the (kinda dreaded, to be totally honest with you) annual holiday family portrait

Okay so never mind calling it our Annual Holiday Family Portrait. I'm thinking maybe the Annual New Years' Family Portrait. Or the Annual Valentine's Family Portrait. Or perhaps the Annual Anything Other Than Christmas Family Portrait. A strange thing, it is, to desperately bargain with ones' stubborn self. I think that's called sado-masochism. Except this breed of it is marginally less fun.

It's too cold. We give him a hat. He wants chocolate. He gets chocolate. His hands get chocolatey. He wants his Lego, but not near his grabby brother. He's hungry. He's full. He needs a swedish massage, a week of sleep, and a brain transplant.

Like I said, I'm stubborn, compelled to rebel against the firing-squad-in-front-of-the-christmas-tree setup. I wanted something different. Something wintery, but not cliche. Something unique, but relatively easy. Something thoughtful, but quick. A mere 18 frames into it and I'm already JUST PROP THEM UP IN FRONT OF THE EFFING TREE AND LET'S BE DONE WITH IT ALREADY. I'm kidding. But I'm totally not.

Help, sisters. Share with me your holiday portraits. The ones you compromised on. The ones you felt indifferent about, but obligated to produce. The ones that were a surprise. The ones you laboured on. The ones that overcame the expected. The ones that thrilled you. I want it all.

Comments

[brittany]

Well, I still haven't had the energy to deal with it. So a couple weeks ago I gave up on the whole thing. I'll link back here for the New Year? Easter? Valentines? Will I ever have it in me to go through it again?

[busymomma66]

I just caved and did it in front of the effin' tree. lol.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/busymomma66/4202566971/

[Marcie]

Love your sense of humor and honesty!!! Wonderful post..

[Jen]

I can't get the hubby or daughter to co-operate. My son and dog will. lol
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jlm513_jens_pics/3139273719/
This is from last year. I'm hoping I'll get a better one this year.

[Christie]

my shoot with my kids turned out much the same, i did get a few that were great, but after reviewing myfiles, this one was the front of the card. It is exactly who they are :)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/my3peas/4142940194/

[Kizz]

This year I sent out a card with a picture of a dead woman on it. I took a candid shot of my Auntie Blanche (died in August 2008) from Christmas Eve 2007 (the year we all got food poisoning) and cropped it, added "Joy to the World" and called it good. It's a version of this one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/2287272606/in/set-72157603969919514/

[kristin]

not christmasy at all, but the best i got this year and missing my eldest daughter (she is a teen so getting he in any pics is near impossible) http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/4056219997/in/set-72157605805974818/

[Katrina Kennedy]

I paid him $5.00, which in the 4 year old world is like a million. Of course, every time I pick up my camera now he asks for cash.

http://ianck.blogspot.com/2009/12/naughty-or-nice-four-year-old-style.html

[Aia]

this photo turned out so good, probably the best i've attempted with all four kids.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/40446906@N04/4202714754/in/photostream/

[Elizabeth Harper]

I've given up on any annual holiday themed portrait of any kind.

I'm the only one that ever wants it so I just shoot on the sly now.

It usually works out much better that way and I don't have to go through detox for stress eating all the sugar in sight.

Funny post though ... I feel your pain it used to happen for me in the pumpkin patch every year.

[Kiesha]

just getting them to look at the camera at the same time was a chore!

http://kbondphoto.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-pictures-2009.html

[bekkah]

I also wanted to break out of the mold a bit this season. It's our daughter's third year and it seemed like she went from baby to little girl overnight?! It took a bit of effort, but in the end totally worth it. Christmasy without overly so...and authentic, which I love :)

http://photophoenix.aminus3.com/image/2009-12-02.html

[Michelle]

Last year it rained and rained and rained for WEEKS ... finally had a 15 minute break in the weather and headed to the muddy field near out home. Got three decent shots of my two kids amidst all of the complaining and then went home. It was already so late in the year, and I was so grumpy and not in the mood, I made the decision to start a new tradition ... New Year cards. Everyone loves them and it TOTALLY takes the pressure off.

[Kiesha]

just getting them to look at the camera at the same time was a chore!

http://kbondphotos.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-pictures-2009.html

[Jaana]

We don't have any kids, so that part is easy. And getting the cat to cooperate just takes a few treats held in front of the camera. So we always have fun doing these and love to hear that people look forward to seeing them. This year I've already gotten 4 emails asking when they can expect their card. Haha... They're in the mail today, I promise!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dxeechick/4203925502/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dxeechick/4203926430/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dxeechick/4203926994/

[Mami Dearest]

Hahaha...sounds like my experience. Here are my Christmas outtakes.

http://mami-dearest.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-picture-outtakes.html

[Jennifer]

I usually try and go out in the fall...so there's less pressure on getting the perfect photo. If it doesn't turn out I can always just try again. This time the girls were totally in to it and we had a good time.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23134155@N07/4203375123/

[Maegan]

Wonderful post! I read it and breathed a HUGE sigh of relief that I wasn't the only one who hated getting a portrait of my own kids! Here are two from this year {with two very different scenarios...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/4203367687/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mbeasoap/4204127062/in/photostream/

[Abby]

I was so excited to do ours this year and it ended up in a bunch of outtakes one kinda useable pix of two and a totally gorgeous pix of one on his own.... i can't tell you how tempted I was to leave the littlest one off this year ;)
Heres my outtakes .... whew!
http://myluvis.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-photo-out-takes.html
;)

[Sheri]

i'm with you on this one, kate. this year, i had BIG plans with color and cool and unique. AGAIN. but then after baths and clothes and snippy arguments with my husband, it rained. so we did cute t-shirts and shots against my favorite well-lit WHITE wall here at home. and still 200 shots later, there were 3 good ones. :)

[Liz]

my mother is ALWAYS in search of the christmas card photo...never mind that most years she never manages to actually send the photos. luckily we are old enough to be less grabby and (marginally) more compliant about sitting pretty in front of something. and old enough that we don't change enough throughout the year to make pics taken in midsummer inaccurate. :D

i'm 29 and i hate being forced into pasted-smile pics. i guess you never outgrow it!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/lilybeth29/3674577874/in/set-72157594587517465/

[carole]

As a freshly-minted blended family, I felt pretty happy about everything that this means:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charris/4190971534/

[natalie]

Tripod and threats. Plus the promise of treats... http://www.flickr.com/photos/narmalie/4133026153/

[feona]

this was an impromptu card...we were just heading out to play in the snow, didnt even bring the camera out...then the next thing i know they had a snowman and was asking for hats and scarves for him
i went back in grabbed the camera while getting the snowman's carrot nose...then we managed to pull this together
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bgq82/4204636266/

[lynn @ human, being]

By far my most favorite holiday card I've ever received was from a friend, who did the effen tree shot, but with a camera on a timer, and it is hilarious because

1) she's barely in the shot because she wasn't fast enough
2) kid #1 is holding onto the dog's collar and the
3) dog is first and foremost in the photo, all out of proportion and
4) kid #2 is screaming while being held by
5) hubby who is doing his best to pry kid #2's fingers out of his eyeballs
6) I got it in mid-January

The card said: Belated Happy Holidays from our crazy family. Because even in this time of perfection, we sure as hell aren't perfect.

It was so refreshing and REAL.

[strawberrygoldie]

Me? I just don't do 'em : )

[xanthe]

haven't done a holiday portrait yet, must get on it tomorrow! i really like yours...x.

[Kathy Winter]

I plain just didn't get around to it this year....but looking at all these has made me laugh, eased my guilt and inspired me for next year. If i start now, I might get one good shot for next year's card. Being in Florida, it looks the same in June as it does in December, so I'm not even limited by the season! :-)

[Shawna]

With one kid, it doesn't seem all that hard. As long as you can take 300. Last year we took ours at Starbucks (oh they have the best light) and some nice old ladies cooed at Bella to get her to smile for us :O)

This year's is here. Next year's? Who knows. http://tumblieweed.blogspot.com/2009/12/our-holiday-portrait.html

[Cherie]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/colopyfam/4205463412/

I generally have to prepare them ahead of time (especially the boys - my husband the most!) that I am going to take some family pics and it can be torture, which is funny because I take all kinds of pictures all the time, but sometimes you just need a shot of us all together!

This is my favorite from this year.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colopyfam/3724768375/in/photostream/

Others
http://www.flickr.com/photos/colopyfam/sets/72157603577680860/

[Camile]

I did mine of my brother and sister yesterday for my mom. We did it in the backyard and kept it super simple. I love how the final shot came out.
http://classroomconfessions.wordpress.com/2009/12/21/not-me-monday-11/

[FireMom]

We don't do holiday portraits solely for this reason. I got a picture of the two of them in their sweaters. Isn't that enough?

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2642/4183522062_9beec19c83_b.jpg

I might try and capture one of the four of us at the fire department after Christmas Eve service when we stop to visit my husband who will be working. But other than that, I really don't need any more stress right now.

[Vanessa]

we took this one while camping on Halloween weekend.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4069103937/in/set-72157618207105296/
It is the one we used for our card this year even though this one from Thanksgiving day was what I had intended to be the card.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/glitch_nitch/4138908300/in/set-72157618207105296/
I thought daddy-o and I looked a little bit to exhausted to send it out to everyone!

[Bridget]

I think your shots are perfect for a Christmas card because they tell a story of love. The look of love and concern, especially the hug from the little one in the last shot says it all. Mail it as is!!

[Margaret]

About a week ago , I gave up. Saturday was sunny and bright, but my son wanted to see a movie instead of be in pictures. The next day, we packed the dog and the camera in the car to pick out our tree, but when we got to the farm, there was a sign saying all animals had to stay in the car. Plus it was raining. So, no pictures. I realized it was stressing me too much. I was the only one who wanted to do it, anyway. I do love getting the photo Christmas cards, though, so I want to keep sending them.

[Kellee]

I have yet found the need to take holiday portraits - no family - but rest assured I enjoy all the hilarious stories I hear from all of my shutter sisters. Perhaps one day I'll be able to throw my own into the pot. :)