the hard part about being the camera hog is...


Friday, March 16, 2012

... I am never in any photos. I rule the camera at our house, if you can't tell. I always have my phone or slr within a hop's distance. I do this because I love capturing the actual moment, not trying to stage a moment that wasn't there or trying to re-enact it later when the glory has come and gone. So therefore, since I am the one with the huge emotional attachment to savoring each memory, I am kinda left out of the memory. This is fine by me for a couple reasons:

a. I am the worst camera poser. Every pose I do in the camera feels like that - a pose. I find it hard for me to act natural in front of the camera. But ya know, I think the reason for that has to do with the fact that I am always handling the camera and so if someone is taking my picture that means I have ASKED them to take my picture and therefore I can't all of the sudden go all natural and "hahaaha laugh" like that's the backstory of the photo when it's not. I asked to have my photo taken. So it has to be posed at that point. There's no alternative. This results in just a boring photo of me standing in front of bushes looking stagnate, in which I demand 50 more shots to be taken, all are awkward and I decide I should never turn my face into pixels again.

b. I am all about the angle and composition of the photo. I've asked Jared {see - asked} to take some photos of Ev and I and I'll look at them in review and say "um, could you try scooting in a little closer? and maybe stand on your tippy toes a bit and shoot downward? And try not to get that pole in the background?" I have this idea of how a photo should work and I get really frustrated when I have this vision and Jared doesn't have the "eye" for it {sorry dear!}. I'm not saying that I am an expert photographer by any means! I'm just particular.

c. I only look photo worthy when I am tan. And I'm not tan right now, so we'll hold off on photos til that comes about.

d. I'm fine being the camera hog because I get to be the artist capturing moments of love in action. And that's what a camera's for, right?

photo taken summer 2011 by my friend Amy on the Santa Monica Pier the week before we moved

Evelyn and I are departing this weekend for California! Thank you all for your wonderful suggestions and encouragement to help us get through our travels there! So far we have a whole row to ourselves. We're praying it stays that way :)

Happy Friday!

19 comments:

  1. What a beautiful picture of you and baby girl! Your hair is gorgeous!

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  2. I'm never in any of our photos either, cest la vie

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  3. I'm right there with ya! It's hard to let someone else take the pics..they can never quite take the picture like we would! I struggle with the whole posing thing too so I try to stay behind the camera as much as possible. I love this picture of you two!!

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  4. I'm the same way too! I've very paricular about the pose/angle of the picture and when I give the camera to my hubby, it's never the same.

    Hope you have a safe trip and lots of fun with your family!!

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  5. oh, have so much fun in california. I will be praying for your trip.

    and as for the husband taking pictures, I could not agree more. same page sister!

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  6. first of all you are beautiful and should be in font of the camera!!! I do agree that I look way better when tan! (I think everyone does!) good luck with your traveling!

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  7. haha i am seriously obsessed with this post that you just wrote! you are totally right...having to say "take my picture" really ruins all chances of having a natural pose, and i am waaaay too controlling/picky/ocd when my husband takes a photo of me. he misses the days of film cameras when you would only just take one shot. :)

    hope you enjoy your trip! it's beautiful out here! :)

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  8. Ah, it is the EXACT same in our household! I get a bit frustrated sometimes, because I would LOVE to have some nice pictures of me and my Dot together! But alas, I too do not look great on camera, and I think for the very same reasons! For this reason, I have hired a friend/photog to take family portraits sometime in the upcoming month - hopefully out of 100 shots we'll get a good'un! x

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  9. I think this is true for a lot of Mums. Unless they have a photographer husband. You always look beautiful though.

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  10. I can totally relate to this whole post! The best photos I have taken of myself and Will have been with my tripod and my camera remote. Yes, it is a little posed, but we do something long enough Will forgets the camera is on us and just acts like himself. Have fun on your trip!!

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  11. I completely understand you and can relate when it comes to taking pictures vs. having your picture taken. I always have my camera with me and love taking pictures and the times I ask the hubbs to help and take a pic. I can point out a ton of things I would have done different. funny how we put so much pride and effort in the little things, that to them dont seem that important lol

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  12. Wow is your hair really that long? I love it! Mine is mid back but I may get it cut when my best friend comes back to DC this may.

    Im the same way, I love being the camera hog and whenever Scott does take pictures (he tries so hard to be good at it) I ask him about angle/lighting ect....but then when he tries to look all professional when taking our picture I end up laughing and ruining the picture ;-)

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  13. what a gorgeous photo! I can completely relate to this post. I seriously thought it was just me. :)

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  14. I am the ONLY photographer...haha...I know how it goes! Plus, I'm very NOT photogenic by any means...

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  15. just found your blog! It is so sweet! I can't wait to read more about you. I am with you about always being the one behind the camera - I share that same compulsion!

    <3 Daryl
    Roots, Wings, and Other Things.

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  16. Iol..I've been trying to teach my hubby better camera skills.,.so I don't have to
    Hog the camera:-)

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  17. I'm always behind the camera too!
    I hope you have a great time in California!

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  18. same way. always behind the camera. i need a 'photographer in a pocket' -- there should be a such thing. you just take em out for the need be, then put them back in your pocket.

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  19. I can totally relate to this. I pretty much take all of the pictures in our family. For everyone. I guess that goes along with being the only professional photographer in the family. It is also so frustrating to not have any good pics of me and my daughter. Recently though, I have started setting up my tripod and actually taken pictures of myself while pregnant and with my daughter using my remote. Sadly, it's better then having my husband take it, who somehow manages to mess up every picture! Grrr.

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