How to Take Your Own Family Photos as Per Camilla!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

About a month ago, Camilla (and Darwin) did a blog in the Photography Group and gave us instructions about how to take your own family photo.  Camilla is a fabulous photographer and I knew if I followed her instructions to a T, I was going to get a great picture for our Christmas cards.  Now, technically I was supposed to be taking our pictures, but as some of you may recall, I have a photographer daughter that can be bribed and threatened into helping.  So, I guess you can say I followed Camilla’s instructions to a T, except for this one minor exception. 

 

Camilla advised us to have one of the subjects stand where you will be taking the photograph.  She said something about having someone hold up a broom, but I knew that was going to lead to some inappropriate comments like, “I thought we were supposed to be taking pictures. I didn’t know you were getting ready to go for a ride on your broom,” and I wanted to avoid that, so I put a stool there. 

We went ahead and hired a supermodel:

What Camilla forgot to include in her instructions were how to accommodate for a difference in height between mates. 

Now, this is adorable!

Well, thankfully, I had an old stool and was able to kill two birds with one stone and add a little to Camilla’s original instructions. 

Camilla, Don't forget about props to help some of those vertically challenged folks!

and with a little cropping in all the right places, WA-LA:

Next, she covered some stuff about manual and auto focus, but I didn’t know what the heck she was talking about since my daughter told me the A on my camera stood for addlebrained and that was the setting designed specifically for me to use on my new camera.

 

She also talked about using a remote, but I had my daughter, so I didn’t need that step either.  We did follow her last step and took a whole bunch of photos, and think we got some good ones.  I did mimic a little of what Camilla did so well in her photo shoot.

I  would like to add I hope Camilla’s husband was more cooperative than mine.  At one point, I was searching my purse for my lipstick and I said, “I just need a minute to find my lipstick to make myself stunning,” and John said, “I can honestly say people will be stunned when they see you with or without your lipstick.”

 

Camilla, thank you for the instructions and I hope you approve of the results.

Here are Camilla, her hubby, and Darwin's adorable legs and feet:

Now, here is our copycat version.  Camilla, Keep in mind not everyone has tiny feet and might not want their feet photographed.

This one we threw in to gross out the photographer!  Keep in mind this was BEFORE John said, "for a minute there, I didn't think those clown shoes were big enough."

And finally here is another photo we tried to copy....Loved this one:

However, our dogs were not as cooperative as sweet Darwin and I forgot the two people in our photograph were WAY older than Camilla and her husband.  In many of these pictures, we are moaning about our backs hurting and praying we will be able to get up when the photo shoot is over.

One of our models started to roll:

Give us a treat and nobody gets hurt:

Not gonna lie, we just got done saying, "why did we listen to Camilla?"

And finally after 180 pictures, we got one we all like:

well, maybe two:

Thanks, Camilla :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Ricki, I can tell you where to get a great deal on clown shoes for only $6.99 a pair :) Thank you!! Yes, Fudge always is so intent on getting back to looking for squirrels that she is just putting up with the photo op. LOL

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 Laurie, this so helpful and instructive!  I'm heading out to the Clown Shoe Shop right now. LOL

The last two pics are really great! It appears that Fudge is the most serious member of the family!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thank you, Nancy. I could use the kiss one on my Christmas card, but everyone would wonder why I have clown shoes on. LOL

Jarka, I am already getting my Doodle card done. Good luck with your pictures.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I giggled all the way through this, Laurie.  Somehow the wonderful instructions Camilla so clearly give us, are a bit off when the subjects aren't as young, flexible, and cooperative.  I really do like the ones you chose as 'best' but I LOVE the kiss one.

[Jarka, Monty & Auggie]

Loved the process and the outcome. Time to start thinking about our holiday pictures. Thanks for the inspiration.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Dori, I can't wait until the next cruise :) Thank you so much!! I am so glad we met you, too!!

Deanna, I love that picture!!! Great shot.

[Dori & Rua]

Absolutely awesome pictures....and as, usual, a most amusing blog.  Hmmmm, must go take some foot shots now.  LOL  What makes seeing your pictures and reading your blogs all the more better is the fact that I was so blessed to have met both you and John.  You are truly great people!  Love ya!

[F, Calla & Luca]

It truly is , Deanna.

[Carol and Banjo]

Deanna,  That is darling!!!!!!!

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

As usual, a great blog!  It has motivated me to try and get a good shot of our little family - we'll see what happens.  "Feet only" shots are becoming quite popular - here's a recent one of my daughter's family: