On traditions and memories.

Ever since the birth of the Princess we have been taking family photos every year - in her first year we had two sessions, mainly because I won the second one. I like to use a different photographer every year for variation. I do not have the details of the older years, but our last two years were done by Jeanette Verster - stunning photos and my favorite family shot ever (2010). Sadly, this year I have made a bit of a boo-boo with this all.

It has been a tough year for us, both in terms of time and emotional stuff, but also on the business front, where we have felt the pinch of the global economic crunch for the first time. So, clever I tried to save costs and when the photographer at the Princess' school (and a well known children's photographer) offered to take sibling pictures too, I saw the chance to have at least nice shots of the kids and be done for the year. And what a mess that was - gosh, I was so upset. She asked us to be at the school hall at 1:30 and she was available up to 3pm. We were there at 1:20 - to be faced with a queue of 7 families before us (and another 4 after us). The photographer had her second shoot doing individuals and she doing the groups. She was taking up to 10 to 20 minutes per sibling set - the wait was long and hot. So not what  a SID kid need in his life. She the second shoot started with the boys she gave up in 5 minutes - L was just out of it. The flashing lights, loud kids etc, just got to him. Adding to that they gave him a toolbox with talking tools to hold - of course, taking his full attention and resulting on him looking down all the time. She made a snide little remark to the main photographer that "this boy is impossible to work with" The main girl assured me that it will be fine. Another 15 minute wait while she was photographing the school secretaries' grandchildren, she informed me that we will have to come back on Monday as she had someone waiting for her for 15 minutes already. It was 2:45! To say I nearly freaked out with all this is enough said - I merely said: "oh, but it's not 3 yet! I think she saw the anger on my face because she quickly re-phrased that she said that to get the kids moving! So NOT on, because then the Princess was all nervy and C nearly freaked out. Total waste of time - I saw the pictures today and yes - total crap. The other families before us - lovely pictures. The ones she took of the Princess in the morning are lovely and I will certainly buy them, but none from that afternoon. I do hope their school ones are ok - the girl they use there is ok, but not great.

So, now I am without the potos I use every year for our calenders and although I have lovely shots I have taken of the kids through the year, there are few featuring all 3 and 1 of us all together. I also use them for the covers and first and last page of our yearly photo books. So in a whim of time on Saturday I saw a Groupon offer coming through and bought it - we shall see what it brings, but let's hope for the best. If not great, it's no big money loss and it's close to home.If I get one great family one and one of the kids together I will be happy. Next year, we will do it "properly" again.

So do you take family pictures every year? And have your read "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin - if you have, you will understand - all about being the keeper of memories for the family which does indeed contribute a lot to my happiness.