Our family photos at Alameda Beach

You guys, I get it, family photos can be rough. As much as I really try to make them as fun and easy as possible, the prep alone can be stressful (especially for moms!) The kids run the show and sometimes they just don't want to do what you want them to do. But, at the end of the day, you just have to roll with it and remember that life isn't all shiny and perfect so if the kids aren't looking right at the camera and smiling this year, it's a real glimpse into what your lives are actually like, and a sweet memory for the future.

Let me tell you about how our family photos went last year.....

I had planned to trade photos with a photographer friend, and with our busy shooting schedules there were exactly 2 dates that we both were available, so it was then or never. We got her's done and it was a beautiful day! Four days before ours were supposed to be done I looked at the forecast and it's supposed to not only rain, but pour and storm, for basically the next 10 days. Normally I'm not super stressed about Christmas cards, some years we do them, some years we don't, and I'm fine with that. However this year we had a 2nd child, and I feel like years with big changes require not only a new family photo but an update to friends and family. So I REALLY wanted to get some photos done in time for Christmas cards. So, with no other choice, I told my family we were heading out to a location I often shoot at near our house and I'd set up a tripod for a family photo. I quickly pulled together some outfits that sort of matched (I had ordered a dress that hadn't arrived yet!), did my makeup and brushed the boys hair, and we headed out to Alameda Beach. 

It was a little chilly, and the 4 year old was excited and just wanted to play. The baby just wanted to eat the sand. However, I feel like these portraits of the boys are sooo.....THEM, and it makes me smile even though they are far from perfect!

My 4 year old is still working on being gentle, lol.

A sweet woman walking by saw us taking photos with the camera on my tripod and offered to snap the shutter for us. So we got exactly 1 photo with everyone looking decent! And…Christmas card photo!

I love this photos of my boys!

I quickly gave up on trying to get perfectly posed shots and we played. And, it was FUN.

And then….the light was gone! Our photoshoot lasted all of about 15-20 minutes, and to be honest that’s all the boys could handle, so it was perfect. At least for now! I still plan to have my friend do an actual session for us in the spring when the weather is nicer to get some variety, but I love having some memories with what our little family was like at this moment.