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 :)

[Elizabeth, Bailey & Bruin]

As always, you made me laugh...I do have to say, I love the look on Verns face.  It almost looks like there was a wind machine like the models use to blow his hair..LOL

But really..Love the picture of you and your hubby.  My mom and dad had a picture taken like this and it is one of my all time favorites...

[Ginny Nightingale]

Adorabel!! I really like the last one! And those clown shoes--LOL!! And look at that sexy, windblown look on ...VERN!

I tried to do a family pic with the three kids and the two dogs we had at that time (no Rio yet) and it was so hard--either Mattie or Lyric would look away or jump--etc. My daughter is a photographer and knows how to do photoshop, so I begged her to put a well-posed Lyric into the best family shot and replace the leaping Lyric. It came out well--one of her legs is a bit funny since my DD had to "lengthen" it to reach the ground, but no one noticed!

An Early attempt and then the final one:

[Linda, Charlie Brown and Beau]

Just saw this Laurie, and as usual you have brought a smile to my face.  Thank you!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I love it!

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

CHEESE!  LOVE! THANK YOU!   I just grinned ear to ear and this made me so happy.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

F, Thank you very much!! We did have a lot of fun taking these pictures, which I guess is why we were smiling. It sure wasn't the photographer yelling "smile" at us over and over again. LOL I am very lucky I have a DD who helps me with all of my ideas and makes them into reality.  John is a pretty good sport, too :)

Cyndi, I never get tired of hearing that about my blogs. Truly!! I always hope they put a smile on the faces of the people who read them. Thank you!!

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Thanks, Nicky!! It is rare to even get one good picture, so two was a real jackpot.

Hi, Eva!! We have leaves everywhere and I mean everywhere. I love fall, but we could do without so many leaves in our driveway. Thank you!! Hope you are doing well, too!

Lisa, I would love to have you visit anytime :) I really hope you cruise with us. Thank you!!

GBK, Thank you!!

Camilla, You are my inspiration!! I have wanted to do this blog for a long time and really am happy to get two good pictures. The clown shoes made all of us laugh :)

Adina, Go ahead and bump someone and feel free to use one of those pictures in the calendar...LOL!! If only John had some long femurs :)

F, Thanks, but I prefer to take two and get two great ones. LOL

Jane, You are welcome anytime and I bet my DD would be nicer to you than she is to me. She kept yelling, "SMILE." Of course, that cruise put a smile on both of our faces.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Donna, LOL....John made me put him in the garage so he wouldn't get hurt during the storm. He does add something to the picture, doesn't he??  Thank you!!

Sharon, Stay safe!! I think Fudge looks a little angry, but oh well. I judge the quality of a picture by how I look...LOL!! Thank you!

Jane, Next cruise...we are getting our picture taken on those steps. Surely, we can work something out. LOL

Thanks, Carol and L.M!!

Jane, John said to tell Bill he is the singer and John is the dancer. I know Ann was the one who said I had too much time on my hands. I just know it was her :) LOL I didn't have to whisper anything. He loves when I put my hands on him. It happens so rarely....LOL!!

Thanks, Anna, Karen, and Janie.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Laurie, this blog is great and your pictures are fabulous. I'm a little disappointed that you didn't include the newest addition to the family. 

This is really a beautiful pic, minus the rooster of course. :>)))

[Sharon & Monty]

Love this.  the next to last that have gotten comments on Verns happiness, well i think Vern looks pissed.  LOL  Great stuff Laurie, needed it today, too worried about the freaking storm to relax, thanks.