It Takes a Small Village

One of the Hoyda family Christmas traditions has been to take an annual family photo, every, single, year.  I don't really remember the very first one and if I were to go searching among the multitude of photo albums in my parents house I could be looking until next year; however, the family photo is something that has caused our group laughter, frustration, delight, anger, and thankfully many great memories. 

The reason the 'photo' creates some of the unfavorable emotions is because all of us by nature are slightly... hmmm what is the best word here... not stubborn, not unyielding, but headstrong (except Mom, she's a saint and will go along with anything to make sure everyone is happy).  So when the photo is taken, we all have very strong opinions about why this one is good or that one is bad.  Some of the best excuses are; 'the way I'm standing looks weird' or 'the light behind my shoulder is too bright'.  It's all code for; ' I hate this one of me'.  But I think that one of the reasons the photo works out year after year is because we try to have a fun during the session - and this is the pic usually pick.

 

One of my favorite memories includes Ted's head and a suspended lamp shade.  It's strange, but for some reason, (literally three years in a row) we took a family photo where there was this suspended lamp shade that always ended up hanging overtop of Ted's head.  At the time, (1990's) we didn't have digit photos so we couldn't check the picture until it was developed and then we would discover that we took 50 shots all of which Ted looked like he had just arrived home from somewhere in Asia.  Three years in a row too! 

Then there is the time that Grandma and Grandpa Enns tried to take the photo.  Us kids were all under the age of eight or nine and our attention spans were extremely short so my parents had the idea that if two people were taking the picture, the chances and odds of capturing the group smiling together were better.  But nobody knew where to look and Grandma and Grandpa just kept shooting them.  The final picture is a classic.  We're ALL smiling in different directions which gave the effect that we were completely out of it.  

Nate and I decided to continue the tradition in our relationship and if we're blessed, with our family.  This year after the photo was shot, we discovered there was still some green painter's tape on the stairs in the background; but Mom and I were talking about it and we came to the conclusion that these little imperfections are what makes the pic 'imperfect' is actually what makes it (and us) extra special.  

Here are a few of the interesting ones getting set-up and trying to find the right lighting from this year.  Yes, it does take a small village.