Family Picture Purgatory

Recently I came across this video on Facebook which I find both hilarious and a perfect analogy of every family picture session we have ever experienced.

https://www.facebook.com/BuzzFeedAnimals/videos/1444061692282488/

I can't be the only one that absolutely dreads getting family pictures.  Let's start with the obvious:  you have to come up with something to wear. You know, something matching but not too matching because you don't want it to look like you are trying too hard or have resurrected the Olan Mills portrait days.  Then, to make matters worse, your kids have opinions about what to wear.  And those opinions usually don't have anything to do with the outfits you've spent hours picking out.  No, they want to wear their lucky shirt and crocs and somehow aquatic shoes don't quite fit in your vision of the perfect family portrait.

Then assuming you can get everyone dressed, in the car and to the place on time you have to endure the picture taking session.  I can't decide what's worse, getting a picture taken with a bunch of toddlers/pre teens who either a) are positively starving or b) have to go to the bathroom.  Or getting a picture taken with six teenager/young adults who are wittier and more passive aggressive than you. Again.  Either situation is a toss up in misery.

Now comes the part where you have to actually touch each other.  Like put your arms around each other or at the very least squeeze in tight which is positively the worst thing you could ask them to do apparently.  Scrubbing toilets with a toothbrush would be better than this.  Eating a bowl full of broccoli would be cake compared to everyone huddled together in an unnatural position looking at the camera all at once with a mildly pleasant look on their faces.

Torture.  I'm telling you.

So here's what I've done over the years:  embraced it.

If everyone doesn't match, so what.  Maybe those Batman high tops will end up being a super cool reminder of your son's personality.  They don't want to touch each other?  The goofy poses they come up with tell a better, more realistic story anyway.  The perfect family picture?  It doesn't really exist.  At least not for this family.

And that's ok.  Because we are keeping it real.

If you are local and looking for some fantastic family pictures with minimal amount of torture, we highly recommend Clouds in Bloom Photography 
Clouds in Bloom