Family Portraits | How Not
to End Up on an Awkward Family Photo Meme
It had been a while since
we’d had family portraits taken. In our
last attempt, I’m pretty sure the Firefly cried throughout the entire shoot and
the Koala would not spit out his pacifier.
So, yeah, maybe a little too long.
Thus, we’d been talking about getting an update for a few years; we’re
not exactly the kind of folks who commit easily. We’re also the kind of folks who don’t take
advantage of opportunities; another reason for the delay.
That’s the lead in. Go with me.
Last weekend, the Officer
and I trundled the kids down to the 5-oh-5 for the International Balloon
Fiesta, an annual tradition for our family, and to spend time with our
northern-most Neuvo Mexico familia. To prep for our
trip, we ran errands all day Thursday, packed in 30 minutes, grabbed the kids
right after school, and began the now 10
hour trip (thanks to washed-out highways) down.
We planned the weekend around the fiesta, filling our extra bits of time
with intended family visits, before our return on Sunday. Whirlwind, but worth it.
Turns out, this was a
serendipitous decision.
On Friday, as we were hanging
out with my Mother-in-Love, she mentioned wanting to have portraits made. We were amenable to the idea, as I mention
earlier, and started planning with her.
Then, probably because she knows we’re commitment shy, she decided to
call a portrait studio on a whim; you know, just to see if they had any
openings in the next 24 hours that wouldn’t conflict with our ballooning plans. They
Did! So began the frantic scramble
to get a family of 6 adults and 2 kids ready for a photo shoot in less than a
day.
I will pause here to say
that I’m an avid Pinterest-er. I have a
board with ideas for cute family portrait outfits; I’ve spent free time
thinking of venues and poses and techniques and coordinating-but-not-matching
clothes. So I thought I could handle
this last minute excitement. But as I
scrolled through my newly-downloaded Pinterest App eyeballing the ideas I’d so
carefully culled from among thousands, a sinking feeling oozed its way into my
stomach. Maybe if my MiL and I had a dedicated 24 hours, and an unlimited
budget, we could pull off some of these spectacular ideas. But I was increasingly aware that the reality
of this actually happening was fast approaching nil; because we already had a full schedule and a very small window
of time in which to coordinate everything.
And again, the Officer and I packed in thirty minutes; so we were a
little sparse in the clothes-we’d-like-preserved-for-posterity department.
Thankfully, my MiL had put
some thought into this already and it was quickly decided that we would all
wear jeans and Lobo jerseys. Though only
one of our clan actually graduated as a Lobo [the Officer and I started out as
Lobos, but ended up graduating as a JackRabbit and Sea Wolf, respectively], we
all agreed that since my Brother-in-Love and his wife, Sister-in-Love, already
had jerseys, this would be the easiest and most agreeable route. With that settled, we only had to find 4
adult and 2 kid shirts. No problem.
Aha ha-ha ha-ha.
Our first stop was the
University Bookstore. We knew we’d be
gouged, but we figured we’d have the best luck with sizes there. Funny story: we visited during Fall
Break. The Bookstore was closed. And no other themed clothier presented itself
anywhere near the university. Thus my
intrepid MiL pulled out her phone and started calling all the places she could
think of that would carry Lobo merchandise.
Three stores promised they had what we needed. Until we checked sizes. Apparently every child residing in the 505
area code, over 4T, owns Lobo apparel; as does every adult under the XXXL
size.
Beginning to feel the time
crunch – we all still needed to get ready for the photo shoot looming only 2
and ½ hours away – we started pitching other ideas. Black was nixed since we’d all worn that in
our last photo. Color coordination
became a nightmare because only 3 adults were shopping together, so there was
no guarantee the colors would actually coordinate. The Officer, my MiL, kids and I ran through Target
like crazed people, trying different options, hitting sizing roadblocks at
every turn. Finally, we circled back
around to black. It was easy. It was available in all the right sizes. It was inexpensive. And we were down to the last 2 hours before
our shoot. Decisions had to be
made. So the Officer, MiL, and I split
up – each going off to find the right number of the right size black
shirts. We came together outside the
dressing room, multiple options in hand, ready to be done costuming this event.
The Officer, in a sweet
attempt to lighten the mood, jokingly held up a black t-shirt with a simple
Batman logo on it. “I’m going as Batman,”
he deadpanned.
We laughed. “Let’s all go as Batman,” I volleyed. But then, returning to the task, I asked him
where he’d gotten the shirt from so I could put it back. [Really, even if I hadn’t
worked retail for years, I felt bad for the mess we were making trying to get
this wardrobe issue settled.]
He told me he’d gotten it
off a table with lots of other super hero shirts and led me to them.
I
think that was the moment my inner geek squealed and clapped her hands.
It
may have even been out loud.
For whatever reason, be it
Halloween or an overstock from a recent movie release, Target was selling a
plethora of inexpensive, simple, retro-looking Marvel and DC superhero t-shirts. In every size imaginable. It was one of those, “Ah-ah-ah,” moments; perfectly
timed and orchestrated, and something we’d never have gone for if we’d had more
say in the matter.
Luckily, it took almost no
convincing to get all the other adults on board – they may have just been glad
we’d ditched the all-black repeat – and we found shirts for everybody. The kids even ended up with miniature version
of the Grandparents’ shirts. Triumphant,
we raced home to get ready and get photographed.
The studio was filled to
bursting with families in all manner of carefully-selected, color-coordinated,
fancier-than-they-normally-wear, uncomfortable clothing. We rambled in wearing our t-shirts, jeans,
and comfy shoes. The eye of every male in
the place sought us out longingly; some even sighed as we strolled by. And tugged at their ties. We had more than one comment, either direct
or overheard, complementing our theme.
And when it came time to actually take the pictures, we ended up laughing
through the whole shoot. We posed as our
respective superheroes, my BiL mounted the kids on his biceps in a
demonstration of strength, and each of us had a fabulous time as our laid-back
alter-egos.
So now we not only have
the pictures for posterity, but we also have the great memories of an afternoon
filled with laughter and ease to accompany them. It was, hands down, the best photography
session I’ve ever had.
Thus, my wardrobe advice
for photo shoots, particularly with families: go to Target, get some t-shirts,
and laugh your way through your session.
You’ll end up looking more like yourselves in the pictures.
And that’s what you want
to capture anyway.
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