The two shoots could not have been more different. The first one was a breeze in comparison. The Art Director arrived, took his time, shot the room and got just the right photograph! He even took the time to teach me a few tricks so we can do a better job of shooting our future rooms.
The second shoot was another story entirely. I have a new appreciation for all the Pottery Barn Kids catalogs and Parenting covers where the child gazes into the Mom's eyes or arms as if they were floating on a cloud. Our experience was a little different. Ok - a lot different! Cecily, like her Mommy, is not a fan of lights, camera and people staring at her! I had to smile when she refused to smile after hundreds of photos were snapped. (Thank goodness for digital!) She is one stubborn cookie. She worked the shoot - or should I say she worked all of us - me, the camera, the Art Director, the Marketing Editor, the very patient photographer and her adoring, Daddy. We were so amazed at how patient everyone was. I think when your child is crying you feel like you have somehow failed and that you should be able to cajole her quickly and make her smile with just a magic flash of the hand. (This is not how our little Cecily works!)
It took us more than one year to earn a smile from Cecily and so she does not just hand them out to anyone that passes by. No. A smile from Cecily is hard-fought and well earned. A smile from Cecily expresses every little joy in her body from her nose to her toes. She has the goofiest little grin and when I see it the worst day can turn into the best moment ever. She smiles with everything she has inside of her and she wriggles, shakes and implores you to smile back, bigger, brighter and bolder. Cecily gave us one (yes one) smile during the entire 90 minute shoot. The amazing thing is the photographer was so skilled she captured the moment! That said, this was a very magical experience for me, Daddy and Cecily. It was a day that we will forever remember. She may not have been having the best time of her life - but seeing her Daddy dote, dance, wiggle, play with dolly and my little pony, scream, cry, bark like a dog, and a host of other antics that would make for a wonderful YouTube video... was priceless. If the folks from the magazine took away one thing from this afternoon - it is that Cecily is well loved!
We are so grateful for these amazing opportunities. We hope that it helps us spread the word, raise more money, and grow our charity so we can help even more families this year. Onwards and upwards!