I would take as many as you like. Its just a fact of life that this child will not be around for every trip, photo op, or holiday, and you and your family should not have to put your lives on hold because that child is living their lives w/their other family. I can guarantee you they are not putting their lives on hold for you guys.

then get some new pics next time hes there

other than that, thats really all u can do...ur kids shouldnt have to suffer and not have family pics just bc SS cant be around, either.

"Given the right reasons and the right two people, marriage is a wonderful way of experiencing your life."
~the late great George Carlin

This is HUGE area of disagreement in our house. My DH wants everything to be fair and the same, but it can never be. My girls are with us all the time and me/my family take tons of photos. He feels slighted becuase we don't have as many of his daughters who are only with us 1/2 time. However, its not fair for me to NOT take photos because they aren't all there. I'm sure there are plenty of photos at BM's house- they exist even though we don't have access to them. Life goes on when everyone is not around and photos shouldn't try and hide that. Document the fun stuff with photos, whether everyone is there or not.

I think its ok to do family portraits w/o him. He is only with you guys for a specific season of the year. Its not intentional. If he lived in the next town over, or the next state over, I am sure you would include him. But he doesnt. I am sure that he is in family photos w/his primary family. Why should you guys not be allowed to do your family portraits? Its not like he stays out of family portraits when they are taken where he lives w/the BM.

If anyone should say something to you, ask them WHEN they would like you to get SS into the picture? Ask if he should be photoshopped in. Also, its not like YOU are sending this picture to him to remind him that he is not there w/your family.

Sorry, but I do not see how you can deny yourself this when the circumstances are out of your control.

I say, get the pictures taken and enjoy!

and take pictures! I'm not a picture person (hate how I look) but DH insists on taking pictures all the time. We have taken pictures just of us, and with SD. We usually get a pose or two just of each of us, or just DH and SD, so SD can have pics of her dad and BM doesn't get all wiggy at my picture being in her house.

It's not like you're not taking/displaying ANY pictures of your skids. I don't see a darn thing wrong with getting family pictures taken, at any time.

Take all you want. We are expecting our first child next week and I promise there are going to be tons of pics of just the baby, DH and I. He lives here in our home full time. When the skids are here they are holed up in there rooms for the brief time they are here anyway. At Christmas we are having some family pics taken and I am going to make sure we have some of just DH, myself and baby. We will have some with skids too. I know they are part of the family too but I promise that BM, her DH and skids would not ask to have the baby in their family pics so what is the difference in skids not always being in ours. The opportunity for pics presents itself at many times and most of those times the skids are not here. I will certainly not put my pic taking on hold for them. SO, what's the big deal...