Flashback Friday -- Ethan Through the Years

For tonight's flashback, I couldn't help but post a processional of all of Ethan's "birthday" pictures from over the years.  Starting with this firstborn, I've tried to get a portrait taken for each child at every age.  Sometimes I've been successful in taking the picture REALLY close to their birthday, and sometimes it's been many, many months after the fact.  Hahaha.  Nevertheless -- I have a picture to document every age of their lives and I love it.  Here is Ethan's record -- he really is such a handsome boy.  :)  {A few of these are cell phone pictures of photographs -- so obviously the quality is not awesome on all of them.}

Newborn Babe

{Hospital pic.}

One

 {Kiddie Kandid shot}

Two

{Another Kiddie Kandid.  This is one I remember being late.  I did his at the same time I did Grace's one year pic -- in November of that year.}

Three

 {Kiddie Kandid.}

Four

 {And now we make a switch to The Picture People.  :)  And the only picture where I see a resemblance to Alex.  Perhaps it's because Alex is almost the same age as Ethan is here.}

Five

 {The Picture People.}

Six

 

 {Last "professional" shot.  The Picture People.}

Seven

{It was at this point in time that I decided to start taking their pictures myself to save some money.  :)  This was taken with my old point and shoot.}

Eight

{This is one of my very favorite pictures of Ethan.  He looks so genuinely happy -- which is hard to capture on film.  :)  We snapped this RIGHT before driving over to the church for his baptism.  I had my Canon Rebel then, but just the kit lens.  I've never been super happy with the white balance in this picture.  (Although to be clear, I feel like the white balance is the biggest thing I've struggled to get right while using the Rebel.  I don't know if I'm just really bad at it, or if my camera just photographs warmer than I'd like.)}

Nine

{Another late portrait -- probably in the fall at some point.  I think this is the only enjoyable photo shoot of his life in his mind.  I tried some new "photographer" tricks I had researched to make photographing kids easier, and it worked!  At least this once.  Hahaha.  By this point, I had also upgraded to my 50 mm fixed lens, and I think you can really see the difference.  Also, you can really see his dreamboat eyes here. ;) }

Ten

{This picture was snapped on his birthday the day before we moved from St. Louis.  It was a rushed and torturous shoot, and once again, I don't know what's up with the white balance.}

Eleven

{Another late pic.  I had rented a 35 mm fixed lens to try out for this photo shoot, but ultimately decided my 50 mm did the same basic job, and figured it wasn't necessary to buy the 35 mm lens.  I'm not sure how I tricked him into taking pictures for me this time, but he obliged me with a few shots before calling quits.  :) }

Not Quite Twelve

{This doesn't count as his birthday picture, but I needed a recent shot of him to create a farewell gift to present to him last Sunday on his last day of Primary.  The only reason he agreed to pose was because I told him he didn't have to change into his church clothes -- he could just button his shirt OVER his regular clothes and put on the tie.  Hahaha.  :)  He lasted for only a few pictures before declaring he was done.  Stay tuned though, because I plan on forcing him to do his birthday photo shoot this year in the brand new suit and tie we got him for turning 12.  :)  }