Say Cheese Dammit

Toss leaves joyfully in the air while maniacally screaming, “Leaves! Pretty leaves! Look at the pretty leaves!”

Shrilly repeat your child’s name in a high-pitched voice that scares every dog within a five-mile radius, while wildly waving your hands above your head and hopping up and down.

When all else fails, just plead “Say Cheese” while flashing the biggest, goofiest grin you can muster. And again, the wild waving of hands is recommended. And if “cheese” elicits a really goofy grin, you can try something original like, “show me the money! or “we love PopTarts!”

When the whole exhausting photo shoot is over, you’ll look at your watch and swear that at least twelve hours of your life have ticked away, not just one. Reward yourself with plenty of chocolate and perhaps a margarita or three. The satisfaction will come later when you see the end result—a beautiful photo. No one has to know the hell you went through to get there.