Since The Bean was born, I’ve tried to do a mini-photo shoot with him every month. It’s usually a quick few pictures in a cute outfit to document how big he is at his little monthly milestones. About twice a year, we do a bigger photo shoot with outfit changes, shooting on location, a Kraft services trailer and pyrotechnics.
Or we might just throw a cute outfit on him and drive around finding a different, pretty backdrop.
Then, at the end of the year, we make a photobook with all of the pictures (and other day-to-day pictures we snap) and make a few copies (one for us to look at and show people, one to keep sealed in plastic [in our off-site deposit box] and a copy for grandparents and other family members. I use MyPublisher (this isn’t a paid endorsement, I just love their products and prices). They have incredible sales constantly. I’ll usually order two at first (buy one get one free) and then, near the holidays, they run a reprint special where you can get unlimited copies at $25 a pop. That’s about what we’d spend printing off a picture and buying a frame to give out one framed family picture. so, we wait for the $25 sale and do most of our Christmas shopping.
Anyway, back to my point…
When I take pictures of Bean, I always try to remember to take photos that will be memories and reminders of his childhood and of raising him. It’s easy to just get the “cheese” pictures, but it’s harder to remember to step back, take in the scene and create images that tell a story.
This image was taken at Jer’s parent’s house. We visited them in Little Rock recently. Bean spent the day playing with his Nana while we all went and played cards with family (Nana shoved us out the door so she could have alone time with her only grandbaby). It was a rainy day in Arkansas and Bean loves watching the rain. Nana put up the baby gate in front of the patio door (which he knows how to open) so that he could watch the rain.
When I came home, I was struck by what a big boy he is becoming. He was in new jeans and wearing newer shoes and they both screamed BIG BOY to me. He looked so toddler to me and so NOT babyish. So I snapped a few pictures of him by the baby gate for a couple of reasons:
1. To document his time at Nana’s and his love of the rain.
2. To show that, next to a 36″ gate, he’s almost to the top at 17 months (he’s about 34″ tall now).
3. I also managed to sneak in the front of the rental car that we used for the weekend (we had 3 adults, the Bean, his pack-and-play, his portable highchair and luggage to haul. Our cars weren’t quite big enough). When I see the little Nissan Rogue, I’ll remember the fun we had on the road with Bean, his Daddies and Jer’s younger brother (Uncle Jay-Jay).
It’s not necessarily a perfect image and won’t tickle the fancy of some people. But, for me, it’s a memory of family, laughter, good food and lots of card playin’.
Remember, when you’re taking pictures of your family and kiddos to try and document more than poses and faces; get the story behind the image as well.
You can read more about my decision to not fully feature The Bean on my blog here.
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