Well, we all know Kidss Talk in Chinna Chokkikulam is among the first and most popular toy store in Madurai. The showroom spread over two floors is always crowded with expecting mothers, new mothers and those with grown up kids too hunting for the latest fashion accessories and clothes, kid’s products, games, toys, books and more.
For the past fortnight, a quiet corner in the shop has been attracting customers and seems to be the bustling fun zone. “We are trying something new,” exclaims staffer Shreen, while leading me to what is named the KiTa studio.
Inside the freshly painted room with bright lights, photographer Bharathidasan is playing with his professional camera and a three year old boy too is happily playing with toys from the shop. Both seem to be focussed in their respective worlds and enjoying.
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For about 15 minutes Bharathi follows the child and clicks away to glory. The strategy may seem impractical but when after half-an-hour he shows the results on the computer screen, that blur of the child’s action, the giggle or the mischievous look in his eyes, the innocent smile or the emotive face, you get to see some real, timeless images.
“Children’s photography is all about understanding the child’s personality, capturing the spirit and reflecting the inner beauty,” he says.
It was the owner Nikunj Binani’s idea to bring in fun photography for and with the children to Madurai. “All cute child photos or posters we see are invariably of foreigners. So I thought why not make our kids look equally cute, sweet and naughty,” he says.
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And he put together a team before Christmas with a shoot consultant, technical expert, a stylist and the photographer and set up the KiTa Studio for Baby and Child Photography. “We made space for the studio within the shop because it is easier to interact with the continuous stream of customers and also show them what we are proposing,” he adds.
So far the photo shoots, both indoor and outdoors, have been done with kids aged between eight months and 15 years. “We have theme-based shoots with the children or the ones done naturally that tell a bigger story about the child while building a bond,” explains Shreen. The packages start from Rs.1,500 and can go up to Rs.12,500 depending on the number of photos and the shoot duration.
The team has two or three sessions with the parents and the child before the shoot to understand the child and what costume, make-up and props would suit the child’s personality. Of course, once on the field, creativity and sensitivity come to the fore and parents take a back seat.
No cajoling, no scolding, no instructions, the child is just allowed to be, says Bharathidasan. Nikunj points out for this kind of specialised photography, people were going to Chennai or other bigger metros. Now, he is happy to provide the same quality, professionalism and opportunity here.
Right now as an introductory offer, kids are also getting a chance to do a bit of modelling. While parents shop, the child can have some fun time in the studio. Bharathidasan clicks the unpredictable styles and reactions of the child for printing on a single sheet calendar. At Rs.350 for each such sheet, it makes a perfect new year gift. The calendar offer is on till January 15. So what are you waiting for. Just call 9629560452 and 0452-4255452 and find out more!