Family shoot February 20, 2012
Posted by babysis in Family Matters.trackback
We wanted a shoot before dad’s surgery. Was initially quite worried that my dad might think too much into it and refuse but turned out he seemed to enjoy the entire process.
Was instead irritated by other family members. To be more specific, my eldest brother’s children. You can’t find any other more grouchy bunch. It was sulky faces photo after photo. I have always complained about other families who don’t seem to bring up their children to be considerate and lovable people. And yet now we are dealing with the same situation right at home.
And my brother didn’t tell his daughter from his first marriage that we were doing a family shoot so she turned up in shorts and a ragged t shirt. I almost boiled over and had to hold my tongue. Luckily my sister anticipated something like that and brought a dress.
Seeing all the unwilling faces around me, and having K suddenly down with fever that morn, just greatly dampened my mood. Everything was just not right, even the makeup was not what im used to cos I’m using another artist since my sister didn’t want mine.
We were all exhausted after 5 hours. I still can’t comprehend why we grew up together and yet can be so different in the way we bring up our kids. Perhaps this is the last time we might be doing this, can’t they even try to put up with it just this once! Glad it’s over and done with. Sad that it can’t be done with more cheer. But thankful that my dad still has some really wonderful grandchildren around. My daughter for one was all bubbly and cheerful throughout the shoot.
You can’t really blame the kids. Maybe your brother didn’t prep them. Maybe he wasn’t aware what the photo shoot would entail. Photo shoots can be long and boring and once a child is self-aware and conscious of people around them, they can be very stiff and uneasy in front of a camera. Xuan is still very young and relaxed and of all the grandkids, she’s probably the most used to the camera. The older ones aren’t. I recently tried to arrange a shoot for my and my sister’s kids. Other than M, the rest were very cautious and stiff. Very trying to get a natural, smiling shot. So don’t blame them – it’s not really the most fun thing to do for them, and I can imagine the older ones getting really sulky.
Not the first time for them so my bro knows what it entailed. Just that the last shoot was done when the kids were small, when I was getting married. That’s like 8 years ago.
I blame the adults as well definitely. We wanted this shoot cos my dad is sick. We have no idea what’s going to happen after tomorrow (he is going for surgery tomorrow). All the kids know grandpa is sick. My second brother’s children were all trying to put up a good front cos they know why we are doing this. So why the eldest family can’t do communications better!
But u r right, x and k are used to cameras. Nothing new to them so they were the most comfortable at the studio. The photographer commented that he didn’t hear the baby cry at all!
Anyway they were so grouchy and there were unsaid unhappiness hanging in the air when my Sis intervene on how my niece was being dressed up. Not right I know but I understand why my sister did it.
I looked forward to the shoot but came out of it feeling really frustrated. There is really so much to learn about dealing with relationships even within a family. Tough.
By the way, I didn’t ask M to do the shoot – we had a friend who was auctioning his photography services at a charity dinner, so we went with him instead.
No worries. M doesn’t do photography for a living. He does it cos he enjoys it. So engage him when u want a relaxed and not professional shoot. Try different photographers to get different types of photos. I’m doing that too!