You probably wouldn’t have guessed it but this Sunday is Father’s Day. Now granted I hardly watch any TV but nevertheless I haven’t seen too many shops or even radio ads promoting the fact that us Dads have got something happening this weekend. Hello marketers of the world we do exist you know. It is estimated that spending on gifts for Dad on Father’s Day is only half of what is spent on Mums for Mother’s Day. Why is that?

Well I blame the mums out there! They are the ones encouraging the kids to buy socks and jocks for Dad or maybe even a crummy old DVD taken out of the discount bin at Kmart. On the other hand us Dads collaborate with the kids to get some awesome stuff for Mum. You know things like a new flat screen TV, power tools or the all important 6 burner BBQ for summer.

If you haven’t suspected already the above paragraph was totally tongue in cheek.

But seriously, in my experience when it comes to photography, mums are the ones who want to have family photos done, they are the ones who book the session, plus when the time comes they organise everything to get their family at our studio on time and looking immaculate. Tough job! Well done ladies. But this Father’s Day I’m asking you to step up to the plate again and consider the following as a stand out gift for Dad.

A Special Father’s Day Gift Idea

How about…a portrait sitting just for Dad. Now wait! Before you say he is never going to do that, let’s bend the rules and alter them in your favour so as to get him jumping at the idea. Let’s make it all about him and call it a PORTRAIT STUDY of Dad.

There does not have to be kids, wives or pets involved (unless of course he wants that). The aim is to create some beautiful portraits of him on his own doing what he loves. That maybe a hobby, a sport, his car collection or whatever.

Just think of how proud he would be every time he looked at these pieces of wall art hanging in his study or man cave. Now that is a Father’s Day gift to last a lifetime! Let’s not forget Grandads as well they too have many stories to tell.

The image below is a photograph of my Dad. I submitted it into the Australian Insitute of Professional Photographers APPA awards. It won a High Silver Distinction. Now my dad is not a boxer but after he heard what the judge had to say about “the subject in the portrait” he totally tried to convince himself that he had missed his calling and what a great boxer he would have been. He is so proud of that portrait.

Does your dad, grandad, husband or partner have a special talent or interest that he would love to capture and showcase it in print? Or maybe he would like a strong evocative close up portrait of himself?

Then this Father’s Day we are running Dad Portrait Study sessions for a reduced session fee of $49. Remember if you book before Father’s Day your session can take place at a later date. What an amazing way of saying Thank You to US Dads!!

If not then you could always go to Kmart and get him this DVD starring Mackenzie Murdock (Uhm Who??):

Love to all the fathers and mothers out there.
Warren