If you were to go visit my grandparents, and you needed to use the restroom, you’d have to walk by three large pictures hanging on the wall of our family that have been taken over the years. The first of the series is great. I’m wearing white jorts (jorts = jean shorts) and a floral blouse and am about 12 – in that real awkward stage in my life. I own it like a boss. My older brother is in his ‘I’m only ever going wear shorts’ stage and my younger brother and cousins are too young to look anything but cute. The adults, my parents, aunt, uncle and grandparents just look young.
The other two massive photos aren’t as damming, but are still fun to look at and poke fun at all our changing faces and bodies. We’re family, and as a photographer, I love to see the evolution. My grandma has been hinting that she’d like an updated photo and this afternoon we all descended upon their houses to try to get at least ONE image of our group with eyes open and NOT talking. I knew it was going to be tough, as the person taking the pictures (except for the ones I’m in, obviously…thanks to Cora’s dude, Forrest, for taking the camera!), but I think the right word that I should have been looking for was MIRACLE.
We’ve got some slow blinkers (SUE) in our family and talkers (Grandpa) and dancers (Maggie) and people that are tall (Barry) so they’re in light….etc.
But you know what?
I got some images of my family all in one place and I love them. These are just a few of the many that I took, but I’m pleased with their outcome. After we took pictures, we all went inside and ate. Some poeple lingered around the dining room, others watched the Seahawks game finish, and the conversation filled the air. As we drove home afterwards, Barry asked me if our family ever reminded me of the family from Parenthood, the TV show, and I laughed because there are definite aspects to their gatherings that resonate with ours.
The most important thing about family photos, isn’t that we all look good or perfect, but that we’re all together…..as a family. Here’s the first batch that I went through.
*Check out Audrey in the last image.
