While looking through my trip photos...

[novafan]

I realized that I am SO unhappy with the photos that we got. Now, get this. We took OVER 700 digital photos and 6 rolls of film in 7 days. We got some great shots of me and DH and the sights/attractions, but what I am dissappointed in is the pics of my kiddos. I have 2 little boys, ages 1 and 3, and obviously getting a good shot of BOTH boys was an impossible task. We got not 1 good shot of them together. In pics of them together, my 1 year old is either in motion or running away or turning his head. In 90% of the pics that my 3 year old is in, his hands are in his mouth. He's going through this phase right now where he CONSTANTLY has his hands in his mouth. Why? I have no idea, but it is driving us nuts and now I noticed that he is doing it in almost all of our photos. SIGH. I realized this when my mom asked me if I got a nice picture of the 2 boys for her to put in a Disney frame. I was sure that I would have at least ONE out of all of those shots...no such luck.

Granted, I can't get a decent shot of them at home because they are so busy. I guess I should have realized that they'd be in constant motion at WDW and wouldn't be able to sit or stand still long enough for mom to capture memories on film.

The good news: my little ones had such a good time. I need to get over the fact that my keen picture taking just wasn't good enough to capture their little faces as well as I would have liked. They were checking out every detail so it makes sense that I couldn't get good shots of them with the characters or on the attractions.

While we didn't go hard core commando because of their ages, we did go go go throughout the day and now I wish we had taken it a little slower (even if it meant not getting to everything) so that I could have taken a little time for some nice family pics.

Just a note for those planning a trip with little ones. Budget some time into your itinerary for some calm photo ops.

Ah, yet one more reason to say, "let's go back." I need Disney memories!

 

[laurie31]

Did you also take video? You may be able to "capture" a still frame from it and print it out. Sometimes if you frame-by-frame the video you will find that perfect pic is hiding there

Good luck, and even without that "perfect" pic, you still captured the essence of your kids! I'm sure 10 years from now, the hand-in-the-mouth stage might be all but forgotten without those pics to prove it

Laurie

 

[Steffi]

Just think of it this way: you may not have gotten the "perfect pose" of your little guys, but you managed to capture them being themselves at the happiest place on earth. You can get "perfect poses" at Olan Mills any old time...your Disney photos are one-of-a-kind and priceless! You'll look back on them for years to come with a big smile on your face, remembering the good times you had.

 

[TandyR]

Sometimes a perfect photo doesn't have to show both kids well...sometimes a perfect photo is one that give you a sence the joy the kids are feeling. The first time we went to WDW as a family my girls were 4 years old and 1 year old and my favorate photo of the whole thing is a photo of the two girls danceing in the lobby of the Grand Floridian because they loved the music and just were having a great time. Sure I can't see the younger ones face and the older ones mouth is wide open, but it is cute and it reminds me how much fun we had. So look through your photos again and I bet you will find ones that pull your heart strings and help you remember the fun.

 

[novafan]

Awwww, thanks guys. I do adore ALL of the photos I got, I really do. I was just having a moment, because there were some shots I had planned to take that never happened. HOWEVER, I realized (after posting) that I got GREAT shots that I didn't plan. We had such a magical trip. We were not a Disney-obsessed family prior to this trip and now we are...at least I am. We were able to go and went on a whim because of the great military deals they had going on. I really fell in love with Disney on this trip and I have the pictures to prove it.

 

[Danemom]

One day you will look at those pictures and you will have fond memories of when your DS couldn't keep his hands out of his mouth!
It seems like that's how it's worked for me - it drove me nuts at the time and now I think "Aw, look, remember when he was always (whatever-ing)!"

 

[Tinkerbelle739]

When my family went in 2000 my DS was 1 and my DD was 2. We spent ALOT of money on the photos that the professionals take. At Chef Mickeys, at Hoop De Doo, At MK with Castle in the b ack, At AK, AT Epcot. Yes, we spent ALOT of money. However, along with all of our candid shots, and some were great and alot were not so great, we had the professional shots to begin each chapter in our photo album. We are leaving for an 8 day stay at POR in just about 8 days and I cannot wait. We will be taking the digital camera, the video camera and we will again be paying for the professional photos.