Personal Portrait Shoot FAIL

Many photographers will tell you their kids are the hardest to shoot a good portrait of. I will say that we had improvement in a couple areas this year, but most of my tricks don't work on my kids. As if that's not enough, I have to be the one to referee a disagreement instead if sitting back while the parents handle it. This particularly lovely shot was courtesy of my son just before he smacked his forehead with his hand. I think, actually am almost positive, that I told him to say he loved me, because last year, that is what worked to get him to give me a genuine smile instead of a forced one. The comments that followed the head smack from the girls were...

from G, the littlest one "You don't love Mommy????"

from A, the oldest: "REALLY, dude? Like, SERIOUSLY?"

The next shot would've shown him throwing his hands in the air asking me to just take the picture already.

Have I said how much I love my kids? As you can see, they are dressed perfectly for the 40 degree weather, and yes, there were outside shots where they threw their jackets as far as they could at the last second and then I snapped 3, then they got to warm up. I am open to bribery, and a warm Starbucks drink was their reward. I'm not even going to show you what G's little dress looks like after she warmed up by dumping hers all over herself.