Outtakes

Isn't it great when you've just finished watching a hilarious movie and you're about to exit the theater when suddenly a new scene pops up on the screen?  Only it isn't new...it's the outtakes.  And they never last long enough!  The outtakes are sometimes the best part of a movie, not just because they're funny...but because they're real.  They are the moments most movies don't even show because for some reason, the director doesn't want the public to see the mistakes of the actors.  But who is perfect?  No one!  The outtakes are part of reality, and when we regular folks get to see them, we get a glimpse into a day in the life on set of a movie...well, the better, funnier parts of the day anyway. 

In my attempts to coerce Ava into a photo shoot to get a few pictures I could use for holiday cards, there were moments of frustration, moments of "I got it!" - only to find out the camera wasn't quite focused, and moments where I finally had to give up and try later due to Ava's lack of compliance.  I was worried that I wasn't going to get any shots that would be holiday card "worthy," but after three sessions over the span of two days and the help of Uncle Matt and Dada, I finally did.  Not that I'm going to show the final product here!  This is a post about outtakes!  What do you think I'm going to share?  :)  All of the not-hilarious-at-the-time-but-pretty-funny-now moments during our photo shoots.

Could I get a smile, Ava?  No?

She was obsessed with my lighting equipment...

Uh oh...abort mission, abort mission!

Nevermind...back to staring at the lights.

Oh yes, had to take time out to feed the sippy cup to the bear.  He was thirsty!

How does this look if I lie on the floor, Mom?

Okay, we're sitting in the chair...background is good...aaaaand not looking at the camera.

Leaning tower of Ava? 

 

Try not to smile, kid.  Try REALLY hard.

And the last outtake from Day 1 Photo Shoot Attempt...

Hmm.  It's actually kinda cute.  But I am a perfectionist, and by my standards, this was not card-worthy.  Outtake-worthy, yes.  Artistic?  Sure.  However, I had a vision in mind...and this wasn't it!

Day 2 Photo Shoot Attempt yielded even more outtakes.  

That darn wind!  And uh, nice sippy cup...

Whoops!

Mid-chew.  Nice. 

I have a feeling I'm going to be getting this look a lot when she's a teenager.

Still no smiles?  Really?  Eh, poor background anyway!

One lone tear.  Don't you feel sorry for her that I'm always up in her face taking pictures?

Ava, look at the camera.  Ava!  Ava!  Ava, look at Mama!  Ava...AVA!

 

Hmm, maybe if we go back outside.  No?

 

There's that darn wind again!

I have no idea what she's doing...

Okay, looking up at the camera, but what's with the facial expression?!

The last three are highly edited, which gives them some pizazz, but again, I will reiterate: NOT CARD-WORTHY!

Thankfully, Day Two ended with some winners.  But these outtakes show real life and are winners too, just in a different realm.  They may not be perfect for a holiday card, but they are perfect for conveying Ava's personality and Mama's attempts at a photo shoot with her own toddler.  I have accepted these pictures for what they are, and have come to embrace a few of them for not being perfect.  Let's face it, life is imperfect.  We're not always going to get what we want, we're not going to feel happy 24/7, and there will be many moments where we wish we could have a do-over.  Instead of putting our heads down in defeat when we have an "outtake" moment in life...perhaps instead we should look at the bright side and embrace mistakes, because after all, we do learn from them!  

So what did I learn, you ask?  I've learned that shooting pictures of your own kid for fun is...fun.  But shooting pictures of your own kid for a purpose is stressful and requires patience - and more than one attempt!  The outcome, however, is worth it!