I'll give her a break with that one. NO one loves or dotes on their children more than my wife and me, but we don't get portrait every six months like some families. I take plenty of pictures with my digital camera, but I don't respond well to hard sells - and if you go to a portrait place, they'll give you a hard sell to get the most expensive package.
I have drawerfulls of unused pictures that came as part of a huge package.
Pity you don't live in Arizona. I know an excellent photographer. Then again, our last family portrait was almost two years ago.
She wouldn't have to get a "portrait" done for the paper; you'd think they'd take a picture to go with her article. That said, I thought the kids looked small for 10 and 12, but was not absolutely sure. That's part of being a non-parent; all kids basically look alike. I see the flyers and the milk cartons showing kids with the caption "Have you seen me?" and I think, "How on earth would I know?"
Six months with out pictures is one thing, but if those kids are any where near 10 and 12, I'd be very surprised!
What a sad article.
Sometimes I think I should skip things like this.
I haven't the heart for it.