The Blue Stairs

This past summer I shot a family portrait session in a more urban setting, that included some fantastic blue, tile stairs. In January I ran a “Picture of 2011” contest on my business Facebook page and the winning picture happened to be one from the aforementioned session. That picture was then turned into a big, canvas gallery wrap, which the boys were admiring a couple of weeks ago.

“I want my picture taken at the blue steps!”

I didn’t have to hear that request twice – lately the boys have been difficult to photograph, so for them to ask to have their picture taken was huge! Last Thursday was gorgeous by early February standards – 65 and a little cloudy. A quick peek at the weather told me this was probably the last really warm day for at least a week, so after cutting Lily’s nap a bit short, I loaded the 4 kids into the van and we headed for the blue stairs.

Confession time: I bribed the boys. I told them if they gave me a good picture of the 4 of them I’d buy them a treat at one of the nearby shops. When the last really good picture was taken a year ago, I’m not above a bit of bribery!

The bribery did work, and the very serious pep-talk about how dangerous it would be to roughhouse on the blue steps or run off ahead of me when there were so many cars, worked. Hugely successful trip! Before I show you the two best pictures (between which we’re trying to decide which to blow up for the wall), I have to show you outtakes. Hope they make you smile as much as they’ve made me smile!

Get those sillies out, boys!

This one gets a huge “awww!” out of me! I just love the look on Lily’s face, and the way Chase and Jackson were being sweet!

Aaaaand she’s done.

Ty

Chase

(Hot “telling them apart” tip for you – Chase now has 3 moles on his face. Definitely takes after me!)

Jackson

So after hanging out at the blue stairs for a while, we walked around a bit to look at other things. The boys had all been there before, but I guess it had been a while because they didn’t remember any of it. We stopped at one “doorway” to an alley in hopes for one more picture option, and instead ended up with a hilarious series of photos. Lily was done with sitting and only wanted to stand, so I told the boys to stand with her… and hold on!

Lily kept throwing her head back and it clearly was cracking Ty up!

I’m extremely tempted to print that storyboard!

Ok, on to the favorite two pictures from the little photo shoot! We love both, and for different reasons. I think it’ll be tough to choose which one to print!

L-R: Chase, Lily, Ty, Jackson

We love this one because all of those faces are so typical right now. The semi-forced looking smile from Chase, jolly Lily, the goofy raised eyebrows, no teeth showing smile from Ty, and Jackson and his casual “I don’t care” look just kill us!

L-R: Ty, Chase, Lily, Jackson

This one is obviously more serious, but still a sweet picture of the kids.

Decisions, decisions….