That's right, no extra charge. I ask you... who else is offering fun images and a complimentary case of all the itching you could ever want?? Be one of the first 9 callers, and I might even throw in some steroid cream just for fun. Any marketing 101 class will tell you to differentiate yourself from others, and in this saturated photography market, I believe I've found my niche. Anybody can hand out a lollipop for the kiddos, but it takes some long hours and some pretty crafty thinkin' to come up with those diamond-in-the-rough ideas like free chiggers for the entire family with every portrait session. Since visuals make everything easier to understand, here's a picture of what you could be lucky enough to get if you decide to book a session.

Funny thing is, I was trying to blame this one on the poor dog. I woke up at about 4 in the morning Monday and felt like my feet and ankles were on fire. When I finally got up a couple hours later, I was convinced Mia had brought the flea circus inside with her for a night cap, and the party had moved to my extremities. I tore all the sheets off the bed looking for evidence to support my hypothesis, but I came up with zilch. And while I was scratching anything within reach, Kylie and Mia were as comfortable and as smitten as could be... almost as if they were mocking my little case of drama. I suffered through the work day on Monday, but by this morning, my little tube of Target anti-itch creme had been rendered a joke by my mysterious foe, and the red dots ... welts were spreading. I called and got an appointment with my doctor this afternoon because I was about to scratch off a foot, and both she and the nurse that first came into the room laughed at me when they said I chiggers. Very unprofessional of them, but whatever. Coulda been worse... like if they were laughing during my annual physical exam where I have to do the who "turn your head and cough" gig, know what I mean? On a side note, while I have been attacked in several areas besides the feet ... ankles, I'm happy to report that the chigger nation was kind enough to spare the most sensitive areas. Is that TMI? Anywho, I'll try to bring home this train wreck of a post, and I'll skip the rest of the boring details other than the part where a light bulb went off in my head and I wondered if my friend ... client, Becky, and her two boys and her mom also were also now hosting some chigger friends after our session Saturday night where I had them all traipsing through knee-high grass. I finally got ahold of Becky, and she confirmed that her and the boys and her mom were sitting around the table scratching Sunday night. The funny part was that her 12 year old son, Michael, abruptly yelled out, "We're diseased!" I feel terrible that they've all got the itchies now, but I told Becky that when she sees all her cool images, all those itchy red dots will be a fond memory. More to come in a future post, here's an example of an image we got from the fields. Actually, if you look closely enough, you might be able to see the chiggers partying in the grass.