Today, for the first time ever, we got a professional picture taken as a family. It wasn’t a big deal – just an Olan Mills coupon for an inexpensive one-pose package – but since this was our first picture together, I was excited about it.
The kids have gotten their pictures taken together professionally lots of times at JCPenney. They’re both really great for the camera, and we get lots of great shots pretty quickly.
So I figured if anything went wrong with the pictures, it would be me or Tim really not liking the way we looked. (We both looked fine, but who likes the way they look in pictures?) Or possibly Big Brother being tempermental and deciding he didn’t want to get his picture taken. He often says that beforehand and then does really well during the session.
But no! It was Little Sister! From the very second we sat down for our first pose, she getas uninterested and tried to get down. We were able to get ONE good shot of the whole family, one OK shot, and good ones of BB and me and BB and Tim.
Now granted, we DID get the one-pose package, but we also got a free three-image montage, plus last time when I picked up the photos, they had printed up two other poses that I bought for $5 each. I’d do that again if they were good. But I don’t think that’s going to happen.
On a related note, I really liked the pictures of BB that I got taken at this Olan Mills in April, right after his sixth birthday. If I like these photos too, I may consider joining their savings club when my JCPenney membership runs out in January. But the Olan Mills one gets you slightly less of a deal ($4.99 sheets vs $3.99 sheets, JCP always includes 3-5 extra sheets that I can buy for $15 – usually at least one with a fancy expensive finish, etc). The bargain hunter in me is having a hard time deciding which I’d go with. Oh, and Olan Mills is definitely more convenient – it’s at Meijer, where I grocery shop every week – so very convenient for photos and especially for pickup. JCPenney is at the mall, which means that not only do we usually spend half the day there (gotta bribe BB with lunch afterward or something to ensure good pics) but I have to make a special trip out there to pick them up.
Decisions, decisions …
CAN’T WAIT TO SEE THE FINISHED PRODUCT!!
I envy you. We’ve never had a family photo done. I haven’t even had the nerve to bring the girls to get their photos done since October 2005. Morgan makes it nearly impossible. She hates to look at the camera and all those wonderful props that line the walls at sears – curse them. All she wants to do is run off and play. Maybe someday….
Jolene – I forgot to mention that we’ve never had a family photo done, didn’t I? Tim and I have NEVER had our photo done together (not even wedding pics) or with either of the kids. The kids have always done great until LS last weekend though.
I should tell you sometime about ALL THREE times we got the kids’ pictures taken with JD, btwinny’s son (my nephew). That went well, ha ha. (Just kidding btwinny. Ya know I love JD.)
Here’s what I’d do with your girls: Make an appointment for pics at Walmart – you can get a package deal for under $10 there, so no big deal if it doesn’t turn out great. Make the appointment at a time that’s slow for them (ask them) and also good for your girls.
Then tell the girls what you have planned, have them help you pick out their outfits, and tell them that if they do a great job with the pictures they’ll get a (whatever is a good reward). If one of them doesn’t do well, she doesn’t get the reward. Then schedule pictures again in a few months – tell the “good” girl she’s getting her picture taken and will get another reward if she’s good. When “bad” girl asks about why she won’t get a reward, explain that she didn’t like getting her picture taken last time so you won’t make her do it again. Make it seem like you’re being nice mommy for not making her do it. She’ll probably beg you to let her. So let her, and hopefully she’ll be good for it.
Or … that could all be a load of crap. Who knows!! Anyway, 1.5 years after the last picture (so Morgan would have been 2.5, right) maybe she’d do better.
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