To be upset over ruined photo shoot?

[iamjustgutted]

Gutted about this.

I spent admittedly far too much on a Mother’s Day photo shoot. Had it today and was awful. Kids not playing ball at all; ds wild and charging around like a complete lunatic, dd whiny and refusing to do anything she was asked.

I know it’s just kids etc but I can’t lie; I’m gutted.

Photoshoots are pointless with young children, you’re better off capturing adorable moments of everyday life, not fake smiles and attempts at hiding stress.

Wow thanks. I feel better now 😂

Point is I’m in none of those everyday moments.

I didn't even know Mother's Day photo shoots was a ' a thing". Although I shouldn't be surprised as some people's whole lives seem to be photo shoots for some reason or other.
Surely Mother's Day is abput your children giving you a card and possibly a small gift. And if they are too young to organise that themselves then the other parent or some one organises it for them?
Honestly OP I woukd chalk this down to experience and stick to what Mother's Day is meant to be about another year

I had some interesting photo shoots with my girls and I look at those photos now they are getting so grown up and they are much better photos than I thought at the time! Even the ones with my toddler throwing a temper tantrum and refusing to pose and she had to hold our car keys to stop crying - that photo makes me smile now so I am going to hope your photos do the same for you when you look back at them. Definitely agree photos with kids and animals never go to plan but it’s ok to be sad that they didn’t and ask husband to take more photos of you with the kids when on outings. Mine has to be reminded too!

Why not ? Does nobody ever take ad hoc photos of you with your children ?

You might well laugh in the future!

One of my favourite pictures is the DC in hiking gear in the dales, smiling through the rain... with DS on the ground throwing a tantrum ! It makes me laugh every time.

People are right. In 10 years time the memory of this will be more precious than any staged, smiling photo.
Photo set ups with small children are a recipe for disappointment.
Next time- book the photographer very carefully. Some are really good at getting small kids to cooperate. Find one of those.
And I would have a shoot that is outside. Or doing something they really enjoy. More candid than family group shots. Might be more successful.

Have you seen the photos yet- the photographer might have captured some good ones?

Have you had the proofs yet? They might better than you think. Regardless, the pictures have captured a moment in time, which is what photos are meant to do. In 20 years' time you'll look at them and remember it was the morning when your children were a complete nightmare, which will be far more evocative than looking back at a perfectly posed family group!

Sadly not many men are as into photos and memories as women. It’s very common for there to be loads of photos of kids with dad and none with mum. Then you have to ask for some to be taken but then don’t feel natural.

I think all you can do with photoshoots with young children is embrace the chaos and aim for candid shots of playing and laughing together. You’re never going to get a posed photo with everyone smiling and looking. A good photographer who works with families should know this and get good in the moment shots

That's a shame - there's an account on Facebook called Awkward Family Photos, that might make you feel better!!

No.

Thanks; I wish I hadn’t posted now. I’m struggling to see the humour tbh, in fact I just feel like crying. I really, really just wanted some nice photos of me and my children, that doesn’t mean my life is staged.

No.

Thanks; I wish I hadn’t posted now. I’m struggling to see the humour tbh, in fact I just feel like crying. I really, really just wanted some nice photos of me and my children, that doesn’t mean my life is staged.

It was outside.

How old are your children?

Oh, ignore the people who are being grumpy about it. There's nothing wrong with having professional pictures taken. I think you'll come round to liking the pictures eventually. You can always go again next year and your children might be in a better mood.

I know you feel disappointed but the photos might be lovely and you might look back at them and laugh about it. There's a picture of my wedding I absolutely love. Dh and I standing in a beachy strand, its a glorious july afternoon, looked like we were in Spain. However photographer wanted us to do this contrived lovey dovey look at each other while dh is holding me in that fake sweep you up in your arms thing, not our style at all. I end up nearly falling backwards, dh catches me awkwardky and we are just laughing so much. The photo itself - well you know that ugly laugh face we all do when overcome. That's my face in that photo. But I love it because its just "us" not contrived, not controlled.

Point of my long story is.....you might get a few pics that you can laugh at and with young kids that's the point if it anyway. They are chaos...

I’d recommend finding a photographer who will come and take photos in an outdoor setting eg a playground, beach, woods with trees to climb about on or autumn leaves to kick about etc. Young kids never deal well with studio photos because it’s an unnatural and pressured environment that isn’t enjoyable for them. If you can’t afford a photographer then get a friend who’s good at taking nice photos to come with you instead.

Much better to do a photoshoot somewhere they can play and get really lovely natural photos of you all having fun together.

It was an outdoor setting.

This reminds me of when I booked a cake smash for my eldest first birthday - he just sat there and then picked up the whole cake and threw it at the photographer

It was hideous and I didn’t bother with my other 2 kids!

My favourite wedding photo is one that someone took on a disposable camera (I got married before mobile phones had decent cameras) and it's just of the wedding party including me and DH emerging into the car park outside the register office, but there's something about, the lighting and atmosphere and people's faces, that really captured the mood of the day.

I think this is a bit rude. If the op is a single parent/no other family it is well within the realms of probability that she is the one taking the photos so organised a shoot so she’s got some photos of her with her DC.

I think that poster just wanted to rub some salt in an already very open wound.

YANBU. You wished for a good session and that didnt happen and its ok to be disappointed.

Have you seen the photos yet? As years ago we did a session and ds was horrendous however you cant alsee it on the actual photos.