I’ve been asked several times what it’s like to do a portrait session of our kids. Sometimes, the ask-er is assuming it’d be way harder, because they’re our kids. That’s a little true. Sometimes the ask-er is assuming it’d be way easier, for the same reason… also true. It’s harder because our kids are never on their best behavior for us, and easier because we can plan the shoot on zero notice, when they’re in good moods. It’s easy because our kids are good-natured and gorgeous, but hard because they’re also kind of devious.

I thought it’d be fun to post the McG Littles spring portrait session as kind of a story of this 20 minutes. We had my mom & grandmother on hand as spectators/helpers this time, so it was a smidge different than normal, but our kids were their same crazy, beautiful, sweet, difficult, rotten selves… and I love them.

It started with a quick car ride. By “quick”, I mean “30 seconds up a two lane road”, so don’t yell at me for just buckling them in the back instead of using Dot’s car seat.

We always start with Dot’s solo portraits first. This is not because she’s more important, and it’s CERTAINLY not because she’s easier to shoot… we just plan our little sessions so that about the time Dot’s throwing a diva tantrum about something, she can step out of the spotlight and we can shoot Jack’s solo portraits while she gets back into her happy pants.

Jack decided they just needed to go for a walk. Cue some of my favorite pictures…

Immediately after this picture, Dot started stripping, and really, that’s not what these pictures are about. 🙂 So we sent her off to change into outfit #2 while we got this great picture of Jack. Such a handsome kid…

Then Jack went to change HIS clothes, and we tried to focus on Dot again. She kind of had stinkface…

Why yes, my almost-two-year-old daughter DOES wear one-inch espadrilles. Because she’s awesome.

We thought we were going to lose her, and then Mack employed our secret weapon… he played her favorite song on his phone, so she’d start dancing and singing. Every word. What’s her favorite song, you ask? Oh, it’s “Tonight, Tonight” by Hot Chelle Rae.

Jack’s at that age where he wants all his pictures to be “cool”. Luckily, with those sweet aviators, it’s not hard to pull off…

But he’s just a dancing nerd just like the rest of us…

Man, I love my rotten, goofy, crazy, sweet, loving, beautiful children…