Clark’s Elioak Farm {Bethesda, MD Family Photographer}

For this edition of Friday’s for Family, I present to you another behind-the-scenes look at trying to get a picture of my own kids together.  It is sometimes said that what separates professional photographers from amateurs is the willingness to take enough pictures to make sure you have “the one”.  This is the picture I was trying to get.

Getting to this picture took a bit of doing.  It started when my son spotted this tree in the Enchanted Forest section of Clark’s Elioak Farm (out in Clarksville, MD).  He climbed right up and started posing for the camera.  We were on a roll, I thought!

Encouraged, I coaxed my daughter up onto the log to join him.  This didn’t go nearly as well (although I actually enjoy the last picture on the right).

Since the picture I had in mind was clearly not going to happen all by itself, I decided to go into more professional mode.  [Side note:  my daughter is standing next to me yelling, "It's pwetty, it's pwetty!  It's BOTH of us!" Yeah, that's the point, kiddo, you've got it!]  Broke out the water bottle for a quick break.  Tried the “give your sister a hug” trick (distinct no go on daughter’s part).  Upset that his sister didn’t want his hug, big brother starting poking sister in the head.

Clearly, it was time to take a different approach.  We took a little break, and by the end my daughter had gone from the sad face on the left, to the happy “Here’s my nose, Mommy!” face on the right.  Yes!  We were back on track!

Stuck my son back up there, and quickly grabbed the photo you saw at the top.  Whew.  That only took about 20 minutes.   Good things come to those who wait.  [Another side note:  my daughter just walked up again and announced, "Wow, I so pretty, Mommy!"  And modest, too.]

And a final note:  one of the great things about fall is the vivid colors.  But after editing all these photos, I just wasn’t feeling it, and finally decided to reprocess them, going for a soft look.  Loving it.

- Danie Smallwood