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]

Jennifer, I had to go to the clown shoe shop....LOL!! Glad to see you are back. We missed you!!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

I LOVE the end result! You worked hard following the advice of Camilla. All the pics were a hoot! Love Camilla's too! Oh and I love those shoes! Where ever did you find them in your size?!?!?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Bonnie!!! My poor DD is at my mercy :) LOL

[Bonnie and Kona]

Love this blog and every photo. Vern rolling is the best! He is just a riot. No, seriously, the pictures of the four of you and the two of you at the end are really great photos. Glad your sweet DD helped you out with the actual picture snapping. ;o)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, BG!! He always has to roll...every day, every walk :)

[BG and Gavin]

LOL here at the rolling Vern picture. 

You are the greatest Laurie!  The final picture of you and John is just gorgeous.  A real keeper for sure.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Linda!! I always like to hear that I made someone laugh :)

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Pat. I kid Camilla, but she was my inspiration!!

Elizabeth, It was actually very windy today, but it only seemed to blow Vern's hair or else he just looks messy!! I rarely take a good picture, so I was very happy with my DD's shot. Thank you!!

Ginny, Your family picture looks great. I don't even notice anything with Lyric's legs even after you told me :) The more people and animals you add, the harder it is to get a good shot. Yours is very good. Thank you!!

Thanks, Linda and Jennifer!

Joanne, I am glad you loved this blog :) Keep grinning!!

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Those last two shots are just fabulous, Laurie!  As always, your blogs do not disappoint.  I always laugh out loud when I read them.

[Pat and Traveler]

Love this!  I read Camilla's helpful blog about family photos, and have been planning ever since to give this a try.  Now....I'm wondering!  The photos are hysterical, and there really are some excellent family shots!!!