Help! I can’t decide which one I like best.
Thursday, August 2nd, 2012When our children were born three decades ago, we took a lot of pictures. Not of the birth, mind you, but forever after. Those were the dark ages, before digital photos, when film and processing was involved unless you used a Polaroid, which we never did. We still have all those photos in a box, a big box, that resides in my dear wife’s closet.
New parents today have it much easier. They can whip out their digital camera, or smartphone, and click away to their heart’s content since it costs them nothing to take the pictures and relatively little to store them on a computer or thumb drive.
When our first grandson, Christopher, entered the world four weeks ago, Martha was armed with a brand new, easy-to-use, point and shoot digital camera when we visited the proud parents and their offspring in the hospital twelve hours after he was born. The picture taking began then and has not stopped.
Of course, we’re not the only ones taking photos of the lad. There are the other grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives, and many friends of the parents.
Given the overabundance of photos available to the the parents, one might think they would have no difficulty finding some to have printed and framed. But it seems amateur photos, no matter how good, are no longer good enough. Apparently one now needs a professional photographer to take photos that will be hung on a wall for all the world, or that part of the world who visits their home, to see. We looked at all the photos the pro took and, frankly, most were so-so, at best. But there were four both Martha and I liked a lot.
Which brings me to the point of this blog post.
When your children were born, did you have a professional take photos like the ones below?
If your kids are now parents, did they go the professional route?
Finally, which of the four photos below would you choose if you could only choose one to print and frame?
(And yes, this blog post is partly a shameless excuse to show off my grandson.)
So which will it be?
August 2nd, 2012
I took all photos of my son, no professional photographer. My son and his wife take multitudes of digital pix and use a (Walmart or Sears) photographer yearly.
I like the first pic for a professional shot, the second pic for a cute shot. (What’s propping him up?) He’s got long fingers!
August 2nd, 2012
I forgot to add: Son and wife recently started submitting their digipix to Shutterfly for Xmas gifts. My daughter-in-law does an excellent job of organizing the photos they take throughout the year, and the pix really look good. Don’t know how much Shutterfly costs them, but it’s a good way for distant family and friends to keep up with the child’s progress.
August 2nd, 2012
He’s got long fingers!
Yes, he does! Perhaps he will grow up to be a famous guitar or piano player. I can’t wait to find out.
August 2nd, 2012
The first one is great. He looks like his brain is taking in the world around him. :-)
August 2nd, 2012
The last one is the cutest! Gotta love new babies. (we have 6) Congratulations on the grand! :)
August 2nd, 2012
I have pro photos once a year with both kids…The rest I take myself and distribute to grandparents on SD cards for use in their digital photo frames–a prior gift from our family.
I like both the first and last photos of your grandson. Congratulations!
August 2nd, 2012
I like the last one, but only because he looks like a stoned Yoda. :-)
I’d go for the first one for framing. But oh my, that’s not an easy choice. All are adorable and a little different than the standard thing.
August 2nd, 2012
Number four would be my pic. The digi photo frame and email with thumb drive transfer is the only way to keep every one supplied with all photos taken and traded between all family members. It is so easy now, not like when we was kids! Just open a free picasa account at Google and anyone can download what they like best and if you open the account anyone can upload too. (I think, don’t quote me on that) By the way, keep a few shots of the little guy from time to time on the blog, we’re almost family.
August 2nd, 2012
Welcome to the world cute little baby! I wish you a long, healthy, and happy life!
August 2nd, 2012
Ooh and Mr. Oliver, congratulations!
August 2nd, 2012
I would choose whichever of 1 or 4 resembles a parent most.
Grandchild #6 was born 2 days ago; our other daughter is expecting grandchild #7 in September. Remember:
Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your children!
August 2nd, 2012
Gotta say the last one with eyes wide open and quizical look on his face
August 2nd, 2012
no professionals….number three, asleep, hands down…. and the red hair says the parents (and grand parents) will be busy just trying to keep up…
August 3rd, 2012
Grandchildren are God’s reward for not killing your children!
LOL. Kids sure can by trying sometimes. Mine were here for dinner last night, and when he baby started fussing, my son took him into the living room to get him away from the noise, so he could fall asleep. A bit later, when I went in there, I found him in the rocker with the baby sleeping on his chest. It brought me back 32 years to when I used to sit the same way with him.
I told him to enjoy every moment of it while he can, because when Chris starts walking and talking, that when the “what goes around” starts coming around. He just laughed. I hope he’ll still be laughing in a year or so.
Thanks to everyone for the kind words. We still have not decided. I might just end up Photoshopping them into a collage and framing that.