The reactions to my office photos have been really disappointing, to state it plainly - nobody liked them! I spent so much time retouching them over the weekend, and it was all useless. Not useless in the sense that I have not learned anything - of course it was a valuable experience for me in retouching large numbers of photos efficiently, but my desire to make people happy has resulted in total failure. It's nothing to do with the quality of the photographs, it's peoples perception of themselves, and complexes that they have.
I was amazed to discover how critical people are when they are looking at themselves. The reactions that I hear: "I look tired!", "I am so fat", "one of my eyes is bigger than the other", "I do not like the way I look".. It came literally from everyone. Only Alex and Ian were cool about it - they do not have issues with the way they look, but everyone else was not happy at all.
I have to review the way I take photos and also the way I present them. Yesterday I took more pictures, and it was more relaxing than last week, and I did not retouch them. I've given everyone the opportunity to look at the originals and then select the one they like, so I can then work on it. Again what surprised me, my perception of best photos was completely different from the choices that people made. At least I am not going to waste time on retouching photos that people do not need.

I have a huge backlog of photos that I need to work on - weekend in Bath is untouched, and also meeting with Clair.
I wonder what Mary would think of hers? May be my "realistic" retouching was not enough?
I bought another Digital Photography book - all about the wedding business. Started reading it last night, very interesting. More and more I feel that I can do it. I will be leading a life of my dream soon!
I also ordered Chicago soundtrack, and I was listening and singing in the car yesterday and today - it's super, I love every song - they just fill me up with energy.. Why have I not done this before?
I am feeling quite good these days, though I do not go to bed before 11, and Yuri is waking up every night still. No news from the court, I am expecting the decision to come in any day.