I was just mentioning to my friend, the ever talented Monica, that I feel there is very little for me to relate to in current scrapbook publications - either in magazine or on-line form. Though two of my four kids are still "kids" they are definitely getting on the "older" side of things. Really? They are becoming exactly what I've been waiting for them to be: almost fully formed people with real ideas, opinions and desires. I am really enjoying my children at this somewhat awkward, totally honest stage of pre-, mid- and post-puberty.
Unfortunately, the scrapbook industry standard is not meshing well with my newfound confidence in my creative ability. I don't know about you, but my creativity left me from 1994 to 2006. Having four kids in five years and a husband out of town for the better part of 7 of those years can definitely put a crimp into your creative endeavours!
At any rate, my griping to Monica was made more clear, and validated, in a note received yesterday from the Better Homes and Gardens Scrapbook Etc. publication, via Facebook note:
Hi SBE Girls.
Here is your opportunity to get your kids on the
cover of Scrapbooks etc. We're searching for our August/September and
October cover shots. Here are the details:
AUG/SEPT 2009:
It
may be chilly outside, but here at Scrapbooks etc. we're already
planning for summer. Send some sunshine our way by showing us your best
outdoor beach/water/pool shots of your kids.
OCT 2009:
We're
going back to school for the October 2009 issue of Scrapbooks etc.
Please send us your best school themed photos (kids with backpacks are
always great) for consideration as our cover shot.
Here are guidelines to keep in mind for cover shots:
*Subject should be smiling and appear relaxed (not posed)
*Subject should be looking at the camera and appear prominently in the shot
*We are looking for children between the ages of 3 to 10 years of age
*Please submit color photos only
To submit your photo, email a low resolution jpeg to [email protected] by Tuesday, February 24th, 2009.
Please write "Aug/Sept Cover" or "October Cover" in the subject line of your email. Please submit only ONE PHOTO PER EMAIL and limit your submissions to three per person.
Please keep attached files to under 500kb (300kb is preferred).
Thanks! erin
Erin Clarkson
SBE Contributing Editor
Do I think I have a photo that could grace the cover of any magazine? Maybe not. Maybe so. It makes me sad that my children no longer meet the criteria for those they want to reach via this magazine.
I'd love to know when 11 became too "old" to be a kid. Maybe kids have a hard time being kids because all of those around them expect that they be something more. And we wonder why they're confused! I'm confused. Are you?
***
There is also another movement afoot regarding the questionable qualifications of those "in charge" of various scrapbook publications and their collective lack of understanding of the industry as they are not active scrapbookers themselves. Can you really read trends and understand your audience if you are not a member of that audience? Interesting,and I have spent much time over the last week pondering that question.
Another post for another day.