Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1894-04-05
WoMAN'S sANcTuM.
rnoroGRArn1Na CHILDREN.

The amount of amusement enjoyed
by professional photographers while
| photographing children, has never been
chronicled. Success largely depends
upon the artist. II the little one per-
mits itself to be placed in position, and
the operator knows his business, it is
soon done, and in my experience the
first impression secured is always the
best. But the real fun begins when
the little one won't leave its mothers
arms and cries every time s.that man.
| comes near. Then we have chance
to exert our cunning and try in some
way to get the little ones attention,
in which we generally succeed. |
know operators who have no patience
and always get mad if they can't sue
coed in getting negative right away
The great secret of success in this line
of work is TO be in possession of
goodly stock of patience. But there
are many cases were ones patience is
tried to the utmost. Some people have
singular ideas about having the baby
taken too many relatives come
along to assist. Two grandmothers,
three aunts and several cousins enter
the studio, and in chorus say, do
hope we shall succeed, as it is so much
trouble for all to get together again.
One rings a bell, another claps her
hands, third shouts at the top of her
voice, and a fourth blows a tin horn
loud enough to disturb the whole town.
Now all this is intended to keep baby
still. But if the baby has any sporting
blood in him, he tries to get out of the
chair and join in the hilarity; but if the
baby be timid, you first notice culver
of the chin, then drawing-down
of the month. then a flood of tears
sufficient to float Noah's ark; that
settles it, no pictures that day.
Then there is rare fun tor the oper-
ator and good chance to show his
patience when he has three or four
children of various ages to group; by
the time he gets the third one in posi-
ton, the other three. are all over the
floor, he gets them all back in posi-
ton, then Dick wants to know if that
scratch on his forehead win show, he
you are already and watch fora chance
TO catch them, when Fred tickles Will
lie just TO see if he will be laughing
in the picture, which gives one anoth-
er chance for exercising patience. but
you feel more like shaking them. But
take it all in all, my best DAYS are
when | have a crowd OF children as
subjects. feel tired when night
comes and wish for larger subjects on
the morrow; but never mind that.
bring on the babies, the more the mer-
rier
And now few words about my
ideas Of ehildrens' pictures Most
mothers want their little ones stand
ing, hut | rather incline to sitting
position, rs you can always arrange
them and the accessories more arts
tically. vet my best rule Is to always
let them take their own course and
try 10 catch them in one Of their own
attitudes which is always more natur-
al, and more pleasing TO their parents.
There is a great deal in dressing a
child to aid in making a pretty pic
ture. know black stockings are the
fashion, but white or flesh colored are
in better taste with white dresses and
laces. | never believe in nicely dress
ed girls being made ''black legs. still
fashion must be oonformed to If the
picture is not SO pretty. When chill
dren are old enough to take pride in
the matter. il is real pleasure to wait
on Them. Where would photograph
/ have been to-day had it not had the
rising generation to portray.
c. W LoNGDoN. Artist.
Lancaster, Wis.