The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, November 29, 1903, Page 6

THE SUNDAY CALL. Basy> SuTScCH 2L 1SSFULL> UNCONSCIOVS ElLEruAaNT FE world 8o move Inventive gentus has again bowed the knee to his infant majesty as king of the household and pretty much all the rest of the universe besides. No more the terrible struggle to get the unruly one before the camera In the sacred Interest of the family album. No the operator's clownlike antics to win even a passing smile from a kicking, bawling, sprawling ato of humanity. E ing “baby’s pleture taken” is now as simple as “painless dentistry.” And all because of the new “baby studio.” The baby studio has suddenly jumped into being as the most unique and im- portant adjunct of photography. It is Just what its name implies—a photo- srephic studio given over solely and exclusively to the children of all ages, from the wee little tot just able to crawl to the boy or girl bordering on the fascinating realm of the “grown- ups.” But unlike the studio of the artist, it is pot & place of musty relics more and ghostly lights—though Illke your true artist's favorite workshop, the baby studio is invarisbly in a wild state of disorder. This is because the baby studio is nothing more nor less than a great, big playroom, with a single window set asiant in the celling to let in plenty of light and a floor that is literally covered with toys of all sorts. The walls themselves are almost wholly hidden behind a fresco of pictures that present to the amazed and delighted eyes of the prospective vietim of the photographer's art a perfect kaleido- scope of all the scenes of anclent and modern falry lore. Into this chamber of wonders the in- fant terrible is led fresh from the scrubbing and brushing of the dress- ing-room and left toget well acquainted with his new surroundings. Here he or she may select what fascinates most and begin an orgle of fun, in the midst of which the photographer, con- cealed in a big, innocent-looking book- case, or sideboard, as the case may be, quietly takes as many pictures as he deems desirable without the infant terrible having the slightest idea that anything unusual is happening. The only possible cause for disturbance usually comes after all the pictures have been taken and an effort is made to remove the infant terrible from the scene of his new-found pleastres. Thex' there is trouole, which rarely ends un~ til his outraged majesty has been pro- pitiated with a gift of some sort from among all the many treasures over which he has just had such compiete and uninterrupted sway. Only in this way can the baby be enapshotted just as he looks at play with any degree of certainty of secur- ing pictures that do not look posy and unnatural. While he is delving about among the toys and reveling in the de- light of having all the furniture in the room baby size, he never suspects for 2 moment that the photographer, whom he has come to regard with anx- fous awe, 1s concealed in that big book- case in a corner of the room, which contains as well a big camera, and ,that he is being pictured and pictured the while he is playing with such glee and complete absorption. If by any chance, however, he is too frisky the photographer comes forth _SE ST T RoUSE AN from his place witn the camera bulb in his hand, sits himself down and to the terrible until he is fairly quiet, when he presses the bulb and the trick is done. And the results of having baby photographed just as he really looks in the midst of his games have made the- baby studios immensely popuiar. Here is what Boye says of the new in- stitution: “The photographer who possesses a genuine love for children and a keen appreciation of the many little things that only children can do and say, has his way already paved for him to suc- cess. Particularly so is this the case, if he add to these qualifications an abundant supply of patience and the faculty to grasp and take advantage of the occasional happy situations that his little subjects unconsciously fall into while at play before the camera. X ol it = VB A= T oe <AEFRTL BPI 10O T OGRAREL o7 B> BO>E&E , VALENTINE MINER Hs PET BuLLDOG ( 2(7@”/ A & ‘A~ /////Z///';)’/ 7 “A¢t the outset the first step necessary is the securing of their confidence. This can reedily be obtained by displaying a little tact In approaching them. The best way is to take them quietly at the beginning and avold plying them with too many questions if a tendency to shyness asserts itself; in fact, it is much better to leave children of this type to themselves for a time until they become accustomed to the sur- roundings and the strangeness \\-ears' off. When th's point .is reached, by interesting them with the explanation of some new toy or the like their atten- tion will be diverted and the fact of your presence gradually forgotten or at feast accepted as a necessary evil “The common error made by many operators in handling children Is that of approaching them too abruptly. Al- though it takes a little more time at the commencement, it is far better to devote a few minutes longer at this time cultivating your little sitter and working him into the proper frame of mind necessary for the rendition of a pleasing portrait before the camera is even touched. “When a little fellow s brought into the studio for a sitting we usually adopt the following method. After the customary grooming that is always deemed necessary by the anxious nurse or attendant, he is ushered into the ‘baby studio,” fitted up expressly for his reception. In this playroom he is al- lowed full swirg and amuses himself in varicus fashions until we are ready for his sitting. “It js among these surroundings that we first make his acquaintance and as much_time spent with him here as is considered suflicient to secure s inter- est in-what is promised to follow. Very little trouble is experienced with the majority of subjects after explaining to them a brief outline of what will be ex- pected of them, to get them to enter in the full spirit of the undertaking. “Meanwhile the ‘baby studio’ has been prepared, background and accesso- ries placed in readiness and the cam- era, which is closed in to resemble a bookcase, _stands in position with the slide drawn. When the young hopeful is led in but little urging is required to get bim to occupy the space arranged for im; this is usually by a small chair or table upon which some article liable to prove of interest is placed in order to attract his attention. ) d _— “Frequently a number of poses can be gotten while he is thus amusing him- self and is quiet for the fraction of a second required for the exp Mechanical toys interest childre ly. and by having a good collection on hand some one of th larly strike his fancy of calling forth a varlety sions ranging all the way from a smile to a yell. a subject e« d the stage s then t in a wh along who has pe ing attracted by toy good stock of little s or the E edge of a few simple tricks will likely prove of advanta We have had youngsters who have put us to our wits' end In studying up some sch in order to arouse them into some gree of animation without resuit, then accidentally, before our stock of patience had entirely left' us, stumbie across soms little trifle that we had previously overiooked, which would have the effect of arousing them in- stantly into a being of life and action. “One little fellow I have in mind, who gave us a severe tussle after trying every conceivable objec only gave signs of possessing an intellect when his mother happily remembered his great fondness for pins and supplied him with a saucerful. It is needless to add that the proofs selected were from the plate made after the pins ap- peared. “The question of allowing the friends and relatives who frequently accom- pany a child to assemble in the studlo at the time of sitting is a much dis- cussed one. Whether it is advisable to let them stay depends entirely on the people themselves. Sometimes they can render valuable assistance, but more often their presence has the effect of di. viding the child’s attention. “Notwithstanding the many draw- backs and petty annoyances constantly met with in the portraiture of children, personally I derive more genuine pleas- ure in photographing these little people than in all the other branches of the art combined. Once in a while, after an unusually trying ordeal with a real tartar, I am about ready to take part of this back, but probably the very mext little tot will be a perfect jewel, and more than make up for the shortcom- ings of his predecessor and serve to strengthen my convictions all the TINA comum s ENJOY I\NS THE DELIGWTFS OF A FAGZw S Book