The New York Times tells us about another 'trend' where moms seem to think buying a digital SLR makes them a professional photographer. As digital SLRs have become more affordable, many mothers are expanding their love of photography into a business.
I love the clever marketing these women are using. Jodie Otte creates business cards using client photos knowing they'll be quickly passed on to the client's friends and family. Other women have created Portrait Parties, where several families get together and the photographer snaps shots of the kids at play. If the parents like what they see, they'll spread the word. Brilliant.
What's the problem? Well, it appears large studios and old-guard photographers have their undergarments in a twist. On photography message boards these women are disparagingly referred to as "MWAC", Mom With a Camera. They should call them Mommies With A Camera, because that's the best way to minimize women who have the audacity to have off spring and also do other things. See the internet's references to "Insipid Mommy Bloggers".
Best line in the article, "“It’s about making people comfortable and finding the emotion in their faces. The camera is just a tool.” Apparently, because my eyes are closed in over half of the professional photographs we've had taken, the emotion photographers find in my face is exhaustion."
It's funny, I thought moms bought digital SLRs so they could blog.
