Family Portraits

Venus04d

We've never done family portraits. We've had DD's pictures done several times now, but DH and I have never gotten into any of the shots. Mostly because I'm self conscious and think I'll hate them because I'm unhappy with my weight right now. Once our girls are born, I'd really like to get family portraits done when they are still newborns, but that doesn't give me any time to slim down.

Anyone have any tips on how to best "hide" my weight for the shots? Part of my biggest self esteem issues are with how chubby my face has gotten, so I guess there's no way to hide that. Maybe it would be best just to get pictures of all three girls and then wait to do family portraits at 6 months or so.

I feel so embarrassed to even care about this. I don't have any sweet pictures of me with C as a newborn because I avoided the camera like a plague. I regret that so much now. I hate that my insecurity is about to cause me to repeat the same mistake.

ATMmom324

I say go for it.  Years from now you will look back and regret not having family pics.  You won't be thinking about or regretting the way you look.  I look back at past pics where I thought I was so fat and would kill to look like that again.  

 

A good photographer should be able to give you tips and pose you in ways to make you feel better about problem areas.  I know that some suggest turning your body away from the camera and then turning to face forward so that it elongates your neck and disguises any potential double chins. 

Karschingham

Venus!! you're missing the point. it's the memories, your girls will not care how big or small their mama was, they'll just want to have those memories some day and look back at their little family.

 I know it's hard to not feel self conscience but, just think of the reget that you'll have later to not have captured your family. Just let the photographer know how you feel and they'll know what to do to make you feel better, I'm sure it wouldn't be the first or last time they'll have heard that...

GL!! and get the damn pictures!!!!

shibby00

We get a family portrait at Christmas every year, for our card. I'm usually holding DD or standing behind DH. As I look back at the pictures I care less if I look 'fat' and mostly feel glad we captured that moment in our lives.

Wine O Mite

ATMmom324:

I say go for it.  Years from now you will look back and regret not having family pics.  You won't be thinking about or regretting the way you look.  I look back at past pics where I thought I was so fat and would kill to look like that again.  

 

A good photographer should be able to give you tips and pose you in ways to make you feel better about problem areas.  I know that some suggest turning your body away from the camera and then turning to face forward so that it elongates your neck and disguises any potential double chins. 

I was just going to say this.

And if you are that self conscious about how you look (which I'm sure you will look beautiful!) save them for your family and don't pass them out. 

Pictures and the memories they hold will be worth so much to you in the future! 

michaels_girl

definitely do it.  the body twist is always a good one, and holding a kid in front of you can also work. 

write2nicole

I think you should do it while they're newborns, because you'll never have another chance to do that. And I promise you, your girls will all love the pictures no matter how you look.

I agree that a good photographer will automatically position you in a more flattering pose, but let your photographer know you're sensitive about your weight. Hopefully, your photographer will put you in positions where your weight is not as noticeable. I know you said your face is the biggest issue, but it's possible the swelling will go down a couple weeks after the girls are born.

Wear darker colored fabrics and avoid tiny prints. I cover my arms (with sleeves, obvs.) because that's a sensitive area for me. 

[Deleted User]

We've only been in P's 9month pics.  At the time, I thought I was too chubby & very self-conscious.  I was just going through my pics today & I was so very glad I did them.  Am I perfect?  Hells no.  That's not the point.  You can't go back in time to take pictures.  I say do the pics, and include yourselves in a few.  You will forever hold those close to your heart. 

andyyougoonie

You are crazy. I've seen your face and it's adorable. I totally understand wanting to hide the baby weight though. We had DD's newborn pics done when she was 5 days old, so I hadn't lost a pound and I think I was actually MORE swollen after I had her from the IV fluids.  It was tragic. 

Ask your photographer to use a stepstool or ladder or something so they are a little higher than you.  We did our pictures at our home b/c it was just easier with a newborn and our family pic was done in the doorway of our front door.  She mostly only shot the upper half of our bodies and I was holding DD, so she covered my tummy.  Also, I was wearing black.  Those pics came out great.

Another set of pics we've done since then that I like, we're sitting down and DD is sitting in my lap so you can't see my tummy there either.  (That one is my cover pic on FB if you want to look at it.)  I think we're going to go that route for DD's 2 year pictures this weekend.

Venus04d

 Ahh. I know you guys are right. I just have to suck it up and go through with it. 

MrsRoy07

I understand this completely, pregnancy did a serious number on my skin (I'm not talking normal acne, I'm talking raging, huge, painful zits all over my face), and I HATED the way I looked right after having Evie. I honestly still cringe when I look at photos of myself and her for the first twoish months until my skin calmed down- but I'm still glad I let ppl take our photos. I would be really sad if I didn't have any pics of the two/three of us from those first couple months. 

So in summary- even if you're not really happy with the way you look, take the photos anyway!!! And keep taking them. We've done family portraits twice now and I love love LOVE them.

Andplusalso, when your girls are older, they will love the photos, no matter how much you weighed. You gained the weight because of them anyway right?  

ASmallWonder

Take those pictures!  Your kids are going to want to look back on those memories.  And I guarantee you'll find at least 1 or 2 that you think "Huh, that doesn't look half bad!"   Believe me, I trash a few from each session but I'm so happy to have them.  I would suggest NOT sitting.  I made the mistake of taking some sitting on a wall and everything just compressed and I looked 20 pound heavier than the pictures we took while standing that same day.  Pick clothes you love.  If you're bigger on the bottom, choose dark jeans or pants.  Wear heels.  Height will always slim you down.

Venus04d

Thanks for the tips on to help hide it a little. I think that will make me feel more comfortable. I'm not expecting to see a super model in the pictures, I just want to get the best possible look I can.

Venus04d

elmoali:

Take those pictures!  Your kids are going to want to look back on those memories.  And I guarantee you'll find at least 1 or 2 that you think "Huh, that doesn't look half bad!"   Believe me, I trash a few from each session but I'm so happy to have them.  I would suggest NOT sitting.  I made the mistake of taking some sitting on a wall and everything just compressed and I looked 20 pound heavier than the pictures we took while standing that same day.  Pick clothes you love.  If you're bigger on the bottom, choose dark jeans or pants.  Wear heels.  Height will always slim you down.

Ooh, I like the heels idea. Especially since I haven't worn any in 6 months now. 

hmp1

I won't be in our newborn pics. We will get some with both boys but not the family. We will do family pics for our Christmas card. That will give me a little more than 2mo to lose what I can. At least the swelling will be down by then.

Maybe you could aim for Easter for a good family portrait?

I have some sweet pics of me and DS when he was a newborn, just not pro pics. The pics in my siggy are not pro pics but they are good enough for me to have fond memories of my pregnancy. 

 

Lotsofloveandkids

Ditto PPs. Years from now, you're going to be so glad that you got them done.

quidditchcapn1120

Take the pictures.  You will be more likely to regret that you didn't take them than regret you did.  If you for some reason hate them, you can put them away and just bring them out to show your LO's when they get older and want to see lovely pictures of them all.  They are great ways to hold on to memories of your family when they all were little.

jw87

As a photographer, I feel like we really owe it to our family (spouse and kids) to get in front of the camera even when we don't look our best.  Don't be that person who hides!  Yes, you may hate the photos... but one day they're going to look at those photos and not see a single flaw, they're just going to see the wife or the Mother that they love.  How sad not to have photos with you in them.  Not to mention kids seem to remember memories a bit from photos...

So that's my advice to you, do it for your family.  And do it when you REALLY don't want to (like the impromptu photos like right after birth, etc!) 

Venus04d

jw87:

As a photographer, I feel like we really owe it to our family (spouse and kids) to get in front of the camera even when we don't look our best.  Don't be that person who hides!  Yes, you may hate the photos... but one day they're going to look at those photos and not see a single flaw, they're just going to see the wife or the Mother that they love.  How sad not to have photos with you in them.  Not to mention kids seem to remember memories a bit from photos...

So that's my advice to you, do it for your family.  And do it when you REALLY don't want to (like the impromptu photos like right after birth, etc!) 

As a photographer, do you have any advice on positioning, lighting, dress, etc that would help hide my insecurities?

kendra223

Our first family picture was the day after DD was born. I was about to not do it. But I'm so glad I did. Sure, I just gave birth and was far from looking like a super model.. but really, all that matters is the look on my face that I had while looking at my daughter.

The next family portraits we had were from when DD was almost 9 months. I wasn't happy with my weight at that time (and still am not very happy with it). Before the pictures, I just went to Burlington Coat Factory and shopped for flattering clothes. They have jeans in all different sizes and a lot of cute shirts. So I found an outfit that I felt really flattered me and that helped a lot.

MoonlitPlumeria

BostonKisses2:

ATMmom324:

I say go for it.  Years from now you will look back and regret not having family pics.  You won't be thinking about or regretting the way you look.  I look back at past pics where I thought I was so fat and would kill to look like that again.  

 

A good photographer should be able to give you tips and pose you in ways to make you feel better about problem areas.  I know that some suggest turning your body away from the camera and then turning to face forward so that it elongates your neck and disguises any potential double chins. 

I agree.

I understand how you feel, Venus.  I hate having my picture taken because I'm always afraid every roll is going to be extra noticeable.  We didn't do actual newborn pics or even family pics until she was almost a year old, and I still regret that.  Do the pics, and enjoy the memories they'll create!  ::hugs:: 

This! Z's first professional pics were done at Christmas last year when she was 9 months and we weren't in them. I really regret all of the missed picture opportunities! 

Wufroggy79

ATMmom324:

I say go for it.  Years from now you will look back and regret not having family pics.  You won't be thinking about or regretting the way you look.  I look back at past pics where I thought I was so fat and would kill to look like that again.  

 

A good photographer should be able to give you tips and pose you in ways to make you feel better about problem areas.  I know that some suggest turning your body away from the camera and then turning to face forward so that it elongates your neck and disguises any potential double chins. 

All of this.

ShellShockedMama

Instead of covering up the parts you dont like, accentuate the parts you DO like. I had a friend who was, I guess "plus size" but you wouldn't even have paid attention because she was so strikingly beautiful and smiley and happy that all you paid attention to was that. Not her "size" which shouldn't matter anyway. 

Get the pictures. Spring for a stylist to do your hair or make up. If you FEEL beautiful and confident, you could wear a potato sack and look gorgeous. It's about the image you project OUTWARD.

Also, a nice structured pant in a darker wash with a darker top always eliminated my left over baby lumps and bumps.  And outside light, in the late afternoon is very flattering I think I have a picture of me,I was 35 pounds heavier than normal and honestly, I think I still looked gorgeous. Lol I'll have to find it for you later if you want to see it. 

Venus04d

Thanks for the encouragement, ladies. I'm just going to suck it up and do it...and use this as an excuse to get a new outfit and my hair done.