OK. So this week, I went in to see the pictures taken professionally at J&J of Zi and Zem. Now, the only reason I complied was because they gave out a free 8×10 portrait with my purchase. Normally, I don’t believe in paying for professional photos done in a store. I would GLADLY have one of my awesomely talented family members or friends take their pictures, or have myself do it and retouch it myself.
The reason why I am usually against these store photos is because it’s cliche; the poses, the overrated contrived shapes, props, background, lighting, etc. I’m not saying that these professional stores can’t guarantee a nice shot, but I don’t want to pay a kidney for something that can be duplicated with my own makeshift white background and camera, and have them explain to me the wonders of their touch-up skills, as if it were magic. I just didn’t want to tell them that I can make someone have 13 fingers in photoshop.
I’m more amazed with a select few of my family & friends who have, not just a talent for the camera, but an eye for the beautifully obscure, and creativity to create a unique tone using photoshop. I’m also one for creating different shapes in the poses, without it looking too contrived and cheesy, but natural and quiet, not forced. I also appreciate the quirky.
Anyway, a couple of days ago, I went in for my choosing the free photo, ready to say no to all the other offers, when I sat down to favorite my top photo, out of around 100 shots. I was beside myself, going through columns of smiles of my two beloved girls. So this is how they get you.
I just could not make my heart choose which smile I loved more.
How do you dare ask any mother that? Evil, evil schemers. Bravo! *sigh* So, channeling some indifference, I chose my top six. And out of six, I almost heartbrokenly chose four. I fought myself to choose THE ONE, and I couldn’t. I couldn’t let the other choices be mercilessly deleted from this indifferent photographer’s Mac. So, I folded and called Perze, who melts when it comes to his daughters. It was definitely a Waterloo moment. I tried to bluff with my cards, but eventually folded and lost more chips than I had intended.
Darn you Free 8×10!! Darn you to heck.
But this is definitely the last time. Next time, I’ll do it myself.
(PS. I’ll post the pictures when I get them.)
This is Emma, right after the photo session:
- Tags: photos
