My husband and I are going on vacation to Dublin next week. We’re really looking forward to it; it’s supposed to be a beautiful city with a lot of really cool places to see. And we haven’t been on vacation since our wedding almost 6 months ago. The one thing I’m not looking forward to, however, are the seemingly eternal amount of pictures my husband will take. I’m not talking about pictures of rolling hills, beautiful architecture or breathtaking countryside. I’m talking about the hold-his-arm-out-while-he-tries-to-make-us-look-like-a-cute-couple pictures.
You know the kind I’m referring to, right? The kind that all couples will try to take at least once during a vacation. You don’t want to bother people around you, or look like too much of a tourist, by asking them to take a picture of the two of you in front of that famous fountain so instead you attempt it yourself. That’s not such a big deal. But my husband? My husband will take hundreds of those pictures. And so we’ll smile for the camera while he positions his arm in front of our faces in just the right place. Except his arm is rarely in just the right place and so he’ll want to try it again. And again. And yet again. By about the seventh attempt, I’ve lost patience but he still feels that he can get it right. Now imagine going through this at every single historic, famous or scenic tourist spot you hit in a week. Oh, boy.
Here’s a gallery of some my husband’s “self-portraits”. Keep in mind that these are the best ones…the ones that he was finally satisfied with after taking up to a dozen rejected ones.
Ah, yes. 99% of the photos I have of my fiance and me are like this. Except, he is 6’9″ and I am 5’10″. The photos either cut out the lower half of my face or the top half of his.
Ha ha…my husband and I “try” to do this too but he is tall and I am super short. We always get great pictures just from my nose up!
This is our sweet thing to do … we LOVE it.. I have even made whole scrapbooks of our Pose.. and while in Vegas, we hired a photographer to follow us around and had him take a picture of ourselves taking the picture! Its our special THING! ;o))
ps.. even though I am a professional photographer, for over 15 years now… ours are not correct or centered either. WE LOVE them when they come out wacky! hahahah!
I actually thought all the pictures you displayed were pretty good (understanding these are the creme of the crop). Congratulations to your hub for perfecting his technique– even if it is at your expense. I’m impressed– he must have really long arms : )
You guys are so cute! This weekend I showed my husband your blog and he giggled at all the random things that annoy you. I think he understands that maybe just maybe he is a little annoying too.
My husband doesn’t take the extended arm photos. Instead — he insists on the Vanna White photo. That’s the one where every picture has to have someone standing in front of the site with their arms ‘presenting’ the site. He will continue to take the pictures until someone caves and ‘presents’ it — as if we are uncovering the letters on the board.
at least he takes more than one! my guys takes one bad picture then stops. when i review the photos later to create an album, they are almost all horrible! we went to the michael jackson memorial in july, but i dont have one good picture of me there :-/
If you get to go on vacations every six months, I would let him knock himself out taking pictures!
Those are great actually! My annoying hubby and i do this on every vacation, big or small and we usually travel with friends. It’s our “thing” so maybe we’re both annoying. However, it only takes one shot – i am good w/my little camera!!
Trust me…I am married 29 years…it will be annoying the day he DOESN’T want to take those cute couple pics!
Stay Cozy & Posed,
Carrie
I’m with your hubby on this one!! I’m the one that does those shots in our family!!!
Argh, I am the only one allowed to take photos now at our place, otherwise it’s:
“Ok, smile, say cheese and crackers, ha ha….hang on…move in a bit…bit more…there…no-wait…hang on…yeah… that way…. and you guys, that way…. now, just hold that….yes, got it…. oh no wait…. no….yeah …..no….. where’s the button ….ok, got it….. NO! NO! Don’t move! The thing, it didn’t do that thing, when you push the thing, and that line on the thing’s supposed to come up? Shouldn’t there be a line? That’s the old camera? Oh… OK lets start again….” Repeat, etc.
We’ve had this camera for five years, I might add.
At least your husband tries to get a photo with you.
My DH is the type that doesn’t like to ask someone else to take a picture with the two of us, and he doesn’t like to do the long arm stretch photos either.
Other than our professionally taken wedding photos, we have virtually no photos of the 2 of us together.
Our honeymoon photos look like we took separate vacations! “Here’s DH in front of a building” “Here’s me in front of a monument”
These type are all my sister and her hub even have!
Wow, your hub has long arms!
My husband and I got married at Waterford Castle in Ireland in April. Such a magical country, Ireland is. There is a store in Dublin called “Avoca.” It’s incredible! Head up to Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland if you have time.
)
Hey Tiffanie. Thought I’d mention we live in Dublin, if you want some hints, tips, etc! Hope you’re there for tomorrow’s 250th Guinness anniversary.
Loving your blog!
Get a little lightweight tripod..perfect framing every time! He’ll just have to run fast to get in frame before self timer clicks.
Random question, but where was the photo taken next to Romero Britto’s “For You” heart sculpture?
Why did you even marry this guy? You completely rip him apart on everything he does. You apparently don’t appreciate what you have. You knew all about him before you married him. Your blog is very well written, but I think you should cut this poor guy some slack.
Deanna, she loves her husband! But there are annoying or silly things about pretty much everyone. She isn’t saying that she doen’t love him, or other things about him.
I just got engaged and we had to send pictures of proof to loved ones. Here’s how we did it in one take – he stood there with the camera outstretched in his hand. By looking at the digital screen, as if I were taking the picture, I positioned his hand so that in the screen he was on one side of the frame, and I’d fit next to him. Told him to hold steady, slipped in next to him, and presto! picture perfect!
I figured out a little trick that actually helps these sort of self-photos turn out better (at least helps curb the bajillion bad shots a little). Ok, here’s what you do. Face the camera lens toward you as usual, but he puts his left hand index finger on the shutter button (lightly…not ready to take a pic yet!) and his thumb (same hand) on the bottom of the left side of the camera. You take your right hand index finger and thumb and hold the other (right) side of the camera. Hubs would be in charge of taking the actual picture (ie, pressing down on the button once you are all situated), but this really works well for me and the fiance (soon to be husband next week). We only have a 6 inch height difference, so I don’t know how this affects the short wife/tall husband combo, but hey…it’s worth a shot right?