Efficiency Gains

I'm always hearing that with your 2nd child the amount of pictures you take comes down a bit when compared to the 1st.  Sure some of the smaller milestones aren't as exciting (which may not require a series of photos) -- but I contend that I've been unbiased with the camera since Dylan's arrival.  Let's see if I can walk the talk - here's the picture output for our household before and after Dylan was born:

• Just Maddie:  4,115 total pics (~152 pics per month)
• Maddie and Dylan:  2904 total pics (~264 pics per month)

Best case scenario is that we would be at 304 (152*2)  pics per month with both kids -- 100% increase.  But I justify the smaller monthly output with our increased experience in using the camera... experience that can only be gained over the course of 1-2 years with a firstborn.  Everyone knows that you need to take multiple shots of any picture opportunity, knowing full well that only 10% will be usable to the general viewing audience -- the rest fall into the black hole of disc space on your pc to pretty much never be viewed again.

As I stated before, best case would be a 100% increase in photo output.  But let's dissect these numbers a bit.  264 pics/month is an increase in picture output of 74%.  One may be quick to say that this represents a 26% reduction in attention paid to child number 2.  I can prove with additional statistical evidence that this is NOT the case.  The 26% differential is, in fact, an efficiency improvement in the amount of usable pictures available after a photo session.  Said another way, I have reduced the total number of pictures taken while increasing the amount of usable ones.  So why I am leaning towards efficiency-gains versus non-equitable picture taking for both children?  Let's take a look at blog output.

Surely you know that posting a blog takes much more effort than just snapping a series of pics with your camera.  It couldn't be possible, with a 2nd child, that I would have more free time to post about my kids and other family members?  Could it?  Well, let's see:

• Just Maddie ~3.6 posts per month
• Maddie and Dylan ~9 posts per month

There you have it, an over twofold increase.  You read it here first, statistics show that having two children will lead to:  1)  using your time more effectively, and 2) having more to talk about!