Kids Just Want to Have Fun… It’s the adults we should be worried about

Recently I was hanging out with a group of my relations who happened to be children. I have a tendency to break away from adult conversations and hang out with the kids (they are usually far more interesting). Three of the four were playing in the sand, burying one another, making sand creations, and digging for treasures. The 9-year-old boy stood off to the side watching…

Upon declining the invitation to play, he was asked by the 6-year-old boy, “Why do you always say no? Don’t you know kids are supposed to play? It’s the adults who don’t play.”

As an adult who loves to play, I corrected him (although I was standing and watching). Of course, you can imagine what happened next. Yes, I, too, was covered in sand. It was fun, and I started wondering why I don’t do it more often. Photography is play to me, so I guess I do play almost every day. However, I bet your average child would argue with my favorite form of fun. I also don’t play within my profession as much as I should.

I am making the commitment now to go back to one of my earliest business practices and that is shooting 90% for my client and 10% for me. Even for the traditional banker needing a headshot, there is an opportunity to get creative. By getting to know people before ever taking their professional portrait, whether it be for a signature line or updating their LinkedIn profile, I get a feel for their personality and the creative freedom I would be granted. My favorite story is when I asked a client what type of music he enjoyed (I like turning on Pandora music in case there is any awkward silence). His response, “Classical or hard rock.” Wait… what? First of all, he was in a three-piece suit. Secondly, those are two very extreme forms of music. 

Fast forward…. We got the needed professional images, but then we broke out a guitar. He faux jammed with his tongue out in pure joy, and, although you won’t find those photographs on LinkedIn, they made for some great behind-the-scenes social media posts. Rock on, David, rock on.

Photography is not the only space where you’ll see me playing. You might see me skipping in the Perot Museum (remind me sometime to tell you that story), blowing bubbles in Downtown Dallas or grabbing my husband’s behind in the middle of Kroger. Where might I find you enjoying life like a child? Schedule a professional photography session, and I might not have to look far.

Thank you, Kaymen, for reminding me to get a little dirty and have fun!