THE RENEE AND DAVID SEGAL FAMILY
“It was a wonderful experience, really fun,” says David. “The end result was fantastic. I had sticker shock at first, but this is an investment in artwork. It’s a way to create incredible memories at one special point in the kids’ lives.”
The Segal family chose to do their most recent portraits “…right at the last moment of childhood, just after our son had his Bar Mitzvah.”
Coming to a place called “KidCapers” as a teenager caused slight misgivings for 13 year old Ben. “I thought ‘ick!’ Sounds like a waste of time, it’s a baby place, and we’ll have to wear nice clothes. But it turned out AMAZING! It was funny. I had a great time.”
Confirms Leah, then 10, “It was comfortable, funny, and fun.”
David explains the reason for the kids’ initial reluctance. “We’ve been to other studios where we WERE bored. But you (Vik and Judy) really seemed to be enjoying yourselves. It was an outing, an event.”
Mom and Dad aren’t the only ones who appreciate having the portraits. Leah fought with Renee to get an 8x10 diptych of herself with each parent to hang in her room. “I like seeing them on my wall, it’s like they’re here even when they’re gone.”
Like many KidCapers clients, Renee and David initially made their sitting appointment with the idea of getting portraits of just their kids. Many adults don’t like having their picture taken –we’re always trying to lose those last 10 pounds, or we feel we’re too busy to take time out of our schedules, or we’re so stressed out from getting the kids to the studio groomed and dressed, we don’t want to make the extra effort to prepare ourselves, as well. But Renee and David opted to add family shots as well as one on one shots of each of them with each child.
“I don’t mean to sound maudlin,” says Renee, “But I lost a friend. She was a mom, too. And it made me realize how VERY VERY important family portraits are. It made me really want David and me and the picture, too.”
Kim Teplinsky of Design Intervention is the Segal’s interior designer. Kim’s philosophy is to always keep the emotional and psychological impact of home décor in mind as well as visual impact when designing for clients. “Don’t choose your art and décor to match. Choose art pieces that MOVE you, “ she advises.
Above and beyond their decorative merit, KidCapers portraits are a tangible, permanent part of your home. As Renee so succinctly put it, “Pictures are a big thing you do as a mom that stays.”