Yep, similar to the pumpkin patch disaster, we also had a mini shoot disaster. I wonder who the culprit was?! Not possible that it would be that sweet little chubby cheeked big lipped boy….

The details

So I see this opportunity to get a 15 minute photoshoot in with the kids for Christmas cards and my thought was LETS DO IT! 15 minutes? Heck yeah! Great shots? Heck yeah! All of the set up was already there and it was sooooo cute so I just had to say yes to that. Plus 15 minutes isn’t long enough to become annoyed with having to pose, and I am positive Benson can be good for 15 minutes. Thats nothin! But I was so wrong.

Benson hasn’t been napping because I have been taking him to work with me so he is wide awake all day long and the first chance he gets to nap somewhere he feels safe he passes out. The photoshoot was in Kuna which was about a 30 minute drive so we head that way and within seconds Benson’s out cold. We get to the location and I’m gently trying to wake him up but he’s not ready and now he is startled. Okay, family..we only have 15 minutes so let’s all pull together for a quick minute. Yep, or not….Benson wouldn’t let go of me for even a second. Would not have it. I try and play with sticks and leaves with him. Let him run crazy outside and just explore…but no. nothing. He was stuck to me like glue. I couldn’t pull him off of me. So a third of the time we are there I am trying to just get him to let go of the death grip. Tay was busy getting her photos done which of course she’s the perfect model and a few minutes later we make the decision that Benson is just going to have to sit on my lap the entire time. He wouldn’t let Taytum or Anthony hold him and he wouldn’t crack a smile. So I guess that will make for some good photos. Grumpy gills.

  

10 of the 15 minutes go by and he’s still not having it. They offered him candy canes, we tried to show him the presents, make noise with the truck, etc..until the photographer said “let’s see if he would like to go inside the truck” and that was the ice breaker. He’s smiling, honking the horn, pretend driving.. and now he’s good. “Okay, lets hop to the bed of the truck now!” So we give him a thermos to play with get in the back of the truck and he’s good. He’s smiling, and letting go of me. So now we are down to about 4 minutes left of the shoot. He’s being great, they are getting some awesome shots, he’s smiling and sitting alone and then he decides to throw the thermos (much like he did my phone in disneyland) The glass thermos and now it is a shattered glass thermos…and he’s still sitting perfectly, just smiling away.

Perfect, we ended the 15 minutes of chaos with a shattered thermos that was not ours and hopefully some great shots. I’m telling myself all evening this photographer is NOT going to shoot our photos again, next mini shoot she’ll be saying she is booked up to avoid her photo props being damaged by difficult son.

I still think mini shoots are an awesome way to get photos you need or would like for cheaper, and a quick session is usually convenient for kids, and busy schedules (like a fiancé who works nights) I love testing out new photographers and seeing the different styles and what they can achieve but I was not anticipating Benson being so difficult. It’s his age (stranger danger) and the fact that he was overly exhausted.

I wrote the photographer to apologize again for my little lemon but she did not wan’t an apology, in fact she said it makes for a good story and we got some great shots. What a relief. First thing this morning I got a handful of photos that are to die for cute. Lucky ME!

Photography credit: footsteps photography

https://footstepsphotography.wordpress.com

check out a few of my favorite pieces from the shoot! (target and kohls)

http://m.kohls.com/product/prd-2232314/apt-9-twist-bow-headwrap.jsp

http://m.target.com/p/toddler-boys-cable-sweater-snowfall-white/-/A-17209012

http://m.target.com/p/toddler-girls-kaylin-scrunch-sweater-boots-assorted-colors/-/A-21488195

http://m.kohls.com/product/prd-2264631/apt-9-woven-plaid-blanket-scarf.jsp