things that make me smile (and some that don't...)

Most of these pictures are from the day we took "professional" family pictures. I snapped a few pictures after the session, and they turned out better than the professional ones (and mine were not great either, so...) I guess that's what happens when I go for a $19 Groupon deal. I regret having to spend $19 for the lousy picture that I had to choose. Oh well. We'll just have a friend take a few pictures for us later. I remember why we don't get professional pictures done very often. The whole process is painful. The kids hate getting pictures taken and are not very cooperative, it's usually very expensive, and then if you actually want your pictures to use digitally, you have to pay even more money. Why does it cost SO much to have YOUR pictures on a CD to use? I don't understand that. CD's are cheap! I know, the photographer has to make money. But isn't that what the session fee is for? Why do they need so much to actually hand over the use of your photos? If I hadn't used a coupon, it would have been outrageously expensive. Here is what it would normally be - $100 for the session fee, $200 to have all your digital files, $80 PER PICTURE for re-touching, and $50 for just a basic package (which is only an 8x10, two 5x7's, and 8 wallets of one pose). So... if we did just the basics, no re-touching, and wanted our pictures to use, we would have to pay $350. This is what we have to pay for a painful 30 minutes for a family photo?! (That's $700/hour for the photographer.) And this particular photographer didn't have a clue about lighting. All of you could have taken better pictures than they did. Also, with scheduled professional pictures, you can't plan around weather, naps, migraines, facial blemishes, or any other things that may come up (like one family member scheduling a work trip over the family pictures... what's a family picture with one member missing?) And we actually had problems with all of those things that I mentioned. Yep, I got a migraine shortly before the pictures. In general, it's really hard to coordinate clothes for 7 people! I didn't want to put them in their ratty t-shirts and athletic shorts (maybe I will sometime, just to keep it real.) :) And then trying to coordinate colors of the few nice clothes they do have... I had to go shopping for a few things. I had actually coordinated a whole different fall wardrobe, but changed it up at the last minute since it was a lot warmer weather that afternoon. Anyway... I'm sure there are wonderful photographers out there and much more affordable deals. But this experience left a really bad taste in my mouth. Luckily, what does make me smile are the subjects of the pictures! I may not have a great looking picture to hang on my wall, but I do have a really great family that makes me smile every day. Love these kids (and husband)! (This first collage has some pictures from another day.)