Picture This

Photos Courtesy of Koru Photography.

When Nico was born, I was hell-bent on having a really nice, fancy schmancy studio shoot for him. I wanted to be able to "Ooh" and "Aah" over artistic pictures that would make my children look like little angels from an Anne Geddes calendar. As someone who is very familiar with "automatic mode," I am awed by those who know how to handle a camera.

A friend of mine had recently shot at a studio with her twin babies and her pictures were G-O-R-G-E-O-U-S. It helps that my friend Julia and her husband also happen to be gorgeous - this never hurts in a) making cute babies and b) not looking too troll-like in your pictures afterwards.

So I contacted one of the photographers who had done their shoot, Kristen Staples. She was friendly and sweet as I explained how I wanted an idyllic photo shoot that day. She listened as I described how I wanted lots of pictures of Nico doing a whole lot of nothing, but looking cute because he was too young to talk back to me (He was only 5 weeks old). And I also wanted some pictures of us holding our two year old, Shaila.

I mentioned to Kristen that Shaila was a little. Hmmm. Tempestuous?

Kristen assured me that the shoot was going to go off great. I tried to explain to her that Shaila was going to be with us, which would reduce the odds of success greatly, but she laughed my fears away and said all the right things to make me ready for this very intimidating endeavor.

The pictures from that day came out amazing. Despite the following:

• Nico pooped on me multiple times. You can't tell, but I literally had poop in my hair. Two outfit changes and YUP. Poop. All Over.
• Shaila screamed like a banshee the moment we walked in the door from the moment we left. No amount of candy appeased her. (Years from now, when she accuses me of not including her in family pictures, I'm going to look like a real jerk. Truth is, girlfriend would not sit down for two seconds.)

Looks so peaceful.

Like a mom holding her baby and saying, "Thank you, Son. Thank you, my Little Man."

And the son is saying "Thank you, Mom. This feels comfy. You look nice in black. I am dreaming about sleeping through the night."

But this is what we were really thinking:

Me: "Oh God, Nico! Please don't poop in my hair again. You look like you getting ready to launch. Please son, hold it in."

Nico: "Oh mom. Too late. Sorry."

Shaila is not in this picture because I think she was attempting to take down some of Kristen's equipment at this time. Fun little lady. Spirited, that's what she is.

We had to put a diaper back on my little man. I know its cute to have pictures of babies with their bare butt and all, but not when said butt is projectile shooting poop right up in my grill. Not today buddy. (or should I say, butty?) Shaila was trying to steal candy at this point and dismantle camera stands.

We did get this great one with her and John before she decided to run off to the corner and throw all of Nico's diapers out of his bag and strip down to her diaper.

She is soooo sweet. Really, just misunderstood.

We got a family photo together at the end. Shaila looked like Damion's twin Sister. Maybe just a little less bubbly.

And then in a moment of weakness for her, what could be my favorite picture of the day:

I think two second later after she let me kiss her, Nico pooped on me again and Shaila head butted me, so I was about ready to call it quits.

Throughout the shoot, Kristen and her photography partner, Donna, were fantastic and sweet and brushed away my countless apologies over Spaz #1 (Shaila) and Spaz #2 -(Mr. McPoopers) himself. At some point, I relaxed (as much as you can when your 2 year old wants to light a building on fire) and put myself in Kristen's capable hands.

The clincher for me is that each time Nico pooped on me - Kristen and Donna would get right in there with me and wipe him up and act like it was nothing. They were such professionals and beyond gracious, despite the torment I had heaved upon them. They laughed and played with Shaila and reassured us as they pulled out more wipes and helped me clean my son off without hesitation.

Kristen is now starting her own photography business in the Northern Virgina area called Koru Photography. You should check out some of what she does - she is amazing and documents families exactly as they are meant to be shot (maybe with less #2 on them than me) - and she knows what to do when all the "unexpected" happens at a shoot.

Basically, she carries a LOT of baby wipes.

Here are some of her favorite pictures from 2009. Basically if you live around DC and are looking for a good photographer, check her out and let her know you're a friend of mine. She is now my "Go To" person for family pictures after she was so great to us that day.











Trying to stay warm. 32" of snow hit the DC area! Yikes!!

XOXO,
Kiran