Roadside Family Portrait

What is that saying?  “The dentist’s children have the worst teeth” or “The house cleaner has the messiest house”  you know what I’m talking about right??  Well, the same principle applies to the photographers, we rarely have pictures of OURSELVES!  Because of this a photographer, John Michael Cooper of AltF Photography started what is called “Roadside Families.” It began on a trip across the country he was taking and he shot families along the way. There was no charge, your payment is to pay it forward to another Photographer family and also to a family who can not afford your services. But this is not a normal family portrait, you only get one shot (which the photographer chooses) and there are rules!! This is my favorite.There are only 2 and they are fabulous! Rule number 1 is that every one gets to choose their own outfit. (my kids were particularly excited about this) Rule number 2 is that each person has one object important to them in the image. This was also really fun! So here is our family’s Roadside Families Portrait, shot by my very bestest friend and her awesome husband from Erin Moulden Photography.

So, just in case you can not figure it out on your own, I will explain each of our favorite items. We are quite the cycling family…so the picture was taken in Alton’s bike room, where many items are important to him, including the room himself. I actually chose this for him, he said he didn’t mind..lol. All 3 of the youngest children wanted to sit on their bikes as well, with my son holding his bike polo stick which is his new favorite sport. My eldest child is a ballet dancer and if you look close you will see she is “en pointe” holding her dog and her current favorite book. I am in my favorite dress with my blender on the ground in front of me. Yes, I chose my blender. Here’s a little odd fact about me, I LOVE TO BLEND!!! It really is my favorite appliance. So here we are, my family.

Now I just need to pay it forward!!