Our Picture Perfect Family

Hubby and I were recently contacted by a local magazine about doing profile articles on both of us because of our careers in agriculture. We were beyond surprised and honored to have been asked - although we're pretty sure they were just running low on copy and needed some filler!

Because the reporter had a short deadline and a limited staff they asked if we could send in a few pictures to go with the pieces. One of myself at work, one of hubby at work and one of the family. No problem...right? Wrong!

Let me hang my head in shame and admit that we have not had a single (professional or even semi-professional) family photo taken in the 18 months since BuddyRoe joined us! I know, I know, I am terrible! And work photos? Please, I'm the one behind the camera for work, not in front of it.

I contacted one of the sweet girls that we go to church with who is an awesome photographer, but unfortunately because of our short timeframe she wasn't able to help us out. So I decided I would set up my tripod and get them myself (disclaimer: I am NOT, I repeat NOT a professional or even a "good ameteur" photographer)!

We started out Tuesday morning in Hubby's office to get some of him "working." Whoa Nelly. That's all I can say. I haven't been in his office since he first started, and well he's done a little decorating on his own. I have only three words...70s. Tweed. Recliner. Enough said. Here's a couple of those shots, minus the recliner... After a few minutes there we moved in to a grove to get some family shots. I wanted to take advantage of the early morning light (yeah, so I have no idea how to REALLY take advantage of it, but it sounds good) so I took the kids out there before school. I have only two words this time...Bad. Idea.

BBug has a few little quirks that she deals with. One of those involves her feet getting wet/dirty. As soon as we got out of the car the dew still on the ground soaked her shoes, letting all of the sand and dirt stick to them. It led to a bit of a meltdown, which led to our family pictures looking something like this... To get my own "at work" photos I set my tripod up in my office and did my best to hit the timer and then run and jump in my chair without moving anything before the picture took. Needless to say, I had a few outtakes on that effort as well...

At the end of the day I had a family shot and an individual shot of myself that I was happy with (and don't worry, it's none of these) but remember Hubby's office shots? Well, I just couldn't let those go to print. So I made him drive back out to the grove and let me take some more...

These were definitely better and I was able to get something that I was willing to let the whole world (or atleast our little corner of it) see in print!

I've learned several valuable things during this process:

1. Don't leave the decorating up to Hubby. I'll be visiting his office on a weekend in the near future to work on that.

2. Don't take BBug into a grove before the dew dries.

3. Make sure that we take professional family pictures on a relatively regular basis so I'm not in this fix in the future (not that I expect this particular situation to come up again any time soon...I mean Brad & Angelina we aren't, one magazine profile is probably our limit.)

4. My family may not be "picture perfect," but I sure do love them!