It’s become something of a standing joke that as soon as I ask the kids to smile in a photo they make funny faces.
The wee girl is particularly prone to this…
Yesterday we went for a walk. I wasn’t all that popular for insisting that we did. It was hot and sticky, the kids were grumpy and tired; but I was determined that they would not sit in the house on a beautiful day.
In my wisdom I decided to walk to a part of the Middlesex Fells Reservation that we hadn’t been to before. This made me even less popular, but I will save that for another post. Suffice to say that calls for snacks and juice were loud.
So, we found a spot to rest and while there I attempted to take a few photos.
This is the result of asking the wee girl to smile.
I had to be quick to catch the smiles, as sticking her tongue out at me proved more popular.
This is what it’s like with kids and cameras isn’t it? The best photos are the ones that aren’t posed, where you catch them unawares?
But, when I say ‘best’, do I mean child looking beautiful and perfectly still, yet completely natural and not making a face…
When really, the best photos are the ones full of personality, even if that means they’re pulling a face.
Where they jump off the screen at you. Where the character and laughter and confidence shine through.
The ones that make you feel a bit lighter, a bit more joyful, as you look at them.
The ones that you know will take you back to that moment in time. The ones that become the markers for how much they’ve grown, how much they’ve changed and how much they’ve stayed the same.
The ones that are so perfectly them.
And occasionally, you get that smile.
brilliant photo’s and the best ones are the ‘catching unawares ones’!
Thank you, I think you’re probably right :)
I love the faces they pull when you ask them to smile! My tricks to capture a natural smile are either say, ‘now whatever you do, don’t smile, nope, not even a little bit’ or get them to yell ‘bum’ (or a similar word) and then photograph the grin when they’ve finished shouting!
Those are great tips, I’m going to try them :)
What beautiful photos, really lovely #mycapturedmoment
Thank you x
Sara so true, I love these photos Joe is terrible at posing he just cant do it, I have to catch him out all the time x
Sometimes it’s the only way, I cannot get a natural smile out of any of them if I ask for one!
And what better memories to have than funny faces. And as you say, your kids’ personalities shining through :)
Thank you :)
Ahh the wee girl so reminds me of a younger POD, they always seem so similar in their mannerisms. POD rarely looks at camera so I always have to catch her when she doesn’t think I’m taking photos. Every now and again she’ll look directly at me – then make a face!
They do seem very alike, I always think that when I read posts about POD :)
hehe great photos love the pout my girls either point blank refuse any facial expression or do the biggest cheesiest grin in the world!! #mycapturedmoment x
The cheesy grins are common here too, especially from my 6yo :)
Gorgeous photographs Sara – I like the cheeky faces the best! As you say, definitely captures the personality :)
Thank you Suzanne, these photos definitely capture her personality :)
Oh Sara I can totally relate to this!! I have two little girls who do the exact same thing, it drives my crazy and makes me laugh in equal measure. Thank you so much for linking up to #MyCapturedMoment xx
That’s exactly it, drives me mad at the time, and then I see the photos and I love them :)