Double Take: Our Second Shot
On the night we got engaged, we took a self-portrait that's so hideous I don't think I ever even posted it here. Bad camera work aside, we were looking exactly as you'd expect two non-celebrity parents to look ten days after one of them gave birth, and also without the benefit of years of celebrity PR coaching about "good sides" and camera angles and, to quote Tyra, "finding your light."
Things I learned that night: (1) Never let your giant postpartum rear end be the closest thing to the camera, and (2) Sometimes the best way to "find your light" is to turn the lights OFF because, grrrrrl, you're a hot mess. For real.
When I plunged back into our photo archives to find that picture for this post, I was expecting bad and it was, honestly, even worse. Click through to see it and read about how Canon (my favorite, favorite, favorite camera company) helped us get Our Second Shot, and how it could help you get yours too (preferably by sending you to a quaint restaurant in Italy, as they did for one lucky couple).
So, we got engaged on Christmas Eve 2008, ten days after our son was born. We were in the middle of watching Spider-Man 3 on cable, eating Frosted Mini Wheats, and looking completely glamorous, as you will see. (Read the full engagement post here.)
I wish I could look at that photo and be mother-proud of what childbirth had done to my appearance in the form of sleeplessness, weight gain, and whacked-out hormones, but no, it's pretty bad, and the only reason I didn't take a million photos until I got a good one was because I was simply too tired and hopped up on babysmell (and yes, champagne) to care.
Behold:
When Canon and BlogHer asked if I'd like the chance to retake a less-than-awesome photo of a special occasion, what else could I say? Do-over, PLEASE AND THANK YOU. It helps that this time my hair was combed, Simon's wasn't giant, and Wombat at nearly three was a little more expressive than he was at ten days old. It also helped that we had the HS System technology of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS, which did a fine job capturing detail in the dim light of our T.V. room without a glaring flash. It also had a ton of features that made the photo easier to take in general: a self-timer that I could customize to a preferred length of time and number of sequential shots; face recognition, which picked out all three of our faces in every photo and let me review everyone's expression up close; an icon that looked like a squinty face to tell me when someone (Wombat) had his eyes shut; and...I could go on and on. It's just a really sweet camera.
We've had a lot of fun playing around with the camera over the last few weeks. If you're a fan of the tricky/vintagey filters all the kids are crazy about, you'll love some of the camera settings:
Miniature!
Toy Camera!
But that's not what you came to see, so here's the Second Shot of our engagement.
That's straight outta the camera, no editing (hence the weird framing). It was still a little tricky to get the timer set up and everyone in position and smiling when the shutter clicked, but in the end the Canon PowerShot ELPH 300 HS did us good (I loved not having to use the flash)--just like every other Canon we've owned since 2001, including two SLRs and two other models from the ELPH line that have held up to major use and abuse and are still clicking.
Thanks for the years of memories, Canon, but thanks also for the Second Shot. I'm Simon's Second Shot, and in a way he's mine too, so I guess that's proof that no matter what the movies say, the second time's a charm, and it's never too late to make a second impression.
***
People far and wide are participating in the Your Second Shot campaign; to see other "before" candidates and vote for your favorite to get a photo do-over courtesy of Canon, click here. (Babies' births! Kids' first days of kindergarten! Weddings! Anniversaries! You name it).
For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, leave a comment on this post telling me what your favorite photo is from Canon's Your Second Shot page.
Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: (a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post, (b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post, (c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post, or (d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by email. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected. The Official Rules are available here.
Sweepstakes will run from December 5 to December 18, 2011.
For more opportunities to win, visit the Canon round-up page on BlogHer.com to read other bloggers' reviews.
Aw, the Morry & Franny one got me a little teary, so that's my choice!
I like "The Bet".
tweet--https://twitter.com/#!/mami2jcn/status/143751365573873664
I loved the "Bet"
I like the "Bet" very much.
Well if I can't pick you guys then I guess I'll pick the bet.
"First to graduate college" is a wonderful story!
Aw, the Highway 1 is adorable.
I have never seen the photo from our engagement. We didn't take one right away when he gave me the ring and his mom took some later that evening. But she never does anything to her photos, except move them from the camera to her computer!
Oooh, I love Morry and Franny. Or Zion! Love this idea. :)
i like the barcelona story! so sweet, and I love Spain
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/MeandBells/status/143788042036064257
I like Barcelona!
I love the 90TH BDAY STRIKE..OUT... I have that problem with lots of my pictures too - life moves too fast! And I love bowling :)
i like my little clown and voted
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/1amypugmire/status/143815938427457536
Oh, Barcelona!
And frankly, lady, you're crazy, that's not a terrible photo. I can see you laughing cause life is wacky and holding Wombat up like a prize fish is just darn funny.
Surprise Delivery!
I like the College Graduate story.
meg314 at gmail dot com
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/megg0/status/143896252030009344
meg314 at gmail dot com
Surprise Delivery, for sure. :)
First to Graduate College!
Dinner in Madrid. :-)
I'd have to go with the fishing story to give those boys a chance to be together again for a new photo :)
Barcelona made me teary.
I like the 90th birthday strike.
I like my little clown
I like My Fishing Story!
I am typically to running a blog and i actually appreciate your content. The article has really peaks my interest. I'm going to bookmark your site and maintain checking for new information.
I am usually to running a blog and i really admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your website and hold checking for new information.
90TH BDAY STRIKE..OUT...
is my favorite!
ashleygatewood1(AT)gmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/shuggysmommy/status/144590277653442561
aww 90th Birthday Strike Out!
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
aww 90th Birthday Strike Out!
pokergrl8 at gmail.com
http://twitter.com/#!/aes529/status/144632078229712896
I liked "Our Reunion"
littlegray88 at yahoo dot com
I like the 'our reunion' because I know how tough long distance relationships are (US/Australia for me) and that must have really sucked that their pic didn't turn out right.
The strike out! Love it.
https://twitter.com/#!/LittleBabyBlog/status/145244510304223232
I like Sisters at the Beach
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
http://twitter.com/#!/tcarolinep/status/145372900583686144
I like the 90th birthday strike out
https://twitter.com/#!/susan1215/status/145556788945764352
I like the sisters at the beach one.
tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/KerryBishop/status/145685392639795200
i like and voted for the 4321 miles photo!
http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/145706408212566016
last comment was wrong
Sisters at the Beach is my fave
https://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/145741450989142016
My favorite is the 90TH BDAY STRIKE..OUT story.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I tweeted about this giveaway: https://twitter.com/#!/uTry_it/status/145826325393965057
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I love My little clown! Absolutely awesome! Thanks for this splendid giveaway
I tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/anashct/status/146200765369823233
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Thanks for this splendid giveaway
my favorite is unseen memories
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/aj_sahm/status/146252319040868352
cute
I like the blid girl birthday story. It made me choak up a bit.
my fav photo is the trevi fountain
tweeted https://twitter.com/#!/karinaroselee/status/146652632122007552
Love the sisters at the beach photo and the story from zion
https://twitter.com/#!/purplelover04/status/146787082046685184
I like THE GREATEST CATCH story
http://twitter.com/#!/HappyTina0115/status/147140624037056512
I loved the "Bet"
babitababita@hotmail.com
https://twitter.com/#!/zbabita5/status/147144501020991488
babitababita@hotmail.com
I like the John's Birthday story!
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
tweet-http://twitter.com/#!/CrazyItalian0/status/147696845588660224
gina.m.maddox (at) gmail (dot) com
I voted for the Times Square Memory! They def deserve another chance at that NY shot!
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/147720286198956034
My favorite is 90th Bday Strike..OUT...
Barcelona for me!
And your first photo wasn't *that* bad (says the girl currently eating Frosted Mini Wheats)
:)
My favorite is the 90th birthday strike out.
Thank you.
http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/148246338528739329
Engagement Fail is such a sad story!
https://twitter.com/#!/bikeohio/status/148254184939077632 tweet
I like the close
Sisters at the Beach.
marybug2@yahoo.com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/148264390024638465
marybug2@yahoo.com
"MY LITTLE CLOWN" WAS PRETTY CUTE
2ND ENTRY TWEET
https://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/148265718704635905
I like the moment from the 90th Birthday on Senior bowling league. So endearing.
I like the moment from the 90th Birthday on Senior bowling league. So endearing.
Tweeted:
https://twitter.com/#!/wizardhlee/status/148331181501464576
I have to pick the one of the soldiers' wedding, because most of our wedding pictures also were poor and I understand that disappointment!
500 miles to darkness is my favorite. sweepmorey at gmail dot com
tweeted http://twitter.com/#!/mommysdizzy/status/148449579837304833
my favorite is the 90th Bday Strike..OUT
karenmed409 at comcast dot net
I liked the Zion photos
Tweeted...
http://twitter.com/#!/judes715/status/148484151778099200
My fave is the big top cupcake that spelled Happy Birthday Shea in braille on it in round sprinkles. Very sweet.
tweet:
http://twitter.com/#!/wizardewu/status/148520130786242560
I like The Bet the best.
The strike out!
the unseen memories...very sweet.
90th Birthday for sure!
That camera looks so fun!
The 90th birthday one is the best! It's even great that it's blurry.
I like the 1st to graduate
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
I loved My Little Clown...
tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/ChelleB36/status/148589650246778880
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Definitely surprise delivery!
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/amyupnorth/status/148592071693967360
I'll go with the Bet.