Gift for family for whom I work?

May 7, 2008 8:15 AM

For the past four or five years, I've worked as a dog-walker in New England. A family whose dog I've walked for much of that time is moving back to their hometown in the midwest. Because I dabble in photography (and because they live in a neighborhood with great architecture), I'd thought of putting together a scrapbook or photo album with pictures of their community, some of which would include the dog, as a going-away gift. The more I think about this, the more I see the potential for it to go horribly wrong or be misinterpreted by the family. What's the best way for me to do this?

I have a good working relationship with the family in question -- I wouldn't call them friends but they have attended at least one of my gallery shows in recent memory. The photos of the dog that I have in mind would be outside and with the "local color" that I've befriended over the past few years (the mailman and the baristas at the cafe up the street), and would not be inside their home. I could put the negs in the photo album so that they could be assured that I would not re-distribute the photos. (Most of my work is with disposable cameras.)

I had thought about leaving it for them as a surprise on my last day, but this has the potential to turn into a Michael Hanneke movie if I drop the ball. Thoughts?

posted by anonymous to human relations (22 comments total)

I fail to see what, precisely, could go "wrong".
posted by tristeza at 8:21 AM on May 7

Ooops, sorry for the non-answer...yes, do this, it sounds like a lovely gift that I am sure will be very much appreciated.
posted by tristeza at 8:22 AM on May 7

I fail to see what, precisely, could go "wrong".

Uh, yeah. I ain't seen Caché, though. Is it about a family that murders their dog-walker after he/she gives them a sweet gift?

Don't include any pictures of your nipples in the scrapbook, and you should be fine.
posted by Greg Nog at 8:32 AM on May 7 [1 favorite]

It doesn't seem creepy - it sounds like a really lovely gift and more like a beautiful souvenir of the neighbourhood than an exercise in surveillance. If in doubt, you could format or sequence it as one of the routes you take most with the dog, maybe? That would seem like a way of depersonalising it and recording an experience that's yours and the dog's, rather than theirs.
posted by carbide at 8:32 AM on May 7

I think this is very sweet gift idea, and that you're way overthinking it. As a dog owner, I would get a kick out of some photos of my dog with the people who "know" him from his daily walks. It would be a cute way of showing them that their dog was well-liked and will be missed when he moves. I'm not sure that you need to document the entire town for them - they can do that themselves if they so desire. But a few "dog around town" photos sounds like a sweet idea.

I also wouldn't leave it as a surprise if you can help it - handing it to them while saying your goodbyes sounds a lot more normal. But if you never see them (i.e. you come get the dog while they're at work), then leaving it with a short note on your last day is fine.
posted by boomchicka at 8:34 AM on May 7

I think it sounds like a lovely idea as a going away gift. As long as you don't overdo it (I mean, putting them in a simple, inexpensive album, nothing that looks expensive or that it took you dozens of hours to put together would be ideal), it doesn't seem creepy (that seems to be what you're worried about).

Also, it's probably nicer and will give you more peace of mind if you just give it to them right before they leave instead of just leaving it for them. This way you can say, "Since I knew you were leaving the area, I thought you might enjoy some local photos I took with Scruffy in them from our walks as a memento! I'll miss you guys!" (Or whatever).
posted by tastybrains at 8:34 AM on May 7

I think this sounds really sweet. I would be touched if I received it (speaking as a dog owner and having previously worked as a dog walker myself). I'm pretty attuned to "creepy" and I didn't get that vibe from it at all.
posted by KAS at 8:48 AM on May 7

Nthing this is a lovely idea, and you are a lovely person for thinking of it so stop overthinking and get snapping!
posted by goo at 8:52 AM on May 7

Yeah it'd be nice. Just don't kill yourself over it. A few nice snapshots of the neighborhood, the dog, etc., in an inexpensive album.

You'd only cross into creepy territory if it was obvious you spent an obsessive amount of time on it. If you're doing photography as a hobby/occupation anyway, it makes sense as a gift.
posted by Kadin2048 at 9:03 AM on May 7

I think it's a great idea. "A Day in the Life of Fido." -- "This is what Fido experiences each day when you are away from home."

Consider captioning the photos from the dogs point-of-view.
posted by ericb at 9:04 AM on May 7 [1 favorite]

If they've attended your gallery shows they must like your work. So it sounds like a lovely gift. I'd keep it down to 20 photos or so though.
posted by orange swan at 9:07 AM on May 7

Before you give the album (which I think is a really great idea and a kind gesture), have someone take a look at it.

Ask them if it's an album dog and community photos or something you'd keep under a creepy dog shrine in your closet.
posted by terpia at 9:08 AM on May 7

Doh!

...album of dog and community photos...
posted by terpia at 9:08 AM on May 7

I'm probably the most guilty person I know of over-thinking things. I am generally over-cautious about offending or doing something that could be misinterpreted.

But I don't see anything at all here that could cause a problem, unless the clients are very strange.

If you think that having pictures of the dog with neighborhood people would be a problem, then just make sure to include plenty of photos of the dog without people.

If you think they will interpret your prolific photography as not doing your job, or as being stalky, then include a note that says you took the photos especially for them.

But I can't see either of these things being an issue within the context of a normal relationship with clients.

Dog owners generally LOVE IT when other people love their dogs. So seeing that other people know their dog will probably be gratifying to them. That you cared enough about them and their dog to take the photos will be gratifying as well.

Yeah... I can't see how this can go wrong, unless we are missing a big piece of the puzzle.

You're doing something great. Go for it.
posted by Fuzzy Skinner at 9:15 AM on May 7

Also, if it were me as the dog owner, I would be fine and in fact happy to know that you have copies of the pictures for your portfolio.

(I like the idea of a Day in the Life of Fido, kewwwwt!)
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 9:20 AM on May 7

I've seen Caché. I don't understand your fears. This is nothing, nothing like the movie. Leave it as a surprise, but with a card or note you've signed. Caché involved an anonymous stalker. You're not anonymous, at least to them.
posted by desjardins at 9:29 AM on May 7

That you cared enough about them and their dog to take the photos will be gratifying as well.

I think that's really it -- they know you do photography, so it's not like you're suddenly springing some cell phone upskirt crazy on them. As a dog owner myself, I would be really touched if someone I hired to help me out did something like this for me.
posted by bitter-girl.com at 9:32 AM on May 7

Love the idea! In fact, I see this as a possibly profitable sideline business for you!
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 10:55 AM on May 7 [1 favorite]

Super sweet. I think any dog owner would love it. I also recommend not leaving it as a surprise, though. Just hand it to them and tell them they (and their dog) will be missed.
posted by arcticwoman at 11:33 AM on May 7

I'll pile on the "misinterpreted? Whu...?" bandwagon. I mean, It's not like they're going to be, like, oh my God, you've been stalking our dog." You are their dog walker. You say "I wanted to give you some pictures I took while I was walking your dog to remember the old neighborhood by" and they say "oh that's sweet of you, you shouldn't have" and that is the whole deal. You can give them the negatives if you want (they might like to make copies of favorite pics) but they won't care if you don't. They will not think you are stalking their dog. They understand that you have been walking around their neighborhood with their dog because they have been paying you to do so.
posted by nanojath at 12:36 PM on May 7

My dog walker puts photos of the dogs she walks on Flickr and I love seeing my pup through someone else's eyes. Go for it.
posted by judith at 12:41 PM on May 7

I think this is an awesome idea - go for it!
posted by turgid dahlia at 9:21 PM on May 7