the joy of organization

There are people who organize linearly. Everything in a row, filed away off the desk, alphabetized and outlined using roman numerals and letters. Then there are those  who need some randomness to function. Maybe they just don't like to follow rules?

sept 99 1st day of kindergarten........last day of high school 2012

I might be one of those people. But yesterday, having a system made my day.

The concept: It was my younger son's last day of high school. On his way out, I insisted he stop to pose on the front step, just like he did starting kindergarten. Maybe, um,  a little less eagerly.

Next idea: I'd pair the photos. The kindergarten shot was 1999, pre-digital. I had to really think hard to recall what my filing system was for color negs then- and there they were, in the 8/99 box

Mission accomplished. 

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see more family life moments sprinkled in my portfolio at www.gzucker.com

the view from the other end

When Real Simple said they were sending a photographer to shoot me with my family, at home, I felt like I was falling down the rabbit hole. It's just the kind of magazine assignment or commercial shoot I usually get. I've been her a zillion times. But I've never been them.

So, yeah, every cliche response I've heard  from subjects flew out of my mouth:

"Oh! Our house isn't , um, magazine worthy."

"Do I have time to lose 10 pounds?"

"I'm having, like, a bad hair week"

At least I didn't go for  "heh,heh,  I might break your camera". 

The photographer, Sam Contis, was sweet, and arrived right on time, shooting 4x5 film, available light. Cool. She did the scouting walk-through, you know, when you seem to be making small talk with the subjects but you're actually sizing up their space while also trying to gauge their personality and style, and any physical issues to work around.  I could hear what was running through her brain, I swear it.

She posed us in a spot we don't usually gather, I know I do that to people all the time.  Only this time I felt the weirdness. Truly, it's odd, you're in your own space, but in a new way.

Love the image. It looks just like us. And, I learned a lot from the experience. I'm taking it along now everywhere I go.