Your opinion please…

Today, after all of The Colonel’s drugs kicked it – I decided we could make it to church after all. Since it was Easter and all. I was glad to not have to miss church, but I kept The Colonel in service with me and didn’t send him to his Sunday school class just in case his ear started hurting during service. Always a joy to have a 5 year old restless boy playing with matchbox cars sitting next to you during church – ALWAYS!!

I have come to a conclusion – boys do not know how to properly whisper. They can low-talk, but they cannot seem to get it down to an actual certifiable whisper. Perhaps this is why they always get caught – they aren’t ninja enough in their devious plots. Just an observation.

Well, today was THEE day that my husband said we had to get our family photo done for the church directory. A few years ago I pushed and pushed suggested that we add photos of everyone to our church directory so that we could have an easier time of matching names with faces. Since my husband is charge of the directory he finally relented sweetly said yes to my "brilliant" suggestion.

I, by my need to be in control default got the job of official "church directory photographer". So now every year I get to take everyone’s photos – which I actually LOVE doing. Although I’m not so sure everyone else loves it. I am not the type of photographer that lines everyone up and takes one shot and calls it good. In my mind, it has to be "Christmas card good". So, I’ve been known to take up to a dozen or more shots of just one family to make sure that I get "THE ONE".  I say, "Why settle for a mediocre photo if you can get a great one?" Even if it takes forever!

I’ve actually wanted to call people back after taking them and ask them to come in and get retakes because I just didn’t get "the one". Hubby’s mantra is "It’s FINE – it’s going to be the size of a postage stamp. It’ll do!" AACK!! I rebuke that!!

Well, in my need to control all that exists around me get the perfect photo for our family – I always set the camera up on the tripod and use the self-timer for ours. *whispers – "Because I trust no one!"*

So, today we did just that. I set up the tripod and began the composition arranging and lighting stuff, and then set the self timer. My girlfriend and her MIL and kids were there watching the whole event. She kept asking me "Do you want me to just take the photos for you?" "Well, I’ll need to see your portfolio…" The truth is, I just hate sucking people into my photo-obsessed vortex because they are ALWAYS way done before I am willing to be. Then I am trying to force them to take "20 more shots…just in case". I get so anal about the whole thing that by the time I’m done – I’ve promised my kids a trip to Disneyland and alienated everyone within a 30 foot radius.

Well, here are today’s results:

Option #1 – Taken by self-timer:

Pros: Good of most of us
Cons: Hubby’s head should be several inches closer to mine. The Colonel look like he has an ear infection and is on drugs *oh, wait…* Captain Hazard looks like he is pained to be there *oh, wait…*

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Option #2 – Taken by girlfriend:

Pros: Better of everyone
Cons: Hubby’s head again, The Colonel is fading fast

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Option #3 – Taken by girlfriend:

Pros: Total reality photo! *I was smacking Captain Hazard in the head because he was messing up the photo on purpose* It would be hilariously fun to have this photo in the directory.
Cons: Hubby’s eyes are closed and although funny – it isn’t an "attractive" photo of me

Anyway – should I go humorous *I’m quite tempted* or classic…?