The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1884-10-03
Flattered by the Camera.

taking photographs" said O pho
t0grapher to st. Louis Call represen-
tative, sis a curious experience, and
requires a diplomacy and delicacy in
handling the subject which debar the
blunt and unpublished man from sue
ceeding to any great degree. Getting
q subject ready and then pleasing after
ward is nearly akin to the art of
legerdemain."
'How is thatp Tell all about tho
way you make a success of your artP"
asked reporter.
''Well, You see, all persons that
come to have their pictures taken have
formed precOnceived ideas of how they
intend to pose and how they want to
look when transferred TO paper. Per-
haps the first attitude they strike will
in nine cases out of ten be impossible
to do them justice, simply because
they can't sec themselves, and either
have their chin too high or too low.
You then put the rest against their
heads. ask them to raise their chin and
look certain way. This has a won-
s'--;.'' had effect, IL tcars them all to
pieces. And now comes in the soft,
pleasing palaver that must restore the
subjects and make them regain their
everyday action. and naturalness. The
great idea is to make them forget that
the cherished attitude and Ajax-defy-
ing-lightning look which they had been
practicing on for weeks had been de-
stroyed, and modern, everyday style
substituted. To do this requires talk.
The slight-of-hand man talks all the
time to distract attentions; the artist
must talk to attract the mind so as to
forget the ideal picture.
''In some cases. though. of course, I
have little trouble. Fastidious young
men and gay, dashing bellies are very
hard to please, and will make you take
their pictures over a dozen times if you
happen to bring in clear outline some
peculiar rufiie or article of jewelry
attached to their person. Why, once I
took a young lady's picture over fif-
teen times, and then it did not please.
began to despair. But I knew some
thing was the matter; SO !, racked my
brain to discover the reason. 1t was q
pet little frontal curl that, when she
would leave the glass, would move
from the original spot where she had
carefully placed it."
"How did you remedy mattersP"
''Why, when she sat down pretend
ed was placing her head better for the
rest, and so guided the recalcitrant
curl to the position her fancy desired.
DudesP Well, most. of them are sus-
ceptible Of tlattery and want picture
to have a certain esthetical look,
whether it is a. true likeness or not
They strive for languid position, and
generally manage to get 1t, for they
have practiced so long by habit.
Ladies, as general thing, are harder
to please than men, of course, but you
must study them, know what to say
when you show proof, and never
lack for word. You must not give
one time to argue to you that her eyes
do not appear well taken, or that her
nose is too retrousse, but see that de-
feet Immediately yourself and suggest
another sitting. This makes reputa-
ton. you know, and a well-established
reputation is the result of experience
and good common sense. ...
'Oh, yes, l could tell you of the
vanity of prominent ladies and gentle
men. but those. are professional secrets
and will not disclose them"