Taking Pictures Of Kids, It's A Numbers Game With Winning Outtakes

Another week, another 1000 pictures were added to my photo library. School events are in full swing. Homecoming, cross country meets, and marching band allowed for many photo opportunities. My advice is to keep pressing that magic photo button. While groups of kids are getting organized, press that button. Press that button while waiting for your toddler to be corralled in with their siblings. Press that button and do an embarrassing dance when your teen refuses to smile. You'll get them to crack. It's a numbers game. Press that button enough times, and you'll capture at least one with a decent smile and them somewhat facing the camera; you'll also get my favorite pictures, the outtakes.

My kids love to tease me about how many photos are in my phone photo library. How did anyone get a decent picture in the days of waiting for your film to be developed? I guess the answer is few came out perfect or what was hoped for or expected. Hence the viral awkward family photo memes. When your film was developed, most were outtakes. Eyes closed, kids looking the wrong way, etc... Those are the real memories. How kids naturally behave when they don't think it's time to "say cheese."

Ok, maybe you don't want that picture of them making a weird face or fighting with their sibling framed on your wall. Your kids might be embarrassed if you posted some of the outtakes. Save them anyway. My suggestion for the outtakes: I create a photo book each year with a few of those perfect picture treasures, but mostly the images that capture the behind-the-scenes of life with our kids. Sure enough, my kids barely acknowledge pictures framed throughout our house, but they always look over our collection of photo books!