As a DFW baby photographer, it is important that I document my own babies. (Okay, so one of them is six years old and doesn’t exactly qualify as a baby per se, but he is still my baby!!)
While my six year old has been subjected to this Texas tradition every year, it was baby Judd’s first time in the bluebonnets. Bluebonnet pictures are intense. Ants and cockle burrs are typically involved. There are weeds and things are a bit nature-y for someone who typically does studio photography only.
I’m going to go ahead and admit that these photos are not my best work and I am kind of bummed by them. I had this beautiful vision in my head, but then reality got in the way. A huge cold front came through over the weekend, so it was in the 40s. This totally changed my wardrobe choices for the boys, and I don’t feel like their clothing complemented the way it should have. Also, we were all cold and grumpy. The other major problem was that my baby goes to bed at 6:30 pm and the best lighting setup is around 7 pm. So, I had the choice of keeping him up way past bedtime or just attempting to shoot these photos in full sun. I gambled with the full sun, because it was a very overcast day anyway. Well, as soon as we arrived at the bluebonnet field the clouds parted and it became crystal clear! There was no shade in sight, as bluebonnets really only grow out in the open prairie fields. Since we were already out there I just made do with the harsh lighting. I also had uncooperative subjects who were suffering from photographers child syndrome.
Now that you know what a pain in the booty it was to get these photos, let me tell you something else. It was worth it.
I know these won’t be the best ever bluebonnet pictures that I will take of the boys. I know that next year is another chance to do things better. But I am so very glad anytime I get photos of them, together or apart because this moment in time is so fleeting. Judd will never be 10 months old in the bluebonnets again. Next year he will be a toddler, full of rambunctious boy energy and the likelihood of me getting him to sit still for a photo will be very, very low. I will probably have to settle for photos of him running wild through the bluebonnets. And, I will probably complain about it on my blog next year too. But, at the end of the day, in 20 years, I will have all these images to look back on. And I will probably forget how annoying this setup was and how disappointed I was with the actual composition and lighting of the photos and just remember those precious baby boys and all the crazy antics we got up to in the name of this Texas tradition.
H Parker Photography is a Ft Worth Newborn Baby Photographer with a residential studio in Roanoke,TX.
She specializes in classic, timeless studio baby photographs.