Marlie

I have started this post so many times that I've lost count.  It's hard for me to find the words I want to say, so this may end up being all over the place.  It was almost titled "Rant" because that is what I want to do.  I want to yell, scream, and cry (two of which I have done).

First, and most importantly, I want you to meet Marlie.  Marlie is blue eyed, 7 years old, huge fan of the Jonas Brothers, and has a smile that will light up the room.  She is surrounded by friends and family who love her to the moon and back.

Marlie is a child with Special Needs.  I do not know her diagnosis, nor do I need to know.  What I do know is how she quickly stole my heart in a very short amount of time.....how much her family loves her....when she smiles everyone around her smiles too.  I'd willingly stand with them and slay dragons for her.

Our session went very well. Since I am an on location photographer it helped the family a lot.  Marlie and her brother and sister were in their own environment, we were able to take our time and it wasn't too overstimulating for the kids.  It's a given that my priority is to get great photos of my clients, but it was extremely important in this case since Marlie's last photo shoot with another photographer didn't go so well.
 Let me take that back - the session went well, but the post-processing did not.  Her family won a free session with a photographer and they couldn't have been more excited.  They did the shoot, were able to view some of the photos and were happy.  When it was time to view their proofs and purchase prints they were shocked.  It is natural for Marlie's eyes to be partially closed, but for some reason or another this photographer thought he should change that.  He photoshopped new eyes on Marlie.  Wide open, mascara wearing eyes.  When asked to fix it he declined - said he couldn't.  How dare he.  How dare this man think he had the right to change the appearance of a beautiful child.  How dare he not ASK before making such a drastic change.  Then to say he couldn't fix it?!  When Marlie's mother told me about it I was speechless.  Every time I think about those photos I see red.  I am all about doing a little skin smoothing, and reducing the redness of a newborns skin, but replacing someone's eyes?????  Never.  It's difficult for me to even comprehend why he did it.  Why would he want to alter her appearance?  Why make her look like someone else? Why would he think her family could be happy with those photos? What the hell was he thinking? Obviously he wasn't.  How dare he call him self a photographer. 

I love kids.  I love their innocence, their goofiness, their honesty.....I love the way a newborn sounds when he cries....I love the squishy rolls of babies....I love the waddle walk of toddlers...I love the crazy questions they ask....I love watching my 7 year old dance her heart out...I love watching them learn...I love tagging along on their adventure of discovering the world.  I love documenting these things with my camera.  The person who did Marlie's photos does not see these things.  That is very unfortunate for him and anyone else who has photos done through him.

I am proud to say I captured Marlie beautifully and naturally.  Her family now has photos of HER.  I will be forever grateful that this path led me to them.  Marlie has inspired me beyond words.