Oh! Christmas Tree

[GQsmithy]

Here's my crew executing my idea of a fun Christmas card shoot. Like it or not, at least its original. :D

Merry Christmas to all.

[scrumpy]

That sure is original - I love it :D:D

[Photos By Katie]

Thast is awesome... I love it...Way to think out of the box.

[GQsmithy]

Thanks for the feedback.

[jgrussell]

Very cute idea nicely executed!

[RebelChick]

I actually love the idea!

[Kissa]

This is an AMAZING idea great job for executing it :)

I LOVE IT :)

[hapa mamma]

Love it! The only thing I'd add is lights strung across the 'tree'.

[FlyingPhotog]

That's simply TREE-mendous!!!

It will make a great card.

[Armywife]

Wow, are those all your children? What a wonderful family you have!!! That is such a great idea! You are going to get so many great comments on your card!

[dmmiller]

Thats great!

[GQsmithy]

Thanks for all the kind comments. Yes, they are all my children. They are all my wife's children too. ;) Seriously, most people think our children are combined from previous marriages, but they're all ours. :D I like the idea about the lights. I actually thought of that too, just before the shoot, but it was too late to round them up. (Sadly, no dedicated studio here. I have to set up and tear down my lighting each time.) I'll try that next time.

[babeesarang85]

oh wow!this looks fun and creative!i love it!

[Valeri]

That is a great photo and creative idea! love it

[skade]

Very clever.. love it!

[GQsmithy]

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I'm glad you seem to be enjoying the pic. Feel free to C & C. I've been shooting for many years, but I'm just now getting into studio-type shooting, so I have a lot to learn.

[GQsmithy]

ARMYWIFE: I assume you have an active duty family member. Thank you for your family's service. The same to anyone looking who is in the service or has a loved-one in service. I'm an old Marine, so I know its tough, especially at this time of year. The wives have the toughest job of all, they have to hold down the fort and keep a good attitude. If you have a bad day, there's no one to shoot.;):D

[FocalPrincess]

Thast is awesome... I love it...Way to think out of the box.

Seems to me they're partly IN the boxes. :lol: ;)

ARMYWIFE: I assume you have an active duty family member. Thank you for your family's service. The same to anyone looking who is in the service or has a loved-one in service. I'm an old Marine, so I know its tough, especially at this time of year. The wives have the toughest job of all, they have to hold down the fort and keep a good attitude. If you have a bad day, there's no one to shoot.;):D

Agreed. Thank you so much for your service as well as your husband's.

[Liesl]

freaking love it!!

[paraau]

humourous and cute at the same time!

[KatiaShermanPhotography]

DANG!!! i love it!

[Kristy]

So cute and very creative. :) Nice work!!

[amwolf]

What an original idea- I love it!

[rmr21]

Such a great idea! I really like it. :)

[samoan_ridah]

Wow, that is a big family! Extremely creative!

[GQsmithy]

Thanks again for all the positive feedback. :D

[y19mike77]

AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[markubig]

A+ for creativity!!!! A+ for pulling it off!!!! Love it!

[StroupePhotography]

That's simply TREE-mendous!!!

It will make a great card.

Could not have said it better myself. I really like that idea.

[Rhinotherunt]

This is a FANTASTIC idea!!!

[GQsmithy]

You are all very generous. :o:D

As I said before, I come from a natural light background. (shooting style, not beverage preference) This was only my second attempt with studio lighting, and my first using my new Sekonic L-358. As I improve, I hope I can continue to please.

[Kauaicrazed]

Very cute! Are those all of your children?

[speedypalomino]

WOW!!! NINE!!! and to think,, I struggle with just one,,,, HORSE!!! LOL!!!
awesome shot,,,, very nice family!!! :)

[GQsmithy]

Very cute! Are those all of your children?

Thanks for all the kind comments. Yes, they are all my children. They are all my wife's children too. ;) Seriously, most people think our children are combined from previous marriages, but they're all ours. :D

Nine is not a bad number, if you say it fast. ;)

They are blessings, every one.

[House of Jubilee]

WOW! How creative. I also have nine kids and have yet to figure out a way to include all 9 in a card without making it to busy. I know I am running out of time.

One problem I am running in to is that I have 2 boys that are 15months old and a girl that is 4 months old.

It is hard to get 9 kids to be still at once but sure enough hard when 3 of them are that little.

Oh, I also noticed that you have 2 boys and 7 girls. So do we. Funny huh? Of course, like I said, our boys are 15 months.

[GQsmithy]

WOW! How creative. I also have nine kids and have yet to figure out a way to include all 9 in a card without making it to busy. I know I am running out of time.

One problem I am running in to is that I have 2 boys that are 15months old and a girl that is 4 months old.

It is hard to get 9 kids to be still at once but sure enough hard when 3 of them are that little.

Oh, I also noticed that you have 2 boys and 7 girls. So do we. Funny huh? Of course, like I said, our boys are 15 months.


Actually, we have three boys and six girls. The youngest is a boy. That's the hazard of dressing him in yellow, it could go either way.

Photo sessions are tough with that many small children. The best advise I can give is be patient, keep the sessions short and be prepared for a lot of out-takes. I shot about forty images to get three that I thought were worth processing, including the one I posted. Don't get too wrapped up in making the kids conform to the image in your mind. Use your idea as a guide, and let the kids have fun with it. That's when you'll get your best shots.

Maybe you could try a shot similar to mine, but try adding the christmas lights someone suggested earlier, or tinsel, or whatever comes to your mind. If you do, please post it here so we can see your take on the shot.

Its always nice to meet other large families. "Blessed is the man whose quiver is full." Is there any religious significance to your user name? It made me think of when we attended a Messianic Jewish fellowship. Either way, Shalom.:D

[House of Jubilee]

Is there any religious significance to your user name?

Not really. When I consider the ramafications of the year of Jubilee, I can just imagine the awesome feeling of celebration that everyone must feel, so I just thought my user name was very discriptive of life in our house.

Sorry about calling your son a girl. I guess when you have as many girls as I do, you just assume all babies are girls unless they are "distictly" boys. I still have a problem slipping up and say "her' when I mean to say "him". My oldest is 16 so I have been saying "her" for 16 years and "him" for less than a year and half.

[royboy79]

Cool idea. What a beautiful family. Love the presents.

[Lunajen]

Great idea and wonderful shot.

[BrokenRoad]

I think it's awesome! You have a beautiful family.

[GQsmithy]

I still have a problem slipping up and say "her' when I mean to say "him". My oldest is 16 so I have been saying "her" for 16 years and "him" for less than a year and half.

My oldest is about to be 16, and with six girls, I know exactly what you mean. I still do this a lot. We won't even talk about getting their names right under stress. :D

Thanks again everyone for the kind words.

[BrettRio]

Haha thats cool.

[TamEric]

thats stunning i love it