Perfect Moments

With my wife Christina, I run a children's portrait company that specializes in portraits of children taken in day care centers. Last summer Michelle, one of our photographers was shooting at a child care center in Nashville when one of the children's
mother asked if we would do a family shot if she ran home and got her husband. Since we encourage family portraits, Michelle said, "Yes, we'd be glad to do that."

Within minutes the woman was back with her husband. He agreed to wear the overalls and with some strong encouragement from his wife and Michelle he was changed before he could reconsider (photographs are something that few men enjoy being part of).

Mom knew what she wanted. She told her husband where to stand, then sat at his feet, on the bale of hay that use with the children, put her right arm around her husband's leg, and her left arm around her son.

Michelle looked through the viewfinder and said, "It needs something."

Mom leaned her head against her husbands leg and smiled.

Michelle recalled when she saw the pose in the viewfinder she screamed, "Don't move!"

No one did and here's the result.

There are an infinite number of "perfect moments" in our lives. Few of us see them, at least not very many of them. We have to be alert for them and when they come we have to grab them without hesitation.