Sometimes when my usual shtick wears thin I end up having to entice my little toddler friends with some heavier ammo. Every child has a different “thing”. You know, the “thing” that makes them tick, motivates them. The thing that they’ll do anything for. For my own kids it’s, sadly, usually sugar. Last weekend though I hung out with a little one whose ‘thing” was helping. She was fine with me taking her photographs for about 15 minutes and then she was ready to be my sidekick. We teamed up to photograph her little sister and she immediately started to command her mom and dad with shouts of “Y’all need to listen to us! We’re the picture girls!” I’m so going to try that line at my next session. 
At the end of the session when I was ready to snap a few more pictures of my “helper” I had to bribe her with the most major thing of all. My pride and joy, my life, my love — my camera. We made a deal that if I could get a few more shots of her, she could grab some of me at the very end.
Did I mention she’s three?
In that moment I was never more thankful for equipment insurance.
But I had promised. I knew what I had to do. So I handed it over.
And after a little bump in the road (hello double chin and nose hairs!)…
she nailed it…
So don’t bother sending any applications for second shooter.
The position has been filled.
(And I’m planning to pay her in fruit snacks.)
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