Christmas Pictures

Last weekend Jess and I swapped photography skills and set up a mini studio in my great room with lots of natural light to use, to take Christmas pictures! We went first...had to take a 10 minute break, because Braden absolutely fah-reeeeeeks out at the sight of a camera, especially a posed or set-up shot. He started whining, near crying as soon as Jay picked him up for our pictures. He wanted Thomas. He wanted blankie. He wanted his soother.

Crap.

So we took a 10 minute Yop break, and it got better...but only a little better. Jess probably took about 5 pictures and Braden was squirming and just looking off and not happy. I told Ben to get his laptop and hook us up with some Thomas. Well....that didn't work because he wanted to be RIGHT THERE in front of the laptop with Thomas. So...I straightened up Braden's shirt, Jay threw him up in the air and we counted...

1!....throw...
      2!.....throw...
              3!......throw....catch Braden and...!

PERFECT!!!

It's not the most focused picture in the world....the editing could probably improve ten fold, it's not a blow up and hang on the wall kind of picture...but for our Christmas card? I couldn't have asked for better!! Then I just took some of Braden, and this one will go into my Christmas card package (sneak-peek!)

We couldn't forget the husky now could we? She wouldn't give us those nice perky ears...until Jay said: "treat?!"


And then it was Ben & Jessica's turn, at 22 weeks pregnant looking as gorgeous as ever! (her, not you, Ben!)

I'm totally digging the 70's effect...

And I'm a sucker for black and white as always!

So with a white backdrop and stand that my mom gave me...free Christmas pictures vs. paying hundreds of dollars for a professional - PRICELESS! Thanks again, Jess!

It's also Flashback Friday! This still remains as one of my favorite pictures of Braden! 10 months old!