Photography 101

This weekend I did three photo shoots. I learned one big lesson...kids are hard. In general, but especially to photograph. Keeping them still, getting them to smile and stop screaming. A lot of bribery is involved with photo shoots with kids. Of course this often leads to even more "energetic" kids, or kids who have then drooled their chocolate candy on to their white shirt. Regardless, they're still so darned cute in pictures it's worth the effort.

One of the most interesting things I learned about my nephew, is that he is effectively bribed by candy, but he is made joyous by the ability to hit others. Some of our best shots came when he was on Shawn's shoulders and boxing him in the face and grabbing his ear. Witness in this photo the vise-like grip he has on Shawn's inner ear. Also witness Shawn's face as he screams in agony and fury. See how delighted the rest of the family is.

It was shortly after that even that the bribes turned to threats, but at least we got some really happy pics for a minute there while Ben was allowed to punch away. See family glee here.

For some of the new shots of the Davis (aka Ryan Johnson) family (Abram gets mad when I keep calling them the Johnsons) and the Shawn & Lisa Quinn family -see silent spinster stories. Although neither of these stories was very silent at all!