3.04.2011

Freaky Friday Kids Photos

Gorgeous or freaky? I don't quite know what to think. My mom loves these pictures of the kids, which were shot during our winter break family reunion -- but I'm not used my kids' images being altered beyond color-correction and cropping.





For comparison, here's one of my favorite shots -- from the photos I took during same session. This is Mali with a bunch of her cousins, who obviously share some D'artagnan/goofball genetic material.


What do you think? What's your preference for photos of your kids? Touched up or not?

17 comments:

  1. I think your kids look gorgeous both ways, but I think I'd want the majority of my pictures to be natural.

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  2. Anonymous10:51 AM

    They're all precious.

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  3. Anonymous11:08 AM

    The kids are gorgeous, but in my opinion the editing is a little much. I like the one you took- it shows their personalities.

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  4. I think that this is the distinction between formal portraits and snapshots. The ones your mom likes are posed and formal and retouched and serve the purpose of being what the kids looked like at this one moment caught in amber.

    The candid is full of personality and action and shows what the kids were doing and are like. Both are important.

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  5. It's a bit much, but those are lovely portrait pictures that I can see going out to distant relatives who really won't meet the kids too often. Portrait photographs tend to lean on the old traditions of historic painting; as documentations, not really glimpses of who they are.

    The last picture, however, that one's for on the wall, to hand out to close family and friends.

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  6. Very cute children!!

    I think it's fun to shake things up a bit, even with photos. Why not get creative when we live in a time where it's actually an option?

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  7. I think the photos are gorgeous! The different styles each serve a purpose; it all depends on what you want to convey which set you prefer. I love the candid phots best, but I think there's a place for beautiful portraiture where the focus is solely on the person and not the context of the picture. I wish that I had such a gorgeous portrait of my Nik. One day I know I will and I will treasure that just as much as I treasure the rest.

    FTR, you are in a world of trouble when your eldest starts dating. She is turning into a stunner.

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  8. Melissa2:21 PM

    I think they are gorgeous pics. I feel like you do, I like the more natural look, so beyond red-eye reduction and evening out color... we do (or my husband does) relatively little to photos. Put them in an album and hang the last one on the wall!

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  9. I seriously just went through a thought process like, "Oh who is that gorgeous teenager with Leo, must be one of his new aides WHAT WHAT HOLY HELL THAT IS IZ FLAIL FLAIL WHAT"

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  10. Melissa P.12:45 AM

    OMG!
    What absolutely gorgeous children
    you have!
    The pictures are wonderful.

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  11. I'm somewhere in-between when it comes to fiddling. I think the editing is a bit much in these. Your kids are gorgeous -- they don't need it. :) I would love to seem them in black & white, though, especially the first one, with the contrast pushed up a bit.

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  12. Those are gorgeous pics of gorgeous kids but they don't look like themselves. Their personalities have been edited out.

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  13. Not that it matters what I think ;) but I think the over-editing is just weird. Much prefer natural: your kids (and mine) stand on their own w/o all the gimmicks.

    And Holy Crap, Iz is prettier and prettier! Yowza.

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  14. I love both...I think each has a purpose..your children are gorgeous and so photogenic and the portraits really bring that out..the candid shots are adorable too showing their personalities as adorable children.
    They can both add to your collection of photographs...

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  15. Anonymous5:03 PM

    The children are beautiful, so of course the photos are, too!! I love goofy shots as well.

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  16. Thanks all y'all. The photographer did a great job, definitely. My mom is really happy with them. I think it's safer for everyone to see my kids as they are, so they're properly warned -- but a little gloss can't hurt.

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  17. it's all a matter of taste. personally, i love really authentic portraits that are really well done, but there are plenty of folks out there that love the PERFECT portrait. There's something for everyone!!!
    Knowing a bit about you and how REAL you are, these seem way too glossy and retouched and posed, but whatevs! I'm glad your mom loves them!!!

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Respectful disagreement encouraged.