Not my best day...

This little story has two morals, if you're interested:

Yesterday and today I had the opportunity to do school photos for a preschool.  Of course I was excited as children's photography is what I specialize in and this could generate some good prospects for my business.

I don't know how many of you realize this, but I consider myself quite capable for this specialty because I have alway been able to get along with even the worst of kids.  I get on the floor and play, I act like a kid myself (on a regular basis), and I truly have a love for children.  I also consider myself more patient with kids than most.

I also consider myself a fairly professional person and like to think I do a pretty good job at making sure I can fulfill any job I take.  I honestly do turn down and refer jobs that I don't feel prepared or capable of doing.

So, I accept this job to photograph three separate classes at a single preschool.  There is one class of 3-4 year olds and two classes of 4-5 year olds.

Murphy was waiting just around the corner, however.  When I was setting up my lights and camera yesterday morning; my shutter wouldn't trip on my Nikon D80.  I looked at the monitor on top and the aperture value was flashing "F--".  As many of you know, this is typically because either the lens isn't attached, or the lens's aperture ring is not in the proper setting.  Well, I obviously had the lens attached, and the aperture ring was OK.  So I decided the contacts must have an issue and I took off the lens.  When I turned over the camera to inspect the contacts, I heard a little 'something' rattling around inside the camera body.  OH $&!# I thought!  I turned the camera back over and shook out a spring that holds the lens to the mount.  Thinking the lens could still make contact even without the spring, I tried reattaching it, but to no avail.  The lens wouldn't even turn all the way back onto the mount!

Then, when I'm about done with the first class (the 3 year olds); I meet my match.  She is one of the most adorable little blonde girls I have ever seen.  Curls, pink hair piece, blue eyes, seemingly sweet and innocent; until she realized I intended to take her photo.  Once the gig was up, she proceeded to scream and yell for a few minutes as Mom tried to calm her down until, eventually, she began to inhale so deeply I honestly thought she had gone into some sort of shock and was going to need medical help to get her breathing again.  Mom immediately yells out, "Someone grab me some tissue!"  She was too late however, this little angel began to spit and slobber all over everything with the most impressive "ththpppp" I have ever witnessed.

Needless to say, I figured I would try again after I photographed a few other, less challenging children while her mother tried to calm her down.  Eventually, however, it was her turn.  I walked over, knelt down, and tried to introduce myself.  She stepped from around Mom's legs and yelled at me, with the most precise 3 year old vocabulary ever heard, "I DON'T LIKE YOU, I HATE YOU!!"

Suffice it to say, I left the room and let the teacher, her mother, and my wife take her photos.

The morals?

1.  Always have backup equipment!
2.  No matter how good you may think you are at any given skill, there is a child that can and will prove you wrong!

Hope you enjoyed this, I know I did!

Travis