And right now....I need some time to cool off! ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I just spend gosh knows how long composing a perfect post for these photos....and I just lost it all in an instant. I just can't even bare to do it all again......sigh.....
breathe.......breathe......breathe.........
Not feeling better about it. sigh......
Okay....let's look at it this way....you all just scored the big one....won the lottery....woo hoo.....YOU GET THE SHORT VERSION. It is LATE, and I am not rewriting this whole darn thing, k?
Here's the gist......Last week, I posted the first set of photos from this particular day at our favorite park. Today, I am (rewriting...argh) a post giving you a little look at the last half of our trip.
In this particular situation, I had hoped to capture a three year old portrait of Miss Sugar. I had grand ideas. You see....the main difference between simply taking photos of Sugar, and trying to get portraits is this.....EXPECTATIONS!
Usually, on any given day, I am just a camera toting mom, and I snap away at whatever I fancy at the moment. I go in with no pre-conceived notions of what I'm going to "get".
However, when going for PORTRAITS, I usually have some ideas of what I'd like to capture. What the mood will be.....how she will be interacting with the environment....and so one. The expectations only really serve to ensure one thing....Mama is going to blow a gasket.
Yup...nothing like having an idea of what you want to happen, to set everyone up for a BAD time! This day was no exception. Sugar was distracted by the various people that happened to be in the garden area that day. She apparently didn't fancy her usual discoveries either. She only wanted to "go play".
I kept trying...I kept snapping. I used all my tools in my toolbox, and yet nothing worked. I found myself throwing up my hands, and walking the "huffy walk" behind a skipping Sugar over to the playground.
As I sat at my computer that night, I fumed over the complete and total lack of a single quality PORTRAIT! I hated each and every photo I took that day. I finally just closed the folder, and hoped to never lay eyes on it again.
Never to look BACK!
Nearly 2 months later, I dared to take a peek. I was pleasantly surprised. It seems that given time....I was able to let go of my crazy expectations, and simply look at the photos with fresh eyes. I was no longer attached to what I didn't get that day, and able to just enjoy what I got. Dare I say that I even like a few?
They are most certainly NOT my best work....and not the PORTRAIT I was after, but they are not the pile of trash I labeled them that day either. It is a lesson I am happy to learn and share. Given a little time, your perspective might change, and you can see things from a whole new light. Don't give up on things so easily. Give yourself a chance to try it on later....you might be surprised.
I know I was.....
And for THAT I'm glad!
21 Live It or Love It:
That exact same thing has happened to me! I'll set out to get some more portrait-like photos of Emma, I have exactly in my mind how I want them to look. Then, I look at them and they didn't turn out the way I wanted them to and am completely disgusted and dimiss them. Then, months later...I'll be flipping through the folder and notice how great they were. But, it only took me MONTHS to see their potential. That's why I have so much trouble deleting photos...you just never know...
I think these shots turned out great! But of course, I'm not the mother and the photographer so it's easy for me to see a cute girl captured in a great photo!
Personally, I think ALL your photos are portrait quality, and these are no exception. BUT, I certainly understand what you are talking about. This past weekend I tried to take pictures of my kids for Father's Day only to blow my own gasket. I ended up getting two decent ones, however, that truly capture my kids' personality. To me, that's more important than getting the "perfect" shot.
They are beautiful and I know exactly what you mean!! lol
I also know what you mean about typing a huge post only to have it disappear....talk about annoying!
Hope you are having a great day.
Linda
oh do I ever know what you mean! These are really great though! I love the life in them!
Oh, yeah, I sooooooooo get this post, it's not even funny!
Sugar is quite the subject, I do believe!
I think these are wonderful!
But I have been learning that photography is a very frustrating hobby that requires a lot of patience. And since I am not exactly the most patient one on the block, I sometimes wonder why I took it up!
You're too hard on yourself! Those are great!
Although, I cannot believe you let her sit on the edge of that bridge! My kids would've been in the water in an instant! She's a good girl!
I'm glad you were able to see these in a new light- because they are wonderful and capture her personality. I think the last one looks like portrait material to me!
Well, I think the photos are amazing, because you've captured the essence of Sugar... and that's more precious than a portrait could ever be!
I think the photos are fantastic, they really do capture Sugar and her sweetness. But I do know what you mean, some of my favorite shots and shoots were not and are not planned.
niiiiice. you and she totally planned that, didn't you. no you did. really you did. i can see it in her eyes, the mischievous "we got 'em in the end" look. nice.
Hello, Oh the lessons we learn. I trust your doing well. I hope your just having a fabulous week! Just stopped by to say hello.
In a nutshell, that's kinda the story of my life, you know? I think the pictures were beautiful. Your "worst" far outdo my best!
I think they're beautiful, Corey! So many cute expressions too. :) Love that Sugar Bear!
I have moments like that too - usually at the portrait studio where we've gone to get 'portraits' taken. We've done 'official' portraits of all 3 girls - up until this year. Becca refuses to even set foot in the studio, and I have to say that I'm enjoying taking my own photos more than the stressful experience of trying to get 3 kids to 'look this way', 'smile!!' and pay attention to some stranger with a camera.
Beautiful pictures you took that day! :)
You are so right Corey. Looking back we notice different things and see them for what they are, not what they might have been. I love them all, but the third from the bottom I find just adorable for some reason. The colours are all so vivid, and I know you can't see her little face but it's so cute.
My gosh, that is the most frustating thing EVER to lose a completed post. Ugh.
This happens to me all the time, too. I often feel like I got nothing even semi-decent, but once downloaded I realize that some of them have potential with a quickie trip thru Photoshop. We're all our own worst critics, that's for sure. I think these are adorable - especially the ones dangling her feet off the bridge. I prefer these candids to posed portraits anyway.
I totally understand your frustration- good to know it is not just me!
And personally, I think you got some great shots.
Oh my, I can't believe how much she is changed. Gone is the roly poly baby, she is a big girl now!!!!
Ok, so can we see some old pictures to see how grown up she is??? Pretty please????
Can I just say that I love that one in the middle with her pulling her lower lip to the side? It just zings my heart-strings :)
(And I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who succumbs to a 'huffy-huff' fit now and then ;) )
Post a Comment