About a month ago, Mazzy's teacher emailed to ask if I could send in a family photo. Apparently, all the other kids have them hanging on the wall of the classroom (they had requested one at the beginning of the year) except my daughter.
There was one problem with answering the teacher's simple request.
WE DID NOT HAVE ONE.
We have plenty of pictures of Mazzy. Even a few of Mazzy and Mike. Maybe one or two of Mazzy and me. But none of all three of us together.
Which would be why the homemade Thanksgiving card, sent home from school a few weeks later, included a picture of Mike and Mazzy together and a picture of my head glued pathetically underneath (see left).
So, I did what any good mother would do. I handed our camera to various strangers and family members in an attempt to get the perfect shot. The result? Heads cut off, eyes closed, unflattering angles and a fuzzy little blur that barely resembles a child.
Clearly, we needed professional help.
Enter NYC photographer, Jenny Sherouse.
I told Jenny that Mazzy is quite the handful and I didn't think she was going to stay still long enough to be photographed. Jenny said not to worry about it.
Okay, Jenny…
I was right. Mazzy did not stay still. Not for one second. And during the shoot, I kept thinking that Jenny's camera was not clicking nearly enough to get that one purely accidental great shot.
Well, the joke's on me because apparently, when you have the right equipment and you know what you're doing, you do not need to take 4000 pictures to get one good one. And even if a toddler is moving at 60 miles an hour the entire time, pictures look fantastic regardless.
Who knew?
(Note: I have included way more pictures than I intended. I just loved every one of them and couldn't decide what to leave out.)
Jenny even managed to capture a few moments that I don't remember happening. Moments that would suggest we have much more control over our child than we actually do. Moments that might qualify as (GASP!) an actual FAMILY PHOTO!
That Jenny Sherouse. She did AWESOME. If anybody is in the NY area and wants family photos taken, I cannot recommend her highly enough.
The only problem is, I'm in love with so many shots, I'm not sure which I should use for holiday cards, photos for the grandparents, one of those photo canvases, the ever important photo on Mazzy's classroom wall, etc.
So. What do you think? Which is the best "family photo" and which is your favorite otherwise? (I promise not to be offended if your favorite photo does not include me.)
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Jenny Sherouse gave me a complimentary family photo session in exchange for this post. Thank god I absolutely adore the photos, otherwise I have no idea what would have happened!
For a family photo,i like the first and last. They’re the coziest.
Overall fave? Mike kissing Mazzy. Her little face, those eyes. Plus, just…daddies and daughters, you know?
Oh, GORGEOUS pictures!! My favorite is the one where Mazzy’s on Mike’s shoulders with her hand on your face. Though you can’t see Mazzy’s face. Followed by the one above it.
We don’t have proper family photos either. The last one of all of us together was over a year ago. OVER A YEAR AGO.
Hey, think Jenny would like to come to Malaysia?
Sometimes you just have to add more photos than you plan. These are great. You’ll treasure these forever.
Plus you can proudly send her to school with any of these!
This is why the photo card companies make cards with several little spaces on them, so that people like us don’t have to stop and make a real decision.
They are all awesome, find a big collage card … who knows when you will be in a picture again 😉
btw, will I be seeing your smiling snarky self at Blissdom?
The one with Mazzy and Mike is so adorable!! My favourite family shot is the one of you all crouched down (hover cursor over it and it is labeled Mommyshorts_02).
Oh I love the action and just simple love and life in these shots. Gorgeous. Also – I love green on you. xo
Love the one on Mike’s shoulders, her and Mike and her in the leaves!! She really did a fantastic job! I also like By word of mouth’s idea about multiple block photo card. There a few favorites and you’re set! Thanks for sharing them all (or most~)
My faves are #3 Mazzy running, #6 the two of you lifting Mazzy by the arms and the last one as a “formal” family portrait.
I would use #6 as a print and the last one as the Xmas card.
I have to recuse myself from voting because I’m one of those maniacs who can never decide and ends up ordering a bajillion dollars worth of photos.
Absolutely amazing.
I love the one where she’s on Mike’s shoulders looking at you. So adorable.
They’re all AMAZING but I also love Love LOVE the one with her on his shoulders, picking at your forehead. It’s candid, real…it’s your family, captured!
The one on the bench w/ Mazz about to escape. That’s SO perfect…
I love the last one of the 3 of you and also the one of you and hubby kissing Mazzy. It’s so sweet. I’d do a photo collage card with all those great pics. Why not. Who needs just one pic anyway. You’re all so good looking and Mazzy is a doll!
For the fam photo, I like the one of you all with the church in the background and fall leaves all over.
But my absolute favorite pic is the one of Mike kissing her and her looking up at the camera with those big brown eyes. So adorable!
I’ll only vote if I get one.
Just kidding! Honestly, as much as I like the ones with you all as a family, the one of just Mazzy running is my favorite. It shows her spirit and having fun. It’s just a sweet sweet photo.
i personally like the not so standard pics for holiday cards, so i would pick the one where you two are swinging mazzy and she is in the air. love that one. i also love the one of her running without you guys in it, and it looks like she is in mid-air. good luck! i do like the suggestion of the more than one photo for the holiday card. but for the grandparents, i am sure they would like a more traditional photo and i like the one of you guys crouching down the best for that (everyone looking and smiling).
Beyond adorable! I can’t imagine trying choose between them!
First of all.. awesome pics, lovely family! my favs are the first 3, the closeup of Mazzy’s face, the 2nd one of you two swinging her by the arms and all of the last family ones.
You’re right. They’re all amazing! BUT for a holiday card of the family I would choose the one where Mazzy’s in the middle and you are both kissing her. <3
I love the “on-the-shoulder” one best, but for a true portrait, I think the last two are fantastic. We totally need someone professional to come out to NJ and make us look glamorous – or at least rested.
the first one and the one of Mazzy running solo are great and by far the best ones. the other ones are just meh.
My fave family photo is the one of you all squatting in front of the silver wall. Super cute!
I love the ones of you holding Mazzy & of Mike holding Mazzy. For a family photo… second to last – because you are all looking. Although… the first one is pretty cool too. Ahh! I am of no help. You are right. they are all awesome. Good luck!
My favorite family one is the shot of the the of you with you and mike crouching next to Mazzy. For Mazzy alone, I love the glee on her face as she is running (possibly part the photographer into the street) and the one of her looking over her shoulder, so sweet! All the candids of you guys interacting/looking ar each other are priceless, and great holiday card material..
So yes, I’m no help at all. Looks like Mazzy did great -our last attempt to photograph Rebecca with her two cousins was a disaster, filled with tears, and if you asked Rebeca, violated the Geneva Convention
The last one for the best “family” photo.
The first one for “best capturing of reality and the glee of child escapism” family photo. Seriously, Mazzy’s joy is priceless.
The sweet one would be the one where you can’t see Mazzy’s face and she’s on Mike’s shoulder.
I am also having the family photo dilemma…. Child (and mommy) injuries keep marring our faces so I keep delaying…
Daddies and daughters. Trust me, I know. I spent about an hour deciding between that Mike/Mazzy kiss and another Mike/Mazzy kiss. Both great.
I love the shot with Mazzy on Mike’s shoulders. If only my right boob didn’t look like it was heading for my ankles.
I’ll make the school dedicate an entire wall just to our photos!
Collage card is a good idea. But I definitely want to get a photo canvas and I think one of the more Mazzy-centric pictures would work best for that. No need to see my huge face on my wall.
I will not be going to Blissdom this year. I think probably Mom 2.0.
That’s my favorite standard family shot too. We all look happy and are looking mostly toward camera.
Thanks! She really captured Mazzy so perfectly.
The leaves is one of my favorites too. Mazzy has not stopped collecting and throwing leaves since that day!
#6 is definitely a strong contender for the print. Thanks!
You and me both. That is the problem with professional photography- you have to make choices and purchase them!
THESE ARE AMAZING!! For family photo-the one where you’re both kissing Mazzy’s cheeks. Other favorites- the one with Mike & Mazzy- those eyes!!! And then the next one with you & Mazzy. Such great pictures! Your holdiay cards are going to end up being like a 10 x 13 poster!
That it is. Mazzy’s hands are in my face at almost all times. When she is not running full speed away from me, of course.
I really love that one too. That scene goes on a million times a day but I’m sure I don’t look nearly as good (and happy) as I do in that picture.
Thank you! She is our little doll. I actually lied in bed awake last night thinking how I didn’t want her to get any bigger. I like her like this.
The “swinging Mazzy” pic is great – everyone’s having a good time there.
Use them all! For grandparents, make a photo book on Shutterfly or any other photo site. They all look amazing! Also, for cards you can do a collage of multiple pictures so you don’t have to choose one!
Either the first or second family shots you posted for the Christmas card. Those are the two best family photos, hands down.
As far as my other faves:
-The one of Mazzy by herself on the sidewalk laughing
-The one of you guys kissing her
-The one of her on Mike shoulders with her hand on your head
-The one of just her and Mike – that one’s precious!
Oh, and Mike is hot. 🙂
Wow, congrats on the awesome family photos! We have none. Not one single decent family photo and we’ve had kid(s) for nearly 5 years now. You can’t go wrong with any of these. They all look like catalogue shots that make you want to buy boots, scarves or little girls.
They are all great…for the family photo I would go with the one where yall are in black kneeling down and all looking at the camera. My favorite is where yall are both kissing Mazzy. As far as Christmas card goes I would do a three picture one with yall walking and swinging her, then one of her and daddy and then the one with just you and her.
My choices for family ones:
1) The one with you both swinging her, and you can see both your and Mike’s faces #6
2) The kneeling picture # 12
For the canvas- the one with Mazzy in the leaves is awesome #8 or #1, where the focus is still on her, but it has both of you and is more NYC and dynamic.
On the last set of photos I love the first and third. But that one of Mazzy on Mike’s head is great too! She is such a character.
The photographer said your husband was hot but I kept forgetting to look at him – I was too busy staring at your perfect hair, which it looks like Mazzy has inherited. I hate you.
I love the one on the very top. Of course you can’t see your faces but it’s the most interesting one. Damn advertising.:)
Freaking AWESOME photos!
You three are SO fabulously cute and stylish, I can’t believe you’re friends with me.
(Wait. You are friends with me. Right?)
Oh crap.
For the canvas, Mazzy running and the two of you in the background. A fleeting moment that captures her joy and your ever-presence. That’s what being a Mommy is! Those moments!
These are just brilliant. Complete with wardrobe change, I see. That seems miraculous given Mazzy’s energy.
Here are the ones you must own, so sayeth the producer:
Mommyshorts_46 Single shot of Mazzy, reminds me of Marlo Thomas in That Girl
Preview_MG_3192 The upswing as you two swing Mazzy – Ebullient, incredible
Mazzy on Mike’s Shoulders w/hand on your Head – Your boob looks fine, and the expression on your face is priceless.
Mommyshorts_68 – OMG your kid in the leaves, fantastic!
Mommyshorts_43 – Yes, I’m sure these pics are expensive but come on, that little face is completely irresistible.
Mommyshorts_25 Mike&MazzyMike&MazzyMike&Mazzy
Mommyshorts_94 Ilana&MazzyIlana&MazzyIlana&Mazzy
Mommyshorts_02 The three of you crouching – send it to preschool, although after purchasing all these pics I imagine your money for tuition may be limited…on the plus side, I’m pretty sure she’s gonna be a movie star, so you have that to look forward to in your old age. 🙂
Fav overall is Mazzy and Mike. I echo the not caring about a huge picture with my face on it over the mantle. I would rather see my loves. Best family photo is tricky. I love the one of her running away but that might be to artsy for a christmas card. The last I love but I like faces better. I would crop it for a closer shot.
I refuse to choose pics and end up just buying the digital negatives and making my own prints/canvases as I find places for them. My last photographer even offered my favorite digital negatives for a severely reduced price (versus every picture).
Those are all great pictures!
These were great pictures! They really captured Mazzie’s amazing personality! I’m getting tired just looking at these pictures though! The last picture is my favorite family shot, and I also love the third picture, since it really captures Mazzie’s spirit!
These are seriously incredible!
Awesome photos! All 3 of you look great. My faves are the 1st one and the 6th one. That Mazzy, she is seriously cute!
I love the last one on the brick background and also the first, where Mazzy is running. They are all great though.
For family photo (for holiday cards), my vote is the one where you’re both kneeling and Mazzy’s in between. For my personal favorite photo, the one that makes me grin each time I look at it is the one of Mazzy in your laps. It looks like you’re tickling her and everyone looks really unguardedly happy.
No, I can’t pick a favorite. I love them all!
We’re having our very first family photo taken this weekend (oh did I mention my oldest is about to turn 8?). So don’t feel bad. Luckily for my wallet I know that out of 6,000 shots I will be lucky to find one where I think I look half decent!
I like the second down for family shot as looks less posed. Also you and Mike look great, and is a nice close up and brightly lit, so I find it overall nicer than the distance shots. Mazzy doesn’t look 100% on form, but there is something to be said for using a picture where the parents look hot and the kid looks shlubby rather than vice versa. Then I would as a collage juxtaposition it with the shot of you and Mike in background while Mazzy runs ahead, her in the leaves, and her pic right below the leaf shot. Three stunning shots of her balance out the one I first mentioned (plus when I say shlubby, her on her shlubby day still trounces the competition on their best day anyway!).
Yes, I agree, just did photo books this holiday, one for grandparents, one for my couin of our kids, and one for my neighbours – got better each try and the neighbour one is awesome as started getting my creative juices flowing so added sayings about friends etc. … am soooooo excited to give my presents this year!! Yay shutterfly! Plus shipping is free in U.S. if spend over $50 ( boo for Canucky me, but yay for you!).
They are all beautiful. And most importantly they capture this phase perfectly. She is a beautiful, happy study in perpetual motion. I have one of those, too.
I like the second to last one. It exudes coolness! You guys are the hip NYC family in that one.
But love the last one also…very cozy as others have said. I know, not much help am I?
Hope you are all well!!!
xo
Jill
OK, so um, totally embarrassing … apparently I don’t know words and shlubby is NOT the word I meant to use! And your website doesn’t allow posters to remove or edit their own posts. *arrrg* To clarify – Mazzy is incredibly adorable (d’uh) – the picture where you and Mike look amazing, she is looking off to the side rather than at the camera, so I prefer the other shots of her (that I had mentioned – leaf one, the pic below it etc.). Was trying to say that in a funny manner – epic fail. The only redeeming quality to my commenting fiasco (yet again – seriously I either need more coffee or more wine wtf is up with me?) is that I would still love the collage of those four poses (umm, not personally, you are all gorgeous but I don’t know you and people would wonder why your pic is on my wall. Though it would be after they admire it and would be a good conversation piece!) 😉
My favorite is the one where she is on her Papa’s shoulders and doing something funny to your head. I think it captures her spirit and your family perfectly!