Sisters, Bridal Portraits, or Both!?!?

Ok, so before you think I am completely looney (and I probably am), let me explain . . . go back about 20+ years ago to when I was a little girl.  I got to be a miniature bride in my second cousin's wedding, and I was THRILLED!!!!  Not only was I going to dress just like the bride, but my great-aunt was making the dress, and it looked just like Princess Diana's wedding gown (poofy sleeves, train, and all).  What little girl doesn't want to look like a princess!?!?  Well, after this beautiful wedding, someone gave my parents a portrait painting of me in my little mini wedding gown . . . a super large painting . . . which they hung over the mantle . . . me, staring down at me!!!  I had lots of slumber parties, so sleeping in the floor with 30 other girls seeing me staring at them was a little creepy for a 9 year old.  And thus began my fear of bridal portraits (at least ones of myself).  Yes, you don't have to tell me how terrible that is for a photographer to say.  I know.

Soooo . . . when I got married in 2005, my Mom wanted a huge canvas of me to hang up, but I refused to do a bridal portrait session with my photographer.  Years later, there are only three things I regret from my wedding:  not making my mother relax more, not buying purple shoes, and not getting more fun outdoor photos of me, my favorite dress, my hubby, and my wedding party.  Well, I can't go back to make my mom relax (I am her daughter, so I know that would have never happened anyway - hahaha!), and convincing my husband or most of my wedding party to all be in the same place at the same time in formal attire would take an act of God, so . . . I came up with a better idea!!!  My sister!!!

My sister (who also managed to not have bridal portraits) got married in 2008 . . . soooo the wheels in our brains started spinning!!!  Mom wanted a bridal portrait.  We never took them.  Soooo, why can't we do them now!?!?  Together!!!  SISTERS!!!! 

This had to be a secret operation!!!  Soooo . . . one morning we told my mom that my sister was helping me with a photo shoot at my grandparents' house.  We had my step-dad call when he had Mom clear and occupied.  We got ready and hit the field with just us, some props, a camera, and a tripod!!!  We only had 45 minutes.  Let me just say (for anyone who happened to drive by that day), two girls in wedding dresses and cowboy boots running (literally) around in a field must be super entertaining to watch!!!  Hahahaha!!!!  But the end results were worth it!!!! 

The only people who really knew exactly what we were doing and saw the photos before Christmas Eve were my maternal grandparents.  I realize I haven't talked about this at all on my blog (although I'm likely to in a couple of days for New Years), but in short my grandfather, a man I deeply admire and respect, died on Black Friday after a 6 month battle with gastric cancer.  He got to see the photos and loved them!!!  This gave us another idea . . . maybe we weren't totally nuts!!!  Maybe this was really a good and fun idea!!!  Maybe people would really like them!!!  Soooo . . . we decided to make the photos Christmas gifts for our parents and grandparents!!!  I have to be honest, I was still a little nervous.  I wasn't sure if they'd love them, think they were weird, or what, but my husband was right (I don't tell him that often) . . . they LOVED them!!!  And my sister & I LOVED seeing them open them!!!  Complete surprise!!!  I'm soooo super excited!!!

Soooo . . . now after the super long story and lots of suspense, I will post some of the photos from my Sisters Photo Session with . . . me =)  And seriously, even though it may seem odd, it is a great idea!!!  If you missed getting photos you wanted of your wedding, of your family, or whatever no matter how random you think it is, call / email me!!!!  I love doing fun and random things!!!!!!!!