After our passport pictures last June and the cultural experience that that was, I decided that we would go back for Christmas photos. I wasn't as surprised this time, but I was still absolutely fascinated by what we experienced.
A little background:
The Chinese people do not celebrate Christmas. They are Buddhists, not Christians (but more are accurately atheists with Buddhist influence). Yet this country produces almost everything we use across the world to decorate and celebrate Christmas, so Christmas items have spilled out into their lives to some degree. They don't understand that it is a religious holiday and that many of the things we use to decorate and celebrate are symbols of Jesus Christ (or have originated from symbols of Him). We have been told that some people do give gifts and a few put up trees. But all they really know of the celebrations comes from images or media displaying Christmas. They have no idea of the why. Or what kinds of things people do to celebrate.
So you add that thinking to the way they think about photography and you have an interesting mix.
They first had me in a red Chinese-style dress, but then the lady in charge came up and said that Chinese clothing can never be in a Christmas picture because the two things can't go together, so I had to take it off. They tried to get me into a few skimpy items which I politely declined. The lady in charge finally went back to the back and came out with a large red sweater dress, which they cinched up with a man's belt. Then they built the rest of the attire off of my outfit. They tried multiple items on the girls and a few on Tom until they finally decided that we were all wearing red sweaters. And patterned Christmas socks. Sweet.
Then they went to work on our hair and make up. I knew we would all be getting eye browns but I never guessed the girls would have hearts and stars painted on their faces nor that I would be put in a hat.
One of the entertaining things for me was to have them constantly tell us ways to position ourselves and having no clue what they are saying. They were so particular and we just couldn't be very obedient! Tom tried to translate, but he could not keep up with how fast they were talking.
In the US, pictures are more centered on what the individual/family wants with the pictures. Take senior pictures for example. You choose clothes, hobbies, activities etc that the graduate likes and represents them. Here, it's all about what the culture accepts in making a good photo: no glasses, eye brows, matching clothes, lighting to make you look as white as possible and poses that reflect their culture.
One thing from their culture that is different from ours is how adolescents are viewed. Here, adolescents are still children. Hence Tessa at age 16, is holding a gingerbread man, and the girls got to wear Santa and reindeer pins in their hair. They also insisted that no one wore glasses. Greta's strabismus is manifested without her glasses so her eye is turned in. They thought she wasn't looking at the camera and kept yelling "mei mei" (pronounced may, may, which means little sister) trying to get her to look at the camera even though she was. Frustrating for her, but part of the experience.
So without any further adieu..... Here we are wishing you all a Merry Christmas---Chinese style! Enjoy!
Another thing that they really wanted us to do, but we didn't do really well was pull ears. They had several shots where I was to pull Tom's ear to show who was in control. (We only purchased 6 images.) They also had a few shots where Tessa pulled Greta's ear and one where Greta pinched a strand of her hair and held it out from her head. I wished I would have taken pictures of all of our poses on the computer, but I didn't think they would let me, but after she noticed I took one, she encouraged it; sadly, I didn't do it until the end of the session so I only got a few pictures. Note: They all REALLY loved the Chinese culture shots, but since it cost $15 per digital image (plus the cost of the photo shoot), we didn't buy them. Tom and I wouldn't have minded choosing those for the memory, but the girls insisted that we not.
Then, of course, we were asked to sign a waiver for them to use our pictures for advertisement. Normally I would never do this, let alone with a hat on my head, but it is an opportunity for Jesus Christ's light to be spread to more people, so we signed. Below are a few advertisements!
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