn't been in since Quinn was born (we did fancy newborn shots with Quinn instead).

I thought it was tough to get Cora to smile for the camera... but to get two babies to smile for the camera, at the same time, is practically impossible!

TWO!

They've come to know me at the shop. When I'm only going to buy one photo, I always tell them. When it is an occassion and I plan to actually buy a whole package, I always tell them, too. (Cora's birthday, with people in town to visit, who can carry their photos home rather than getting them shipped).

And, I always tell them to not do cheesy backgrounds and props because I won't buy any of them. So when they shot a series of Cora in front of the neon yellow background, I wasn't impressed. When they put Quinn in this basket, on a silky cushion cover, with this background, I knew we weren't all speaking the same language.

And when they pulled down THIS cheesy background, and started setting Cora up with a picnic blanket and fruit, I was biting my tongue.

And, I really almsot lost it when Quinny was placed in this basket (really, people buy this?).

Even Cora didn't want to get close to Quinn, turning her back to the picture. So when we reviewed the photos, and I realized that the ONLY picture of the girls really smiling was the picture that included a picnic basket and fake (FAKE!) fruit, I knew my "only-one-shot-$14.95-picture-karma" had caught up with me.