So there I was. Just minding my own business. Kind of. I had just settled in the corner of my personal studio, otherwise known as Starbucks inc, with my Venti skinny double shot vanilla/caramel two Splenda latte with just a dollop of whipped cream, when I noticed a very good looking couple playing footsies at the table across from me. He sported a very cool beard reminiscent of Brad Pitt in the second half of Legends of the Fall and she was more like Natalie Portman in Closer V For Vendetta Brothers…well, everything Natalie Portman has ever been in. In any case I have a habit of noting couples based on their photogenic attributes. Particularly when said couple has a certain vintage inspired je ne sais quoi. I could tell by their interactions that it was young love. The way he twirled her hair in his fingers. The way she laughed at every single joke he told. Even the corny ones. Especially the corny ones actually. I had just noticed the ring on her finger and the absence of a ring on his finger when the plot thickened further. A man entered the door and after taking a quick look around made eye contact with the couple and mosied toward them. A parent? No, too young.  A sibling? No, too old. A friend perhaps? There was moment of “Do you think that’s him” when he entered. Then it hit me. While many would mistake that nifty bag around his shoulder for a common man purse, I knew it all too well as a Shootsac. Yes, Mr. E was a photographer. After a brief introduction and a few moments of idle (and somewhat awkward) chit chat, Mr. E proceeded to pull out a few albums along with what I am guessing was an outline of the packages that he offered. He also fired up his laptop.  The couple was polite and seemed to enjoy his portfolio and though I strained my damnedest to get a peak myself, that beard that I was fascinated with earlier proved to be quite the adversary. Then it happened. And I just about died. Right there. Died. Forgive me but I am paraphrasing here.

Natalie Portman: “So, we are planning more of a vintage wedding…”

Brad Pitt: “Yeah, we are very NON-traditional.”

They nodded in agreement.

Mr. E: “Awesome!”

Natalie: Your albums, though very beautiful, seem to be more on the traditional side. You know, big dresses, lots of roses and stuff. That’s not really us at all. Is that what your typical clients are like?”

Mr. E: “Honestly those are the types of clients that seem to find me but I have always wanted to be able to photograph something more ‘vintagy”. (For the record, he actually used the term “vintagy”)

And this is the part where I died..

Mr E: “In fact I have been following a photographer who has ‘vintagy’ style that I would love to emulate for your engagement session in particular…

After typing something immediately followed by a few clicks of the mouse, Mr. E turned the monitor to Natalie and Brad and there it was. In all its glory. In colors of gold and brown, first a tree, then six little birds making their way across the header migrating to Goodnessville or beyond. My very own blog staring right back at me. I do have to mention that it looked especially amazing on his MacBook Pro.  I just couldn’t believe it. The next five minutes consisted of ooo’s and awww’s. Each one warming my heart more than the previous.

Unfortunately the conversation took an ugly turn toward the end…

Natalie: “I love the colors in this one!”

Mr. E: “Yeah, that’s all photoshopped…I can totally do that.”

Brad: “Holy sh*t. That shot is crazy…the ones with the birds are my favorite.”

Mr E: “Those birds are fake..also photoshop. (Pause) Those birds are fake too”

The assault on my character and artistic integrity continued for a few more minutes and finally ended and the meeting wrapped up with a quick hand shake, an awkward hug, and a “Let me know if you have any questions”.

And so there I was…stuck somewhere between pride and discouragement. The way I see it I had two options here.

A) Shake it off and boldly introduce myself to the couple as the one and only “over photoshopped and fake bird wrangler Clayton Austin” and inform them that I just happen to be available on their date and would love to buy them a coffee and discuss the possibility of allowing me to document their “vintagy” wedding story…

B) Let bygones be bygones and concede to the fact that It would be wrong and immoral  to trespass on another photographer’s potential client…

Well, I’ll tell you what I did…in part 2. But before I do I would love to hear what you think would be the “high road” in this particular situation. What would you do? I promise that your vote will not influence the outcome. What has has happened has happened. Just be honest!

And just to be clear, Mr. E, if you are reading this I ain’t mad at ya. The fact that anyone would even consider emulating me is the highest form of flattery. I am thankful. And yes, anyone can tone their images in photoshop. The key is to be tasteful. But for the record the first image you pointed out indeed had fake birds. Those birds are my logo and are included in at least one image of every session I photograph. They are not meant to look real. Its my calling card of sorts. However, the second image…well that was taken on a beach in San Juan Capistrano, California. And If I ever have to photoshop a seagull into an image taken at any beach in southern California, I guess I should at least consider a career change. But I aint mad at ya…

And because every post is better with a picture, here is another teaser from a session coming soon. And for the record, both the birds AND the ocean are real…