So yesterday I spent getting my art portfolio into order.

Tracing, you see, wants to present my work to a client of hers who needs, well, art, so I decided to make a bunch of new prints.

It's actually a pretty fun way to spend the day in the darkroom, not trying desperately to finish an order, but kind of puttering about, doing prints because I enjoy them. Haven't done that in a while.

I did a new copy of Kate's picture, because it's such a terribly dusty negative that is almost impossible to do a clean print of, and some nice Molly shots that have never seen the light of day before, a few wedding shots, and a strange self-portrait I took over Christmas, and I do think that it's a nice array of my work.

Damn, I just remembered one that I meant to do and didn't. Ah well, it's a shot that's a little too Lolita-ish anyway.

So I called Tracing last night and told her that I had finished the work, and I was going to give them to her in a grocery bag or grasped in my sweaty hand (actually, I said a photo box) because I haven't got a portfolio case, so she's lending me one. 'Cause I'm just so professional and stuff.

Then I asked her what the hell I was supposed to charge.

ME
What the hell am I supposed to charge?

TRACING
What do you think you should charge?

ME
That's the problem, I have no idea. I mean, I sell prints to my friends for $15, but I think that in this situation that's a little low.

TRACING
You're right!

ME
But what is the right price? $100? $200? $50? 25¢? I swear, I have no idea whatsoever what is reasonable, what is highway robbery and what is underpricing myself into oblivion? Is $100 too much?

TRACING
It might not be enough, actually. I think that for an 8x10 print, matted and framed, you could get away with $200.

ME
Okay, I have decided that, weighing all of the options, I have unilaterally decided to charge $200.

Blowing up the pictures of Molly, though, made me desperate to start the Molly Book, and I'm going to, by golly. I need to go through this journal and print out all of the anecdotes to go with the pictures and shuffle them together like a deck of cards.

I mean, the work is really already done (though I need to make more prints of some earlier shots), it's all about putting it together.

She's just, it's hard to explain why I cannot stop shooting her. I mean, she's not my only subject, I also shoot Bonnie and Katie, but they don't draw me as she does. Molly is just one of those people, and I don't know that many of them, who has a real spark to her in front of the camera, and I don't mean her beauty or cuteness, it's the life in her face. It's always changing, like the tide.

All I have to do is keep shooting and make certain that the camera is in focus, she does the rest.

I sure hope that she doesn't lose it as she gets older. Shooting Molly Callahan is my life's work.

Speaking of Molly, we had the big 4th birthday party last night, involving cake and presents and me taking pictures. At Molly's request, might I add! When Cynthia told me about the party, she said that Molly had made it clear that she wanted me to shoot it, so it seems that she is becoming aware of the fact that I am always at her with the camera.

And of course, the whole "now that you're four, you're too big to weep at the drop of a hat" thing was a real crock, and she wept buckets for various reasons and told Katie, at one point, that she wasn't her sister anymore.

She also said, as Bonnie was diving at the Barbie house that Katie gave her, "Will you get the frickin' baby out of here!" at which I was properly shocked and didn't laugh at all.

Katie came down and asked me "Was I ever such brat?" I howled at that, and answered "Was? Ever?" and Fran said "What time is it?"

Today's horoscope:
Your faith is high enough to take risks today, hoping for a positive payoff from life. Love or material gain is possible.

One year ago today:
But wishes are like elephants, they're bigger than can be...

* Yesterday / Index / This Month / Tomorrow *

E-Mail

Y2K Readiness by:
Krystyn!

This page was written by hand. My hand. Only pussies use HTML editors.
Last Updated Sun 16 January 13:10:09 2000