In my opinion, digital cameras trump most other technology as one of the best inventions in a long time, though I do really love my DVR. I enjoy taking family photos and viewing them either on the TV, computer or Nintendo Wii system which is also very cool! My children love to make puzzles out of the photos and put the puzzle pieces together. What I don’t enjoy so much, however, is trying to take that perfect family photo to use on my Christmas photo cards.
Like many other moms out there, I too went through the hardship of going through all the necessary motions to create perfect family photos that I could use for our photo cards. If you think hardship is too strong a word consider this – first you have to find the outfits (for each child mind you). Then you need to make sure that haircuts, bathing and other necessary grooming has taken place when donning the outfits that were selected. Then you have to pick your photo shoot location and if you’re like me, you picked several locations so that you would have options because who doesn’t like options? At that point, if you can get your children to cooperate, you can start snapping some family photos. If you are like me, it can take at least 100 photos before you can get something that you can work with. Thank goodness for the invention of digital cameras! Oh yeah, I already said that. Anyway, then comes what I call the dwindling down process of ten lovely finalists that will compete in the swimsuit competition, err, I mean compete to be the photo that is ultimately used for our Christmas photo cards.
All of these steps do usually result in a nice photo but then I read the book Confessions of a Slacker Mom and decided to stop being super perfect-picture-person and cut myself a break. It finally dawned on me that I have taken some excellent, spontaneous family photos throughout the years. Oftentimes, they are even better than those that have been posed for. So now when it comes time to pick the family photo for our digital photo cards at Christmas time or for birthday invitations or thank you notes, I just pick my favorite from ones I’ve already taken and then go spend the time I actually saved by playing with my kids!
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I bet your children are happy you got around to reading that book. Sounds like you’ve learned to value your time & I’m sure your holidays will be more relaxed & enjoyable this year.