Christmas photos - the $50 for 50 bunch

I have been meaning to show some of my favorite photos from my $50 for 50 endeavor over Christmas. I learned a lot through the process. I know that I love to take photos, getting bolder and more confident as I took on each new family. I know that I have a hard time narrowing down from 300 photos to 50, which meant I lightly edited 300 photos instead. Big time consumer doing that. Still don't know where I want to go with photography, but I know I will not be doing 300 photos for $50 again. Just wore me down, and no pleasure came of it. But that's why you do things - to learn what benefits you, your family, and in turn the families that you bless with your photos.

These are not in any type of order, much less my friends' favorites. I decided to choose my top three faves from each photo shoot, and all for different reasons. I was going to go and add some punch in the editing before posting, but the thought of it overwhelmed me. So what you see if what you get!

First up is sweet Brooks. Such a smiley age! And what great scenery for photos. I am so sad his mommy and daddy moved away from Houston!


Ah, sun, you are starting to become my friend.


Wish I got to see this bundle of joy more often. Love those eyes!


Next up are the cousins of Brooks. AnnMarie was a trooper smiling constantly while her younger brother got adjusted.


We did get one of both smiling, but this was a hard age to master. Clark couldn't sit up, and he's as big as his sister. We managed to finally find a position that would work.


Look at those two cuddlebugs


The time of day with Pines kicked my butt - close to noon. I wasn't feeling confident with the sun quite yet, so I bombed on exposure on a lot of the shots. Thankfully I have an understanding friend who tells me to quit being so hard on myself. We just had a blast doing silly things, which made the kids laugh.


It's nice to have friends that don't take life so seriously. During this shoot Leslie told me something that made me stop and think about the emphasis of our Christmas photo. She said it's silly that we all want this perfect Christmas card photo when in reality none of us have a perfect family. It helped me stop and think, during several times during the Christmas season, just what I was trying to let others' think about my family. Do I want them to think I had a perfect card or a heart that followed Christ?


Don't worry, we did get some normal, regular ole Joe shots.


My dad and Casey's dad went to high school together. We took their photos on an overcast day, which meant the exposure was perfect. Had lots of photos to choose from.


Tatum is at the age where it's easy to get the smile.


Her black outfit next to the flowers made for a good mix


In about ten minutes over Thanksgiving I quickly shot my brother and sister-in-law


We just marched over to my parents' neighbors' house and went to work.


My brothers have come a long way. Never ones to enjoy photos, the wives have definitely changed their hearts when it comes to smiling for their sister.


The Martins were fun to photograph


I had to last minute bring Justin with me - there's a reason why I normally don't do this. He was great until I started moving quickly from pose to pose. He just sat on the ground and softly moaned for mommy. This sweet husband kept asking if he was okay. Amy and I would look at each other, laugh, and say yes, he was fine. Justin told me later he thought I was going to take photos of him. We eventually did.


It was fun being playful with these three. Plus, I have a softness for families with only one like myself. So many of us to pray for to broaden our families!


I met Ava's mommy through a friend of a friend. She came over while Justin was napping and we shot some photos in my neighbors' yard.


I am a sucker for red shoes on little girls


Mommy finally got her to smile


The Wilsons - what would we do without these neighbors?


They had recently gotten a cat, which just happened to walk by during photos. So Chloe got a shout out in the Christmas photo. And it had snowed the day before in Houston, which showed up in our photos. So fun.


Lily, the youngest, wasn't smiling at first. I pulled out my new faithful trick of marshmallows for rewards to her older siblings. We didn't have to fight for a smile for the rest of the time.


We used my neighbors' yard quite a bit now that I am posting three in a row. Hey, they have great landscaping, are hospitable, and are 3 houses down. Jacki is a trooper letting us stomp all over the place. The Boyle girls were fun.


It was about 50 degrees outside and slightly windy. They were troopers in their short sleeved Christmas dresses. The girls had these cute hats from Etsy that we took from behind to show the woman they bought them from.


We even got momma to smile for a photo.


I was quite intimidated taking the Flanakins' photo. We were at a location I had never been to, and Pat used to be a professional photographer. He has given me tips and pointers on my camera, flash, lens recommendation, etc. But we got some winners and I could breathe easier.


And Caris was plentiful with the smiles.


I need to go back and shoot at this location. It had so many great places to pose for.


You would think 4 kids would be hard. The Halls were probably the easiest.


Those kids were so cooperative - and kept wanting the marshmallows!


Not that I am playing favorites, but I have a thing for redheads. Em and I are buds when we all get together in playgroups. Since I obviously have an extra set of hands, I usually gravitate towards a Hall child. Love all those kiddos.


Though there were some grumpy comments, my family, in the middle of a wedding reception dance floor, got our family Christmas photo taken. I just happened, by accident, to ask one of the professional photographers to use my camera and take the photo. He tried to tell me how to set my camera, questioned the fact I was using RAW, etc. I just calmly told him to take the photo - I knew what I was doing.


I showed this photo on my Christmas post, but I liked the black and white that Mary Beth choose for their card.


Hallie turned one, and Jenn took me to a great place to take some shots. Look at the beautiful leaves!


Once we got Hallie to stop moving, she showed us her beautiful smile.


But getting her to stop was the hard part. This family is moving to Australia soon, so I am glad we got some photos in before they left.


Just for giggles, I thought I would throw in some outtakes from my own family Christmas card photo shoot. It's hard to not be behind the camera to tell yourself how ridiculous you look.


Ironically, I messed up most of the photos trying to "naturally" look at Justin while the other two smiled at the camera. Awkward! Justin gave us a few wide smiles.


Getting ready for the final pose, we just don't look au natural. Oh well - we tried.


Um, no.


We did finally get our winner - second to last one taken.


Kuddos to my brother Shane for meeting us at 7:45am on a Friday for 15 minutes.


Thanks to Photoshop, I took Justin out of the photo above to have his own personal greeting. Gotta love cut and paste.


I still am trying to find a balance with this fun hobby that I have been playing with. Still feel like there are ways for me to bless people, but trying to balance what is worth my time, how to enjoy it, etc. Just have to get quicker with the editing - but who has the time....