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 :)

[Jane, Rooney & Stuart]

Laurie - on the next Doodle Cruise I really want our picture taken together.  This past cruise I'll admit that I avoided it due to the disparity in our heights.  You were so kind to point out in your cruise blog how I had thought to pack EVERYTHING - well next cruise - I'm pack a ladder!!!!  LMAO! 

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

Jane, this is the quote from Adina - I expect to see this in 2014.

"We do allow people in our DK Calendars now...so...."

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh Laurie.....I just adore the "good" shots!   Well worth the effort....what a great looking couple!     Vern is smiling so sweetly!!!!

[L.M.]

lol LOVE IT!! My favorite is the one with the rolling model  ;)  

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Laurie, that "next to the last one" is a Calendar shot! Oh no, wait....just saw Adina's comment about no people, but she'll probably make an exception for this shot.  Look at how happy Vern is in that picture....and look at how happy John is in the last one.  Did you happen to whisper something in his ear just before the shot....maybe "Katie".  Just sayin.  We just came back from seeing Ann and Bill and your name was mentioned quite a few times....something about blogs and "too much time on your hands".  It wasn't me Laurie....I love your blogs.  There was also something about Bill giving John a run for his money next time about dancing with the waitress.....he was actually practicing some dance moves this afternoon with Tim (there were no waitresses available). 

[Anna and Achilles]

Super photos and great story. I agree Camilla is an incredible photographer. Wish I lived near her to hire her.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Love this blog, it's hilarious, and really love the photos!  Great job on all counts!

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

The photo shoot have to be so much fun! Love all the photos!! Great job!!

[Nicky, Riley & Boris]

That's so much fun...I love that you actually managed two particularly fine photo's good enough to grace the very finest Christmas card : )

[Eva]

oh that was so cute. You actually have fall scenery there too. We still have bright sunshine and green tree's yet. Hope you are doing well.