As I mentioned before, I have pieces of work that simply sit on a shelf waiting to be photographed. Because if there are no pictures there is no work to sell.
Until recently I was trying to work miracles with my little box camera. Now there is a new, proper camera and my daughter in law and I are attending a photography course together. The course is exciting and genuinely good. The first topics were technical, and miracle of miracles, I understood all of it very well. All those apertures and exposures and ISOs, which until now seemed like true rocket science, suddenly landed with a click. Just like that, and I understood...
The topics are very good and the tutors better still, and famous names in the photography world besides.
Now my daughter in law and I go out into nature with the children to train our hands and eyes. Great fun.
Since in the studio photography lesson we got good tips on arranging light and our first experience of working with people, we decided to do a joint photo session with the children.
From the tutor's talk I remembered that when working with children it is most sensible to give them some props and let them get on with it themselves.
Annika invited her friends over with their children, moved pots, pans and a table into her freshly painted living room, I brought aprons in three sizes, and off we went.
The first burst of energy went on simply chasing each other 🙂 A new paint roller was more exciting than pots and pans.
Emili, the oldest, was 6. Such a fine, businesslike model that you would have to go a long way to find another. Once we had explained in a couple of words why we wanted to take pictures in an empty room with empty pots and a new apron, she had it all worked out. The game instantly had substance and action: soup was cooked, dough was pounded and gingerbread baked. Mathias (3) at first only watched and marvelled and wondered whether he really wanted to take part in this strange business. 🙂
He did not want to give up the paint roller either 🙂
And the rolling pin first had to be examined to see how it was made. 🙂
Here are some of the more splendid pictures of the children at work. So capable and so lovely.
The aprons are all size no. 2 (ages 4 to 6). For Emili (6) size 3 would have suited better, but she liked exactly the one in the picture.
Natali (5) came a little later. The others were already laying gingerbread onto the tray and, soon enough, into their mouths 🙂
It was a very lovely event. We ended it with home baked biscuits and the children could play and romp about without oppressive camera lenses. Everyone got an apron to take home as a present.
PS. If you would like to buy aprons, let me know. The gingerbread season is nearly here.
Information on buying aprons is up on the web shop page; I will add pictures of the different colours there as well. The girls' aprons come with both a white and a yellow flap. The boys' aprons with a white and a dark blue flap.
Aprons are available in three sizes:
1) for ages 2 to 4. Apron length 40 cm.
2) for ages 4 to 6. Apron length 50 cm.
3) for ages 6 to 8. Apron length 60 cm.
In November I plan to sew Christmas aprons for grown ups as well.
