Portraits

We got Karina's portraits done today.  I had planned for her to wear a pretty purple jumper that I made with a black shirt underneath.  The jumper was two different corduroys, one solid fuschia and the other with a rose print on black.  I chose it because Karina really loves purple right now.  Well, once it was on her, she hated it and wanted it off right away.  She said it hurt, so something was uncomfortable.  She was pulling at the neck of the shirt, though.  I think the corduroy was clinging to the shirt and causing it to pull in a strange way.  Maybe if she wears it without something under it instead. 

We didn't have time to mess with that, and I had prepared two backup dresses because this has happened before.  One was black velveteen with purple and the other was white with large red poppies all over it from Gymboree.  I love Gymboree, but I can't afford them on their regular prices, so I usually only buy a few things on clearance once in a blue moon.  This one, I just loved it so much, I paid full price for it.  I'm so glad I did, because this was the one she chose to wear.  I had gotten a white cardigan (the kind that's really short on the torso--there's a name for it but I can't remember it right now).  She had white tights and black dress shoes and she looked super cute!

We went to JCPenney's, where we get our pictures taken, and the store wasn't open for 20 minutes, because I am perpetually early.  So we walked over to a bookstore to wander for a few minutes (it was cold so I didn't want to just wait outside).  We walked out with two new Elmo board books.  She ended up using them as her props throughout the whole session.  She was so good!

The photographer, Melissa, was fantastic.  She was so great with Karina, and Karina warmed up to her so fast.  She did some formal shots and then some casual, with her cardigan, tights, and shoes off.  All the pictures she took were so cute!  I think we only deleted about 3 total shots.  Karina was great, too.  She was really listening to Melissa and did all the things she asked her to do.  Melissa even got her to lie on her tummy, put her chin in her hands, and her feet up in the air.  She didn't hold it long enough for a picture, but she did do it.  I thought that was pretty amazing considering she's only 2.  She was just amazing.  I was so proud of her.  She even let me move away from her for the first time ever in a photo session.  Usually I have to be right there with her, and end up partly in a lot of the pictures because of it.  Not this time!  We did get one picture of me reading to her, but it wasn't great so I didn't order it. 

Now I'm just dying to get the email with the pictures in it.  I know I'm biased because I'm her mom, but I just think she is such a cutie.  I almost wanted to just cry looking at her pictures.  I thought her 18 month ones were amazing, but these were even more so.  Way to go Karina and thank you Melissa from JCPenney!!



Nobody paid me to say this stuff.  It's just my opinion of my own experience that I paid for myself and wanted to share with you.