Oh no, not another
photo!
An unexpected facet
of a delightful and busy weekend with our Louisiana kids and grandkids was
insight into the children’s love-hate relationship with cameras.
Two-year-old grandson
Walker has lost all patience with parents’ and grandparents’ requests for him
to pause for photographs. In his earlier months of life, what passed for
patience with the staging and arranging strategies that accompany all but
candid shots of the kids was probably a result of an infant’s limited mobility.
Once he started crawling and walking, the carefully composed photos that many
moms and grandmothers love became difficult to achieve.
He will occasionally
still flash his trademark grin toward the lens. More often, though, the camera
provokes a grimace, a scowl or an unblinking stare. This imp has perfected the
stare down.
At Walker’s age,
granddaughter Molly Kate, now four, went through a camera-averse stage. Now she
relishes posing for photos. I’m not sure the same change will occur in Walker’s
attitude.
He is still, for
awhile, when he is . . .
. . . snuggling,
. . . eating, and
. . . sleeping.
Mostly he is focused on moving and grooving. When he is not disgruntled by a
camera in his face, he is so engaged in what he is doing or what is going on
around him that he may not even notice a surreptitious snap.
Walker focuses on an
early morning jump.
That’s when it is
sometimes possible to capture that twinkle indicating that a plan may be
hatching for his next foray into an adventure. And the adventure may not
technically or otherwise stay within the bounds of his elders’
rules and expectations.
rules and expectations.
Walker soaks up the
hubbub of a festival environment.
In contrast, Walker’s
sister currently exhibits characteristics of a natural performer. Early
Saturday morning Molly Kate was in tears when she was required to put tights on
in preparation for dancing in a talent-show competition at an annual Baton
Rouge pancake festival. She had fallen the day before and still experienced some
pain from major scrapes on both knees.
Daughter-in-law Katie
knew that I wanted to take a “dance-prep” photo of our little dancer with her
long hair in rollers. As soon as her mom alerted Molly Kate, she stifled the
tears and gamely attempted a smile without any instructions from adults.
Little trooper Molly Kate tries to smile with tears still pooling in her eyes.
The photo above makes me tear up. Here are more that demonstrate her relationship to the
camera.
Molly Kate waits for
her performance at the festival, subdued and in her own world.
Noticing my camera, she turns on a smile.
Sunday morning mom
Katie wanted to capture her pair of munchkins in their coordinated
brother-sister Halloween-season outfits as they prepared to head out to a
birthday party at a local “pumpkin-patch” attraction. Katie knows that in the
near future one or both of the pair will not want to “match.” She is having the
outfits made and snapping lots of photos while the kiddos are still cooperating
to some extent.
Molly Kate was eager
to pose and show off her pumpkin outfit.
Although not as eager,
Walker did light long enough for us to capture the image below of the pair near
each other. With husband Walter, AKA Baboo, behind the camera, Walker even
shared a smile.
Our pair of little
goblins.
And this coming weekend we are off to Georgia to see our other set of kids and grand kids!
they are both beautiful as are the new outfits. the best way to get him is when he is not looking, that is what i do to bob, he does hate the camera turned on him to.
ReplyDeleteWhat cute shirts and what adorable grandkids! You are right to be proud of them, Linda. Enjoy your trip to Georgia!
ReplyDeleteMolly Kate is very photogenic. She would probably do well in some occupation involving on on air performance. Walker is probably an introvert. Perhaps he will grow up to be a writer??
ReplyDeleteMy youngest grandson can turn on those camera-ready smiles too, and like Molly Kate he is cute. I really like the last photo of your kids as goblins. Dianne
Adorable kids and adorable outfits.
ReplyDeleteGrandkids are the best, smiles or no smiles.
Have a wonderful time seeing your other grandchildren too. You are fortunate to be able to do that.
I absolutely love the pictures! Even the tears in the eyes of Molly Kate and the grimace of Walker are wonderful! Oh, I wish I were closer to my grands! They are growing up far too fast.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures are great and worth the trouble. I do think butterflies are much more forgiving than children when it comes to cameras.
ReplyDeleteHave a great trip to the Peach State.
I can certainly identify with trying to capture a photo of elusive little boys!
ReplyDeleteI love their little matching outfits, too. Cute!