I love so many things about taking pictures. One of the greatest things is the story behind the picture. The story behind a picture is often lost when the pictures are shared without explanation. But to constantly explain pictures would get very boring and tedious. Instead I focus on taking and sharing nice pictures where either the children look cute or the lighting is right or the colors are vibrant. But every so often there are pictures that have to take a back seat because they're not pretty enough. I thought I'd share some of the stories behind the pictures today and let the prettiness take a back seat.
I love these pictures for a few reasons. First of all they are in their first pair of matching pajamas (thanks Nana Kay!) and Lilly was very happy about that. But in this first picture I love the discord. Lilly is working so hard on looking at me and smiling (yes, she's finally taking an interest in what she looks like in a picture) and Ella is oblivious and focused on one thing... the cat. I love how hard Lilly worked on looking at me yet her eyes are still cut to the side.
And I really love this picture because the emotion is raw. Ella decided to go for the cat after all and in the process she hurt Lilly (she's 2/3 of Lilly's weight). As Lilly let out a cry Ella looked at me to see what happened and if everything was ok. Love her concerned expression.
In this picture Ella is giving me a look she often gives... it's anticipatory and it's familiar to me.
The girls were laughing here and I love their laughter. Lilly was making Ella laugh and I love how Lilly's blurred in the background but in full laughter and again, Ella's looking at me for approval.
Lilly looks so different in this picture. She was trying so hard to give me what I've always wanted - her to look at me and smile. She's looking at me but it's so unnatural and uncomfortable for her that the smile is forced and different. She looks really grown up to me in this picture and when I was taking it I thought to myself, 'where has my baby girl gone?'
I love how Lilly wanted me to see her outfit here. She still shifted her eyes but that's how she's most comfortable and she wanted the focus to be on her outfit; not her. Ella's doing what Ella does best... she's just hanging out doing her own thing.
Lilly loves her sister so much. She's sensitive and compassionate and she truly wants Ella to be happy. Here she did not expect me to snap a picture (hence the eye contact). She was letting me know that Ella had started crying and was genuinely worried about her.
And here's my big girl. Growing up so fast. And she was so very proud that she looked AT me and wanted to immediately see the picture. She said "See Mama? Now you can take my picture and not Ella's!" Usually when I can't get her to look at me I switch subjects and take pictures of Ella. I guess she's figured that out... I'm just glad to finally see her pretty eyes through my lens without begging for it.
While these don't look like the best pictures in the world they are all very meaningful to me. I have over 14,000 pictures of the girls and while that's surely excessive I cannot bring myself to delete them once I snap the shot. There's always something I can take from a picture and if I delete it that memory will be gone forever.
I love these pictures for a few reasons. First of all they are in their first pair of matching pajamas (thanks Nana Kay!) and Lilly was very happy about that. But in this first picture I love the discord. Lilly is working so hard on looking at me and smiling (yes, she's finally taking an interest in what she looks like in a picture) and Ella is oblivious and focused on one thing... the cat. I love how hard Lilly worked on looking at me yet her eyes are still cut to the side.
And I really love this picture because the emotion is raw. Ella decided to go for the cat after all and in the process she hurt Lilly (she's 2/3 of Lilly's weight). As Lilly let out a cry Ella looked at me to see what happened and if everything was ok. Love her concerned expression.
In this picture Ella is giving me a look she often gives... it's anticipatory and it's familiar to me.
The girls were laughing here and I love their laughter. Lilly was making Ella laugh and I love how Lilly's blurred in the background but in full laughter and again, Ella's looking at me for approval.
Lilly looks so different in this picture. She was trying so hard to give me what I've always wanted - her to look at me and smile. She's looking at me but it's so unnatural and uncomfortable for her that the smile is forced and different. She looks really grown up to me in this picture and when I was taking it I thought to myself, 'where has my baby girl gone?'
I love how Lilly wanted me to see her outfit here. She still shifted her eyes but that's how she's most comfortable and she wanted the focus to be on her outfit; not her. Ella's doing what Ella does best... she's just hanging out doing her own thing.
Lilly loves her sister so much. She's sensitive and compassionate and she truly wants Ella to be happy. Here she did not expect me to snap a picture (hence the eye contact). She was letting me know that Ella had started crying and was genuinely worried about her.
And here's my big girl. Growing up so fast. And she was so very proud that she looked AT me and wanted to immediately see the picture. She said "See Mama? Now you can take my picture and not Ella's!" Usually when I can't get her to look at me I switch subjects and take pictures of Ella. I guess she's figured that out... I'm just glad to finally see her pretty eyes through my lens without begging for it.
While these don't look like the best pictures in the world they are all very meaningful to me. I have over 14,000 pictures of the girls and while that's surely excessive I cannot bring myself to delete them once I snap the shot. There's always something I can take from a picture and if I delete it that memory will be gone forever.
1 comment:
Lilly - you look so cute and such a big girl. I'm so glad you are looking at the camera so we can all see your beautiful eyes! You are so adorable!! I hope to see you soon....so I can see you in your matching pjs!! Tell Mommy to bring you to Powhatan!!
PS - also tell Mommy that we LOVE seeing the movies, so keep putting them on the blog! Love you lots! Nana Kay and Papa :-)
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