Jadie Thomas Photography

This month’s family photo was taken at a magical place.  Dave and I are celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary this week, and we took the kids to Disney World to celebrate.  On our first day at the Magic Kingdom, we had early morning reservations at the Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique, and the guards at the gate let us in before the park officially opened so we wouldn’t be late for our appointment at the castle.  It was a slightly eerie feeling to be the only family walking down the middle of Main Street, and I had to laugh when I stepped into the ladies’ restroom and had every single stall to myself.  (If I hadn’t left my camera outside with my husband, I totally would’ve taken a picture of the empty bathroom.)  By the time we got to the castle, there were a few other families walking around, but we still felt like celebrities who had snuck in before everyone else!  It was a great start to the week, and it only got better after that.

In case you’re wondering, I did take my big 5D Mark II with me on the trip, but I attached my lightweight 50mm f/1.4 and left it on the whole time.  The L-series lenses and the bulky external flash got left at home.

This is my family.  I love seeing pictures of all four of us together, but for obvious reasons, that rarely happens.  One of my favorite photographers is Tara Whitney, and Tara came up with a fabulous idea that she did with her family last year.  My New Year’s resolution this year is to follow her lead!  She took a family self portrait every month by either setting the self-timer, holding the camera herself, or grabbing someone else to take the shot.  No frills.  Plain clothes.  Little fuss.  Just do it.  Just to have it.  At the end of the year, she took the twelve pictures of her family and created a book.  I’m not sure I’ll go that far, but at least I’ll have the pictures.

There is never a perfect time to take a family picture.  I think as women, it’s easy to say – I’m too heavy… I’m too busy… my gray roots are showing…  maybe later… but twenty years from now, your children aren’t going to care.  They will love having photos of their family, regardless of whether your hair has been freshly highlighted (and yes, I’m preaching to myself here).  Sooo, having said that, I would love for you to consider joining me in this project!  Just set the self-timer and run!

When I look at our January photo, I will remember three things: (1) Sixty degree days in January are such a gift.  After all of the snow we’ve had recently, the sunshine on Saturday morning felt like the perfect therapy for my winter blahs.  (2)  I love the woods behind our house, which is where we took the picture.  I love looking out my kitchen window and watching the seasons change right in my backyard.  (3) I almost killed my husband when he walked out in that hat.  Seriously.  I almost didn’t let him in the picture.  My St. Louis blood runs too deep.  (He bought that hat and just wore it to spite me.)  Thank goodness my son has better taste.