Somewhere along the line it became apparent as quick as the flash on my little IPhone camera.. the kids were getting camera shy. It’s my own fault. I’ll take the blame. The girls know I post photos online to share with people. So now they make funny faces and avoid the camera. They’re being kids- what can I do. It makes me so sad. It makes me so frustrated. It makes me a dad on a mission. So I’ve pretty much given up posting photos of their faces and I’ve had to resort to a sort-of covert daddarazzi.. new word there.. who snaps pictures of the kids when they’re not looking, when they’re just being kids. I like to think I’ve become very creative at catching those candid moments on camera.
The result is a series of photos called: The Backs Of My Kids’ Heads. pictures started as simple snap shots:
headed to school in princess hat
looking like a ballerina
waiting with backpacks
picking flowers
playing the original Atari
watching animals at the zoo
staring into the Zoltar machine from “Big”
looking like a fashionista
walking the dog
walking around in pajamas
and more pajamas
Mostly though, I started capturing photos of the girls together, being sisters, not knowing the camera was catching little images of their childhood… catching a real love that you could see without anyone posing for the camera or saying “cheese”
walking in the rain
hugging when one was sick
picking food at the store
waiting for build-a-bear to open
just holding hands
and holding more hands
and holding mom and dad’s hand
I started learning that I could still get the smallest peek into their world, just keeping an eye on the backs of their heads. Once in a while, even a photo of the backs of their heads can reveal a mirror image worth a thousand words.
doing a twirl
getting a good look
falling asleep during a haircut
I’ll take the small glimpses while I can get them… I know one day the photos will be my own look back… even if it was all about them looking forward…
find me on Facebook at dadmissions the book
Pete Wilgoren 
Good stuff, I also struggle getting decent pictures of my twins and I think mine are younger than yours. It’s getting to the point where I’m thinking of just staging their toys in some epic battle and using that for a while. Kids are always good for not following directions, enjoyed your post.
thank you mike :). Posted a new batch on the blog as well
It’s not just you, I remember hiding from the camera as a kid too and we still took the kind of pictures you had to shake and wait 10 minutes to see back then. š
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I love this idea! I have a million blurry photos of my kids running away from my camera and am always so sad to miss the moments. What a great way to capture the moments!
Thank you š