The Family Portrait

Today we are heading out to get our family portrait taken. Normally I’m not a huge fan of these things – I’ve seen enough Awkward Family Photos in my day to think that getting “posed” photos taken is seldom a good idea. Not that I will hold it against someone if they have the old Sears “baby-on-a-faux-fur-rug” photo proudly on display, but it’s just not my cuppa tea. We’re more the kind of family that would take our Christmas Card photo while dressed in superhero costumes – and by “would”, I mean “did”.

Christmas 2008 – Robin, Green Lantern, Batgirl, and Wonderdog.

It wasn’t until Kids Photo came along that I started warming up to the idea of getting our portrait done. The studio was close by, handily located right in the mall (near the bribe-containing food court), and their walls were filled with casual looking family photos. Of course, getting a gift certificate for a free sitting didn’t hurt either. Plus, when push came to shove, trying to get everybody looking at the self-timered camera was getting to be rather… challenging. So, we went for it.

2006 family portrait taken at Kids Photo.

Not the greatest photo on the planet, but we like it well enough for what it is. Now that there are four of us, we need to get our portrait updated. Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken my fair share of photos of us – usually with my camera holding arm extended or with people looking away because they don’t “get” the whole self-timer idea – but I’ve been unable to capture one of us that I’d enlarge and frame for the mantle. I suppose I could ask a friend to come and help out, but I also understand just how busy people are. So, yeah. We’re heading back to Kids Photo this afternoon in the hopes that they can work their magic and create something we will all love. I’m thinking we should bring our pajamas, though… ’cause that’s just how we roll. 😉