Take 1 ("Very funny, very funny, kids, now cut it out!"):
Take 2:
Take 3:
Take 4 ("Why are you guys linking arms?!!"):
Take 5:
Take 6 ("No pushing your sister! And Little Girl, your hands do not always have to be on your hips for pictures!"):
Take 7 ("Nobody feels sorry for you, 3rd Child, even if you can make the most pitiful face"):
Take 8 (My 6 year old son is fairly normal-looking finally, but now Little Girl is NOT happy! We call that face the "Ethiopian scowl" and it definitely conveys a message!):
Take 9 (we're happy now, but could we get a little less happy?):
Take 10 ("No, 3rd Child, still not the face I was hoping for"):
"I GIVE UP!!!!!!"
Ah, yes. For a long time I had a little guy who was NEVER looking at the camera (Look! A bird! I felt a breeze! My eyes won't stop moving!), and then he improved while little girl moved into the indirect gaze phase. She also quite clearly decides whether she is willing to humour me or stay in one spot. Our eldest is pretty good, but often looks extremely stiff and used to pull out control tactics and scowls because the picture wasn't his idea. I had to make some deals that when I was done my photo, he could take one of his own. My best strategy has been to set the camera on sport or a manual setting where, if I hold down the button, it takes multiple pictures at one, while I loudly talk at them to keep their attention focused on me, and get them to "Show me how much fun Easter is! (or whatever occasion). This usually gets some smiles, and I often end up with one where everyone is at least looking at the camera. Sometimes, however, my request to "show me how happy you are..." results in jumping and arm flapping (particularly from my 5 year-old), which can blur everything, but what can you do?
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