Saturday, October 17, 2009

School picture shoot fiasco

I had a school picture shoot Friday. I wasn't very hopeful that it would be a money maker. Still, it will get our name out there. A couple weeks ago we had a school picture shoot that took us about 2-3 hours to complete. The had about 50 students, plus staff. This new one had 5 staff and 4 students. No kidding. We got there at 9:00 to set up and started pictures about 10. We were there for 1-1/2 to 2 hours! for 9 effing people! My little prince has been having troubles with his asthma for the past couple weeks so I gave him a treatment before we left, timing it so that we would get back home just in time for the next dosage. It did NOT go as planned. Most of the staff went smoothly till the last one. She decided to finish grading a paper before coming down. We waited 5 minutes before we saw her, then she was on her way to the office to turn something in, telling us she's on her way (as she goes in the opposite direction). Took her 5 more minutes. Then she had to go to the bathroom and brush her hair (as she tells us she's "coming"). Another 5 minutes. At this time, the little prince started showing his first signs of discomfort. No emergency. Then the first student came down. While this one was being shot, the second came down and filled out his form. Wonderful! Things are getting better, right? No. He left after filling out his paper and did not come back. I had to ask one of the staff for him...after waiting 10 more minutes. He comes down, gets shot, sends the next student down. This one takes no time at all either. The little prince is quite uncomfortable now, wheezing and coughing and whining. Only 1 more student to go, but she is nowhere in sight. We waited 5 more minutes before I left our setup and told one of the staff that if there were any more students they better get down there RIGHT NOW because my son is having an asthma attack and I'm about to pack up. She tells me there is just one more and I replied that she better get down there then because I'm taking my son home. Someone went to get her out of the bathroom where she was brushing her hair. We got her shot and we packed up and came home. After all that hassle, I'm still sure we're not going to make any money at it. Oh, and while we were starting to get packed up, the director came down and asked me if the senior asked about senior pictures. I said no he hadn't. She then proceeds to tell me that he wanted some outdoor pictures taken! I told her that he'll have to call me because my son is having an asthma attack and I'm leaving. The incredible woman actually tells me that he didn't sound bad to her. I was infuriated. The gall! She actually tells me that my son doesn't sound bad...meaning, "my senior student's portraits are more important than the health of your child." BS! I can't believe it. I'm already planning on what to say to her if she asks us to come back next year. I've come up with several new and creative ways to say no.

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