Family Story: Mall Photo Booth

 Yes.  This is a photo booth picture from the mall.  Isn't it horrible in quality?  When Thabiso and I first went to the mall after his arrival he marveled at many things in our malls.  He had been to shopping centers in South Africa, but they weren't quite like a good 'ol American mall.  When he saw the photo booth he begged for us to get our picture taken together.  I know people that work in the mall near this photo booth and I was knew someone would walk by and be like "ummm why in the world are you in that photo booth, oh photographer friend of mine".  I reminded Thabiso that this is what David and I do for a living so you know, we don't need to get our picture taken in a booth in poor quality with a horribly printed out image that costs a lot of money when we can do it ourselves for much cheaper and way prettier...  But that man is adorable and insistent and stubborn so I did it anyways.  The top, first image we had said that we were going to make funny faces at each other but when the booth said "Get ready!  Smile at the camera NOW!", Thabiso took that seriously and smiled at the camera for both.After we walked away from the booth it dawned on me that this was the one time that Thabiso has asked to be photographed with me.  The first time he willingly smiled at the camera with me... a real smile, not a fake/pained smile of someone who would rather be playing than be photographed.  I had a treasure on my hands and didn't even realize it.  So while this image was overpriced and terrible in quality, it is so important to me because Thabiso chose to do it.  He picked the time, the medium.  And while it wouldn't be my first choice, I am just honored that he invited me into this moment.Even if it's a crappy photo booth in the mall, be photographed with the people you love and get prints made so you always have the image of that moment in your story together.