Whenever I mention family pictures to my husband, I always get the same look from him. Words need not leave his mouth for me to know he isn't thrilled about the idea. It's not that he doesn't want updated pictures of our family, it's just that he knows all too well that they will be the exact opposite of my expectations. What I envision to be candid, fun, and cute memories usually turn out to be stressful, unnatural moments. Nonetheless, I still make my hope-filled proposal (and if we are honest here no one really has a choice in the matter, ha!)Now I must make a disclaimer: I've been blessed with a lot of great equipment from when I shot weddings so we are always attempting these on our own. Sometimes it's self timer and other times it's simply me directing everything and asking a family member to focus and push a button. Every time we do this I am immediately reminded of the value in hiring a photographer because great photographs are so much more than just a fancy camera and photographers do so much more than push button. They are directing, getting everyone comfortable, working with the changes thrown at them, and actively seeking out what will improve an image. That being said, we have the equipment and my dad who was in town understands general concepts of photography so I asked him to take some pictures before they left (which I am forever grateful for.)It's no surprise...the kids did not cooperate. They were hyper, impatient, and once again I proved Ethan's thoughts correct. The end of our "session" looked like this:When Kaiden would jump into the image Skye would leave and when Skye would jump in Kaiden would leave. There were a few Kaiden, stop that's! and a hand full of Skye, get back on the bed's! scattered throughout our time. Kaiden started crying which got my post-pregnancy hormones all crazy and so I started crying. My face is a mix of smiles and tears because I was fully aware how pathetic the situation was and yet once the water works started I had to let them run their course. Ethan is telling my dad in this shot to take the picture right then and there because this image holds more truth than all the others. (And he was right.)A picture may be worth a thousand words but there are also a thousand things that they don't tell you. These images can easily decieve and in a digital-age with a lot of skewed or dishonest depictions of what one's life really looks like I don't want to further perpetuate the cycle. Let's face it. On most days you will not find us in matching neutral apparel sitting on our guest bed in a well-lit room.We rent a house with most room's wall colors that don't reflect well on skin tones or in camera. Kaiden usually picks out a mis-matched outfit and Skye's hair is usually a mop on her head. The kids have so much energy that it's rare you can get a shot of them actually looking into the camera, let alone together. And while there is nothing wrong with wanting to clean up a little, dress up a little, and smile for the camera I need to accept the fact that life isn't meant to be "Pinterest perfect." I may see a picture on Instagram or Pinterest and want something similar but that person's life is not my life. My kids have different personalities than theirs. And I don't want to spend my days catered to a neatly curated Instagram feed. My heart is revealed in the way I react when things don't turn out as I had expected them to. In eternity, none of this matters and God used the other day to reveal an idol I had in my heart.So while I will cherish these images in years to come, they will also serve as a reminder not to take picture taking so seriously. There is much to be grateful for and eventually my kids will get to an age where cooperation will hopefully be a bit easier. With all of that being said, here are a few of our family pictures from the other day. I am quite happy with the way they turned out and so appreciative of my dad for patiently photographing us all. <3