My husband is so good to me. Not only is he completely unthreatened by my new lover on my sewing desk...he happily painted this wall to match Gorgeous George's good looks for a little photo shoot this weekend! Thanks, Rugster!
Actually, the wall was already in this fortuitous configuration. But I wouldn't put it past him, considering he did brave 12 bags of New York City Summer Weekend Garbage, lurking about 12 inches from his face (DISCLAIMER: BECAUSE HE REFUSES TO STAND UP AND SHOOT). Oh, what a few days of 90 degree highs will do to the aroma of the city! Such a heady perfume! When I trotted over from my spot on the wall to change a camera setting for him, the stench almost knocked me over.
RUGGY! I said. We can go somewhere else!
NO. Was his firm response. This is the right spot. Let's just do it.
RUGGY! I said. You can just shoot me straight on front-side-back and I'll get detail pics on my dressform!
NO. Was his firm response. I'm composing the shot. Don't bother me.
Twenty pungent minutes later, as we strolled away from the odorous corner of 8th avenue, I clicked through the snaps at his request.
RUGGY! I said. I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE YOUUUUUU!
OKAY. Was his firm response. And if you don't like these shots, babe, we'll just do them over.
I MEAN. And what's a guy got to do to get a little sewing recompense? I have no less than 5 different prints in various stages of unmade shirts in the queue (read: the fabrics have been pre-washed). Methinks this is the week to crack into one. Ruggy does these shoots quite willingly ever since he got that unsolicited advice from a passing pro photographer. Pre-pro, it was OONA GODSAKES ARE WE DONE YET. Now, I'm asking him if we have enough shots to stop. Peeps, if you wanna flip the script, stage a little "chance" meeting with a pro and/or a family member willing to shower your photographer with compliments! DOES WONDERS!
Lori's tale of her unsung hero over at Frivolous At Last prompted this post, and her tagged man comes with some hilarious photos as well (seriously, go read it.) And tag your unsung hero(ine) if you have one!
(eta: sometimes i'm clear as mud... just to be clear-er, the credit for this tagalicious spark of genius goes to lori!)
D'aww, what a man! Good job, Ruggy. I actually HATE asking other people to take my pics, husband included. He will do ANYTHING for me, and has never once said no to anything (ANYTHING! It's dangerous to be enabled all the time!) but I hate hate hate the guilt of asking him to do something he finds stressful. Stressful because I'm a picky subject, and I'll make him take more pics if they don't work out... stressful because I worry about what he's thinking, and he worries about what I'm thinking... It's just silly. So instead I head out with my tripod and have a much better time on my own. I have been asking for his opinion a bit more (which necklace? Which shoes? What do you think of this?) because otherwise he's lovely and polite and either doesn't mention things or just says I look good. Specifics, man! He does well when asked directly, though! ;)
ReplyDeleteMy fiancee is the exact same way, and takes (mostly) all of my photos for me, despite my picky nature. I fully take advantage of all the I'll do ANYTHING you want personality, though. What can I say? I guess I'm just a taker, not a giver.
DeleteGo, Ruggy, go!
gillian, we had the same stress till that pro walked by, and now i just say "you know what? do what you want!" (well, after telling him what *i* want and then watching his eyes glaze over.)
Deletehey, if that's what your man wants, you are an angel to not refuse him ;)
DeleteAnother photo shoot tip - get a kid to do it. They love taking photos. As many as possible. They have learned to say Are we done yet unless they are subject of photo shoot. That is another story altogether. But hire a kid, borrow a neighbor's child. They get the wildest angles too. They don't censor themselves like photog adults can do.....
ReplyDeletei will add this to my list of Things That Children Are Good For.
DeleteAwwwwww such a lovely post, to a lovely guy! You photos are always fantastic Oona!
ReplyDeleteruggy says thank you :))
DeleteRuggy is really a rare catch, and he does do a phenomenal job on taking pics of you, such a sweetheart, it really is time he get's a litte sewing recompensation, although I know how hard it is to do some selfless sewing, but then again, once you have made him a few things, you'll have to take some shots of him this time around ;)
ReplyDeleteegads!!!! i don't know WHAT it would take to get him in front of the camera!
DeleteWhat a guy! The arteest and his muse. But gah! The summer NYC summer street reek- now that's what I call dedication to one's craft.
ReplyDeleteHooray for unsung sewing blog heros! I'm impressed with Ruggy's skill, too! I don't think even "accidental" compliments from strangers could make my husband enjoy taking my photos. I *wish* that I could get him to NOT stand up. He's a foot taller than me and all his pics of me make me look so short! Lately, I've resorted to gorilla pod tripods and phone remotes. He does help me when I can't make my website work and always compliments my handiwork. So, I'll take it! :D
ReplyDeleteperhaps you could bring along a comfortable chair for him to shoot from??
DeleteThanks so much for the blog love, Oona!
ReplyDeleteRuggy's definitely a keeper! I long to hear those magic words, "if you don't like these shots, babe, we'll just do them over" from my #UnsungSewingBlogHero! ;)
--Lori
just whisper them to Long Suffering in his sleep....
DeleteHe is such a great guy! Keep him forever, Oona. As for my photographer, I wonder if my husband will be able to love taking pictures of human being, probably even after getting lots of advices/praises from experts. He is a great photographer of nature and landscapes, but he is utterly useless (oops) when talking about portraits and human subjects. On the other hand, I am quite opposite and I prefer portraits much more than landscapes. Both of you lovely couple are lucky to have yourselves each other. (We are disaster, in other words :)
ReplyDeletei wonder if you could ask him to consider your garments as a flower in the wild. they are, after all!
DeleteOh my, I should try and get my husband involved in my sewing-taking-pictures. maybe I will let him read this post...(ammmm, not going to happen). But such a lovely post!
ReplyDeleteRuggy is a keeper! But..."new lover on your sewing desk:?? Spill! Did you fall for your SMAD?
ReplyDeleteYEP. (though i don't know what the AD part stands for...)
DeleteWhat a great guy Oona!! I just got my first DSLR and my hubs is wanting to learn how to use it. The most I could hope for before was a non-blurry photo. I may have to take your advice and stage a run in. :)
ReplyDeleteRyan Gosling's got nothing on your hubby! Those memes should feature Ruggy instead. :) What a sweet guy.
ReplyDeletei almost did one of ruggy when that was trendy! i might still;)
DeleteAll it took was a photoshoot where I asked for a pin-up look to get James interested! Now I have the same problem. Although we often argue about the background and my particular vision for a shoot. We're so lucky to have such swell guys!
ReplyDeleteHAHAHA!!!! my guy almost fell over when i said i was gonna post bathing suit shoots!
DeleteWe salute you, Ruggy! Keep doing what you do keep our girl looking good.
ReplyDeleteHIP HIP HOORAY FOR RUGGY!
ReplyDeleteThank goodness you didn't do a "catch and release" when you met this wonderful fella! *lol* All the best to both of you - two wonderful people hooking up for the long haul, even if that ends the world due to it's vast goodness it's a terrific way to go!! ;)
ReplyDeleteDerp! I just figured out that your b-day is the same as my Mum's!! I *think* it's also the anniversary of the dropping of the atom bomb? You're both "da bomb"!! *LOL*
Deleteyikes, i know! ;)
DeleteWill deserves some huge love and props, just like Ruggy! I am always asking with a kiss if he can take pictures of me. Keep up the great job Ruggy, you make your Oona look awesome!
ReplyDeleteWhat a guy....keeper for sure!
ReplyDeleteYay Ruggy! He does a marvelous job on your photos, and you two make a fabulous creative pair :) XOXO!
ReplyDeleteI'm afraid my "unsung hero" has three legs and to be honest we don't have the best of relationships.
ReplyDeleteI used to ask my wonderful hubby to take pictures of me and he's always willing but it seemed like he was always in a hurry to get done and go do something else and I felt bad about taking up his time with my silliness so I just started using the tripod which is why the photos on my blog are mostly kind of sucky.
i'm telling you, start telling him how good he is at it.... offer bribery at first...
DeleteAww what a cutie! I wish my husband was as enthusiastic about taking blog photos. He does get good shots though with a little bit of coaching.
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww! You are a very blessed woman. I can't wait to see what you do for the bday! Pins and needles!
ReplyDeleteWell he's a keeper! I have one quite like him in that way....lucky gals we be...lucky gals.
ReplyDeleteYou are so lucky to have a man who you can share the interests together. I feel so jealous of you! :(
ReplyDeleteahhh no! perhaps you could trade creative favors with a friend who's into photography? thewallina had a great post-- a team of stylist, sewist, and photographer get together and shoot for the fun of it. very cooL!
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