on tuesday we went to the mall.
narrowly avoided the “germ pit”. (sorry but i just can NOT chance that play area after the winter sicknesses we’ve had.)
successfully bought h a new pair of summer easy running and playing kicks
and was almost at panera bread for a quick lunch when i got suckered into a free photo from a new photo store. it was only 11:20 and really, we had a minute or fifteen to spare…so what the hell.
i’ve been to one of these photo places before; when i was pregnant with j. and truth be told, the photos didn’t come out all too badly. in a totally staged, white background, non-organic and entirely uncomfortable kind of a way. i recall that i mostly looked down or up or in any direction other than that of the 14 year old girl shooting.
moving along back to initial tangent…
the ladies standing outside the store front ooggle and google over the kids and offer up their new-to-the-mall promotion of a free 8×10.
and somehow out of my mouth i hear the word “sure” roll out while my feet move myself and our double wide through the doors. glow in the dark shark t-shirt, silver dollar size black and blue on h’s cheek, crazy bed head and crusty noses.
yep, perfect photography conditions.
within seconds out came the fake bouquets and princess crown. immediately i regretted my decision.
i vetoed the props and countered with, “let’s take off their shoes and socks”. seriously all set with lime green crocs or princess anything making an appearance. for good measure i turned the glow in the dark shark shirt around so the plain back side was in the front – to which j tugged and pulled on the “itchy tag bothering his throat” until there were red blotchy streaks everywhere. which, actually, paired nicely with the huge black and blue on h’s cheek. which, dontcha worry, they made all weirdly yellow touched up free of charge.
after taking five minutes to position kids just perfectly – harper on a chair and jackson leaning in behind her with his cheek on hers (um, they are almost three and 19 months…are you serious?!) i gave up trying to help and let the girls (i say girls because they truly were) running the place work their “magic”. aka, how much can they squirm and be totally clueless about how to make toddlers feel at ease…
at the ten minute mark we had zero decent shots – of course – and ten minutes of our lives gone forever.
all six (yes, six) of the final shots were terrible. i asked the girl who was helping (and had aided in photography) which she liked best. because seriously, i couldn’t even decide on one worthy of a free print and wondered if she, too, would admit how awful they were.
she thought all were “really great”, of course, but ultimately pointed to one.
sold. for free.
(i could no longer stomach it on the fridge, so new home = office bulletin board)
not to say that all of these chain photo shops are crap. but they’re crazy expensive and, from my experience, leave much to be desired.
my message today is in support of local, non-commercial talent. go find the talented, passionate photographers in your area that get it. you’ll be stoked you did.
and, of course, i have to give props to the two amazingly talented photographers i know…
if you’re in the southern new hampshire area, find kate.
if you’re in the denver, co area, find mary.
(ok, i get there’s a big gap between colorado and new hampshire – but ask around, you’ll find someone great, guaranteed.)
quote of the day:
(i overheard boys talking in the living room this morning)
“well, we need to wear pants because it’s just not socially acceptable to walk around in our undies” – J to j
photo of the day:
(note: this is the same day as mall shoot from hell – and although i am no photographer i’d take this one any day!)
cheers!
H
