Shutter Sisters

Siblings

By

Three years ago on my imaginary Christmas list, I only had one wish; that my two sons would be nicer to each other.

Back then everyday was a struggle, constant fighting and very little goodness between my two and five year old. I just wished for a bit more tenderness, companionship and fun between the boys, to make the bickering bearable.

Since then, I’ve observed and photographed sibling relationships among adults and children; friends and family, a fascinating collection of positives and negatives all with a unique bond. So I now realize, I already had my wish; they may not show their love for each other all the time but it is there. I get real comfort and joy when I see such wonderful images of siblings, a precious connection shining through in a photo.

This Christmas I’ll watch my boy’s fuss, fight, and make each other laugh, like only they know how.

Please share with us how you photograph your own sibling relationships or those of your children?

Image and words courtesy of Honorary Sister / Guest Blogger / Flickr star Xanthe Berkeley.

Comments

  3. My sister and I are like only children. The same parents but with a 7 year age gap we are each in a different phase of life and serious attention hogs from our parents. However as my sister blossoms into an adult our similarities are uncanny and hard now to deny. As my sister graduates from college this May and embarks on her adult journey I was honored to be asked by my parents to document her senior photos and capture who she is. Happy, humorous, focused, laid-back. I love this girl. And I am proud to call her my sister.

    http://bellarose-photography.com/?p=329

  7. Thanks for picking one of my photos!
    I love this post because I feel like I’m always trying to capture these moments. We just got to the "Play-Together" stage, "The I-Really-Love-My-Brother" stage & "I-Think-My-Brother-is-Hilarious" stage.

    I also feel like I’m sneaking around with my camera to avoid being caught. Here’s a few of those moments.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/22634402@N02/4011470327/

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/22634402@N02/4190451510/

  9. I saw the picture for today and knew it was your boys before I even read it, Xanthe! Congrats on the guest post!!!! And thank you so very much for including two sweet moments of my kiddos. I, too, struggle with those moments when they fight!! Here’s a couple more shots of my kids being cutesy with each other. I’m thankful for the photographs to remind me of these times when things are not so happy!
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3450365424/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/papillonsky/3741980169/

  12. Your boys definitely love each other very much: they wouldn’t fight so much if they didn’t care so much. Isn’t male bonding a funny thing? 🙂

    So glad you made this post! I just captured my favorite shot of my brother a few days ago 🙂

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4179897142/

    Growing up, we fought and bickered constantly… but as soon as we got a bit older it all seemed to fade and now I can’t even remember the last time we had choice words between the two of us.

  13. Your boys definitely love each other very much: they wouldn’t fight so much if they didn’t care so much. Isn’t male bonding a funny thing? 🙂

    So glad you made this post! I just captured my favorite shot of my brother a few days ago 🙂

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jmsheldon/4179897142/

    Growing up, we fought and bickered constantly… but as soon as we got a bit older it all seemed to fade and now I can’t even remember the last time we had choice words between the two of us.

  14. what a beautiful post, xanthe!! i always love seeing your photos of your two boys – you capture their connection SO very well. alas, i have an only child at the moment, so i don’t really have a photo to share, but i just wanted to stop by and say congrats on a beautifully well-written post! 🙂

  16. Xanthe this is such a beautiful post. I am an only child so i dont always understand the sibling rivalry business. But what I do know from watching my friends and my husband with his sisters is that they can make each other laugh in a way that no one else can for the stranges and most obscure reasons. I love when I am there to witness that.

  17. wonderful post! i too waited 2 long years for my 2 to connect. now they are inseparable and i am so very very glad. i always admit they fight as passionately as they love. and i think that is all good.
    i love catching the real moments between them, like a touch..
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2937322793/
    and sharing
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3650806186/
    spontaneous hugs
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/2815095148/

    thanks for this post x it is good to go back and see the shots i have of their connection. XO

  20. Love this post!! I’m in my early thirties now and still have close bonds with my older brother and younger sister. It wasn’t always that way, mind you. We had tensions and disputes and rivalry growing up (what, with me being the proverbial middle child and all).

    My sister and I now are closer than ever. When the three of us (including my brother) are together, people will often remark how close we are and ask my parents how they did it. The answer typically includes something about patience, prayer, and nurturing each of us individually. It all worked out, as you can see;

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/kirstenmichelle/4147373144/

    Great post today!! Thanks for these thoughts.

  23. Beautiful image, Xanthe! Fighting goes with the territory, which makes moments like this all the more sweeter. Thanks for linking to the image of my girls!
    xo Kate

  26. My sibling and I are five years and worlds apart. I envy the relationships my girlfriends have with their sisters, the bond of like minds and mutual adoration that comes with adulthood. Despite our genetic link, my sister and I don’t share much else. Bust still it was important that I try to give my children the opportunity to have that ideal sibling relationship in their lives, because I see how powerful and fulfilling it is for so many others. I had my boys close together so their chances at having that might be better. And although they fight constantly, they need each other and search one another out just as much. I already see how strong their bond is. Even though I can’t experience it myself, I thoroughly enjoy marveling at theirs.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/45294365@N08/4191364510/