"I don't want to offend you, but I think next time we should hire someone to take the family photo."

As we broke out of position, I had to agree with my mom. I was beyond frazzled.

It was a great idea - in theory. My sister set up her family photo, "but I think Mom would like a whole family photo" at the same time.

The red flag in my mind immediately went up.

When you are actually in front of the group, you can engage them. You can see if someone has their cell phone out (Dad), if someone is making goofy faces, etc.

When you are part of the group, you have no clue. 

There are only 11 of us and I knew it was going to be challenging since the youngest subjects (ages 3 and 4) would have no one to engage them. I have a noisy ball that I usually use to get kids' attention. The "plan" was to throw it at the tripod so they'd look toward the camera on the tripod. That didn't happen.

Let me explain the rest of "the plan."

1. We would use a remote control. To rule out any unfortunate accidents (my uncle broke a toe that way one Christmas), there would be no running from the tripod to the group in order to beat a camera timer. My husband Greg would control the remote (I have no idea why it was him and not me.)

2. We set up the lighting and where everyone would stand before anyone stepped one foot outside.

3. The adults were to stay put.

4. "The plan" was blown out of the water almost instantly as our lovely gift to my mom quickly turned into a National Lampoon movie.

And here is how it went down - literally.

With the adults in place, I started placing the kids.

En route to her place, my 3-year-old niece walked through a pile of ashes with her black outfit on...oops. Same niece also decided she wanted to hang on to the noisy ball (so much for that).

We dusted her off and put her in place. That left our 4-year-old who typically loves the camera.

This particular day, however, she said "I don't want to be in the picture." 

In fact, she went so far as to stand right beside the tripod with the camera on it and turn her back to the group.

We prodded.

We begged.

Do you want to stand by Grandpa? No.

Do you want Mommy to hold you? No.

I put a hairbrush in my pocket and had her chase me to get it out. In my mind I thought once she approached the group, she'd happily hop into the photo. I should have known better.

I thought about photoshopping her in, but she was on to that game and made sure she never stopped moving so we could snap a usable photo.

Finally, I came up with the idea to include her in a group hug - her favorite thing. This totally worked and she hopped in the photo but not before things in the group had gotten a little "loose."

Hair was messed up (especially mine since I was now sweating). Nerves (mine) were frazzled. Smiles were gone. Posture was gone. Grandpa's cell phone was out and now in the frame. (Had I been behind the camera, I'd have picked up on this.) The older kids were now making faces and acting silly.

Instead of the photographer, I was now the frazzled parent and I didn't like it - at all.

Typically after a session, I start loading photos on my computer as the subject is pulling out of the driveway. Not this time.

I waited until Monday and fixed myself a strong, strong cappuccino before even firing up the computer.

Looking at frame after frame, I watched the sitcom unfold. Oddly, instead of feeling immediately stressed out, I saw it for what it was - a comical error.

You just can't multi-task a family photo. Be the photographer or be the subject. By trying to be both, you miss out on what the photo should be - fun.

As a side note, the top photo was the final product after a fair amount of editing. Would I do this again? Uh, I think I've already established that...lol