RENAISSANCE PORTRAIT

Several months ago we were at a fundraising auction for Sailor's preschool. One of the items up for auction was a $1000 portrait from Bradford Portrait Studios. Vanz bid several hundred dollars on it and won. I was offended on many levels. First of all, what is a Renaissance Portrait you wonder? Take a look.


Clearly this is a very high end studio. All I could think about when I went to the website was "The Royal Tennenbaums." I just imagined Sailor taking a picture with her pet hawk named Mordeci (to clear up any confusion...she doesn't have a pet hawk..just a reference to the movie). 

The second level of my irritation was that I really love to take photos. It is one of my favorite hobbies. I never take Sailor to get her picture taken. I prefer to take them myself. I enjoy it in fact. I walk by the photo studios in the mall and cringe. I can't stand the props they use, people walking through the mall looking at you getting your photo taken and the ugly backgrounds.  Maybe it is just because as a child we had to have all of our pictures taken at Olan Mills and I am still harboring bad memories of the library backdrop.  

So, to say that  I was mortally offended by the idea of the portrait is an understatement. I thought maybe it was Vanz's way of hinting that he doesn't like my pictures.  In reality, he bought it thinking that I would appreciate the artistry of the portrait.  Or at least, that is the story he is sticking with.  

I caved and booked our sitting.  They reiterated that they do "renaissance" style portraits.  Sailor was to dress formal with no pattern on her clothing if possible.  They obviously didn't know who they were dealing with because Sailor's closet is filled with fancy.  

I booked a hair appointment for a trim and style for her the same day.  Her primary teacher Jana whom she adores is a stylist.  Sailor thinks she looks like Sleeping Beauty, so the idea of her cutting and styling Sailor's hair made her giddy with excitement.  

Sailor woke up the morning of the big day and yelled from her bed, "Guess what today is?  The day  I get my picture taken!" 

Here is Sailor getting her fancy on at Jana's salon.

The hardest part of the photo was convincing Sailor that she didn't need to apply her own makeup.  Yes, I did put some on her.  But, just because the lights wash you out a bit!!  Seriously, don't judge me!  

I have to say I was very impressed.  The studio was very nice (and not in a mall!) and the photographer was great. She took her time with Sailor and took lots of shots. Sailor looked lovely and performed the act of a well-behaved fancy girl with manners perfectly.  I have no idea, however what the pictures actually look like.  The studio uses only uses actual film, rather than digital. We (yes, both Vanz and I  are required) go back in 2 weeks to view the proofs. I can't wait to see how the portrait will look in our formal library or parlor (except we don't have either of those). In the meantime, here is Sailor in the fancy wear while we were in the dressing room.