Perfect Imperfections-- the REAL story is so much more intriguing than the ideal!

So many 'perfect' expectations develop based on seemingly perfect Pinterest ideas or lovely blog photography. I find I love the real stories so much more than the Potemkin village ideals we feel like we have to live up to. I think the lyrics "love your curves and all your edges, all your perfect imperfections" pretty much sums up how I feel about the photo shoot  for family pics we had up at the cabin. My MIL is so talented and I look forward to photo time with her every year... confession, I may have been planning and scheming on our clothing selections for about 3 weeks. Maybe... I was a little anxious when the snow obscured the rust and golden colors from the landscape. What if our color scheme was affected? I needn't have worried. Plenty of golden colors around the cabin and the snow made the lighting perfect! 

Gwen is old enough now to actually follow photographer instructions, so hers turned out really pretty. The only 'perfect imperfection' is the hint of black eye that you can see in some shots--- she had a run-in with cousin F just a couple days prior to our photo session and got a good shiner for it!

But most shots you can't even see it, right? At least, I can't. And I know it is there. So I'm betting you didn't notice.

Wow. Such a boring story she fell asleep. Standing up. Outside in the cold. 

It was a comedic experience with Caroline! She was cold, so we'd take a few pics, slip on her coat and move locations, whip it off and take a few more... You'd think from the bizarre photos that we were demanding she sit perfectly still for a long time rather than asking for her attention for such brief moments! But I LOVE the collection of totally random photos, goofy faces, strange poses, and tongue shots we got when she was instructed to smile! 

There was no hiding this boy's goose egg. Right there on his forehead from a tumble on the stairs THE DAY BEFORE the photos! He was less enthusiastic about his personal photo shoot, mostly because he just woke up and is a rather snuggle-y boy for about 40 minutes or so after waking up and getting pictures taken meant he got set down. Tragedy. 

Getting ALL the faces to look at the camera and smile at the same time is honestly a Herculean feat! Goofy hooting face for Gwen and unimpressed Emmett. 

Emmett has had enough. 

Change of location? Silly smug faces...

or back of the head?...

Does ANYONE look good in this one? Is anyone even aware of the camera?

Seriously. Please tell me your photo sessions go like this too!

But we did manage to get quite a few successful shots! We have Grandpa's face-making skills to thank for this beauty!

But I have to say, I think this one seems so natural and fun, Caroline's arms so silly and Emmett's smile so genuine with that ever-present-teething-finger in his mouth... 

I love the perfect imperfection of it!

We got some really beautiful ones of the kids, too. My favorite of Gwen. 

And, miracle of miracles, despite all those crazy poses, we managed a beautiful one of Caroline too!

And this cute one of the girls together.

My absolute favorite of the whole shoot: Emmett's fluffy pokey-up hair, the little curls over his ears, his sparkly eyes... and that wonderful bluish knot on his forehead! Definitely perfect imperfection!

All photo creds to Mama Allan! Thank you!