Friday, April 03, 2009

Seriously. I give up.

Ingredients: Three cute well-fed chickadees, a saturated open field, sunshine, gigantic bottle of generic bubbles and one nice camera.

Recipe: Drive ten minutes to an open field and try to keep the chickadees clean. Walk the chickadees to the middle of the field and open the bottle of bubbles. Ask bride beg plead chickadees to stand close together for one "normal" looking sibling portrait since none exist.





Tip: Start taking pictures of chickadees in the April sunshine and by Halloween night you might have one to frame.

The last photo of the three of them that I printed and framed, where they were "close" together, literally screams CHAOS. And who can forget that photo I so desperately wanted of all three of them in front of the Eiffel tower. Heh. I give up. Questions about Fifi in the photos above? Yeah, HUGE gigantic generic tantrum.

58classy comments:

Val said...

oh but these are so cute!!! this is what makes the memories. You will get them together, you just might have to wait a while longer.

Anonymous said...

Those are *SO* nice pictures, who needs a standard "everyone-standing-together-smiling-like-they-actually-like-each-other" picture anyway. :)

Miss said...

These came out pretty fabulous actually.

This will be me. Except with 4 kids ranging from 8 to 1. UGH.

BusyDad said...

You missed class the day they went over the law of inertia of children, which states that a child in motion tends to stay in motion until acted upon by a stopping force, usually Wonderpets or Dora.

Kirsten said...

Oh I can so relate to this. I am on a constant quest to get a picture of my three kids together. It's next to impossible.

If I ever figure out the recipe, I'll let you know.

:-)

JCK said...

So adorable. If frustrating to capture...

Tonya Staab said...

You got them all in a photograph though and that is a feat in itself. Kudos. I think the photos turned out great. Showing their personalities.

Today I thought I had them. All 3 sitting on the back of a tractor ride. This was my chance I thought. Except they REFUSED to sit even close enough that I could get 2 in the same frame, let alone 3.

Putting the FUN in DysFUNctional said...

But they're SO cute!

Anonymous said...

But you know what? Those are still great pictures! Just because they aren't all together...in the same spot...doesnt' mean you can't get a story from it. To me, even before I knew Fifi was having a "tantrum", I would have assumed that was her personality. To be the youngest, yet so self sufficient. Maybe that's because that is how I see my son. The last one you posted, with Lola in the forground, I thought was great. I would rather have these great candid shots, then ones where they are all forcing smiles that make you say "stop smiling like that! give me your good smile!"
If I send you a collage frame will you just hang them already? =)

ladybugsnkatydids said...

I'm glad someone else has a young drama queen as well. I had lovely Christmas pictures taken professionally of my 3 - oops, should I say 2. My young one decided not to be in the pictures until after the photographer had to leave (believe me, the photographer was beyond patient!).

I went ahead and sent out the said lovely pictures with the note on the back of why only 2 out of the 3 children appeared. (I am also thought it will be good blackmail material when she becomes a teenager ;-)!)

ladybugsnkatydids said...

by the way ... I think your pictures are great! It has given me an idea for a future attempt at our home.

Scary Mommy said...

Those are gorgeous!!! I'm learning that is the natural moments that make the best photos. My favorite was a spur of the moment wagon ride last year when the kids were a mess So much better than the staged session on the beach I paid for. :)

Cecily R said...

It's 4:30 AM and I can't sleep. So instead I am sitting here at my computer laughing at your "HUGE gigantic generic tantrum" comment and trying not to wake up the kids. :)

I've given up on any sort of "normal" picture of the three of mine too. Sigh.

P.S. I LOVE these shots no matter what you think of them!! :)

Indy said...

I didn't think that this happens to you! Such a pain.

A Crafty Mom said...

I think they look fabulous but completely understand a mother's innate desire to get those perfect pictures of all her children together. I have none either, lol. And feel your pain on the tantrum, isn't always one of them not in sync sometimes?????

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

I think they are perfect and say it all! Lola really has changed in these last couple months! She's getting so tall.

And, I have a friend that uses candy...on the spot.

Half Gaelic, Half Garlic! said...

It may not be what you had in mind, but it is certainly adorable!!

You are right.....if you start trying now, you might get one in time for the Christmas Card:)

Have a great weekend!

Lisa

Irene said...

Isn't that SO frustrating!?? I hate when I get excited about getting the perfect shot - based on location, weather, light etc - only to find my kids have a completely different idea. Yeah, I have a LOT of tantrum photos too...but hey, they definitely are capturing their true personalities, right???LOL!!!!

Heather said...

I know that you want one of the three of them facing the camera-but I love the one where Lola looks like she is dancing, Jay is blowing the bubbles and Fifi is bobbing in the distance-to me & the stories you have told about them here it is the perfect photo for their personalities.

The key to getting a photo with the three of them together is to have someone else there-especially since Fifi is so young. Someone that she really likes that can distract her right behind you for the fraction of the second you need to the get the shot. Just remember to stay calm & that there is always another day.

((hugs))

Kari said...

I know how you feel. I can get so frustrated just taking a picture of ONE kid! Charlotte rarely smiles anymore for the camera. And, she loves to look at the picture after it is taken, so getting her to stop moving is a problem. But, I remember that she is only 2. Anywho. I love these shots. It has given me some ideas for the near future! I, like you, like the last one best! It shows 3 different personalities and it probably depicts your children well, no!?

Anonymous said...

Ah - I love those though ...

I think those are the best shots anyhow (years later) ... their personalities are there ... and that's all that really matters.

Anyhow, just wait until they're "old enough" to sit and pose together for a picture - It'll be when they are all teenagers and you can't possibly bribe the scowl off of their faces! It's a real joy trying to take photos of my 8th grader!

Tyne said...

Isn't it impossible? Let me know if you figure out any great tricks... I could use the advice.

Stephanie said...

we have the same issues with our kids. Bryan has had his new D700 since Christmas and the ONLY half decent picture of them together is the one on my blog. My oldest two are at the "I don't want to smile and if I'm going to, it'll be fake" stage and my youngest gets too distracted by them to pay attention to us. When you figure it out, let me know how to do it! ;oD

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

I forgot about that Paris story.... Sorry that I laughed. Again. But you have to admit it was a good story...

CANDY. Candy bribes. Works for my sweet tooth kids...

Unknown said...

You could always send her for a massage and a facial. That ought to slow her down.

amanda said...

i agree and love the photos. and heck...i have FOUR to try and get pictures of...three is a probably a piece of cake. :0) a pineapple upside down cake.

Diva's Thoughts said...

I am so loving those pictures!

Cooking with Big E said...

I only have two kids to maneuver and to get them next to each other and both looking at me is next to impossible. Forget about smiles, all I want is to see both their faces! I don't even want to think about trying to coordinate three kids in one photo. That sounds like it would require more patience then I possess.

Kat said...

HAHA! Oh, I know that well. ;)

jen said...

i LOVE these shots. sometimes ... capturing the moment and the actual personality of your children far outweighs the ability to get them all in the same vicinity. because these. will remind you of who they really were at this exact moment in time.

Blessings From Above said...

Good luck! I have two chickadees and it is nearly impossible to capture a decent picture. I can only imagine with three...

Courtney said...

Too cute!

Becca said...

I actually find these types of shots to be my favorite. I prefer those any day over "stand there and try to smile for me" pictures. Adorable!

Kelly said...

It is next to impossible with two, I can't imagine with three! Plus, my #2 is barely mobile!

Very cute though!

I'm impressed that you can go outside without hats, mittens and coats. Not in Minneapolis...

Flea said...

It's never the posed ones we're drawn to, eh? Ask them to fight with each other and maybe you'll get a good one. :)

the mama bird diaries said...

But they still all looks so cute!!

Anonymous said...

I love the last one. Fifi looks like she is falling over in the background.

I do some children's photography here and there and I offer the kids candy in exchange for being good listeners (which often includes making silly faces and telling jokes, not just sitting still). My own kids have caught on to this and now whenever I take their picture they ask if they are going to get candy. It really does work though!

Secret Mom Thoughts said...

They came out nice. I understand wanting them to stand together. I bribe them with candy.

Clare said...

such a cute post!! i love the setting for the pictures, even though they aren't together it really shows what toddlerhood is all about!! love that little fifi!!!

tiarastantrums said...

too funny - I just plop them all on the steps and snap away! Lovely photos though . . I have to say that today - my kids are wearing almost the exact outfits you have on your in the photos!

Kash said...

Can we talk about how cute they look in their outfits and how cool their aunt is for picking them out! LOVE the photos.

Chickadee said...

Framed photos are overrated. YOUR chickadees are adorable.

carrie said...

I like the first one!

And chaos? It's mandatory!

CC said...

Well not together, but still AMAZING pics!!

Colleen - Mommy Always Wins said...

Ah...it just figures, doesn't it? ;-)

Marinka said...

I love this! Maybe you should photoshop Fifi in. Or hire a stand in. Maybe if she feels that the role of Fifi can be played by someone else in this economy, she'll fall in line.
;)

Tara R. said...

At 16yo and 19yo, my kids are finally at an age they want to get their photos taken, but now they don't live in the same place. I guess I'll need to wait for the summer.

These photos are still amazing.

Eliseo said...

Beautiful shots.

Mr Lady said...

That first one may be my favorite picture you've ever taken.

Tonya said...

had I not read the post I would of thought that was what you were going for with the pictures. I think they are great!

Maggie May said...

So beautiful, all!!

Kim said...

Too funny, but I love the pictures anyway~! Very candid and such cute subjects!

Jill said...

I love the candid photos - the fact that they're not posed, and one child is utterly melting down...

They look like they're photos I take of my kidlets. :)

Daisy said...

Cute. Classic, too. They are so NOT posed!!

the planet of janet said...

i'm sorry, but that is classically (and classily) HILARIOUS.

fifi does have a mind of her own, doesn't she?

Anonymous said...

Who needs a "normal" shot? These are great!

just jamie said...

These REALLY are cool, BUT I so get it. I can't get TWO kids together looking just so... I'm imagining THREE. Come on, really? They never got closer together?

Jaina said...

People pay good money to get shots like those ;) I think they're great! I do hope you get your three together shot though.

 

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