Hidden Treasures: Photo Shoot Attitude

I've decided that I was specific photos on my wall of my children and since I am very specific and uh... particular...and uh...precise about what I want, I figured why bother someone else with my vision, right? That, and I'm cheap. Do you know how expensive it is to get a group shot of 6 kids and then individuals of them and then actually purchase all that? Holy bankroll, Batman!

This is where I decided that I'm now a photographer, because it can't be that hard, right? I mean it's just a photo!

*sigh*

I was humbled in my attempts. My failures drove me to research some good pointers for novices like myself that feel they need to drive the photo shoot and want to save some poor unsuspecting photographer the ~~headache~~ time.

Armed with ideas and a day that is overcast but not raining, I figured we'd get this down! I am proud to say that 5 of the children complied. Some needed some cajoling, but overall they complied. Then you have my 2 year old that doesn't do anything he doesn't want to do and lately, thinks it's hilarious to not comply with Mommy. *sigh* At least he usually giggles when being difficult so I figured it was a win-win, right? Uh, no.

Here is when I sat him on his spot and asked him to please smile for Mommy. Clearly this was a very hard request.

Since he didn't want to sit, I figured he could stand! He didn't want to do that, so we tickled him. Apparently that was torture too.

We continued to play games with him, and since he likes being swung around and hung upside down, I figured we could at least try it. Perhaps if he smiles upside down, I could just flip the picture, or leave it... he's an odd duck anyway. It worked and he just couldn't resist laughing. He is such a smart cookie and knew what I wanted and was absolutely determined to make sure it didn't happen. Just like any good natured 2 year old. So here's what he did:

Wait, it doesn't end there! I tried some more while on the swing. I begged. I pleaded. I tried tricking him. *sigh*

May Mommy please take a picture with you smiling in it? At this point I'm aware that the background is too busy and I can't use this for my wall, but it's the point of getting a smiling picture now.

No is what he said:

Of course I tried bribing him. As you can see from this picture, it wasn't good enough. He does think he's funny though. See the smile he's trying to hide?