Marley and Me
Saturday, March 04, 2006
People Magazine
A couple Sundays ago, David Yellen, a New York-based photographer with an amazing portfolio, showed up at our house with an assistant, a makeup artist and a fashion consultant. The assignment: Get a family portrait of the whole Grogan clan with our new Lab Gracie. The client: People magazine. Of course, when People magazine calls, you don't say, "Sunday is a day of rest," or any such thing. You say, "Sure, come on over. We're wide open."
The fashion person's job was to go through our closets and pick out clothes she liked, which she then pressed and made look way neater than they would ever look in real life. The makeup artist powdered our noses, and did cool things with Jenny's hair -- and my daughter Colleen's hair, too. The shooting began at 10 a.m. and continued strong until nearly 3 p.m. We all broke midway through to eat Chinese carryouts left over from the night before.
The fashion person had me dressed in something I never, ever in a million years would actually wear -- especially around my house on a Sunday. Jeans and a white t-shirt...no problem there. But over the t-shirt a starched dress shirt, unbuttoned and with the sleeves rolled up. Yep, I always traipse around the house on my day off with a dress shirt on. After several shots, David, apparently sensing my discomfort, said, "Do you just want to put on a favorite sweater or something?" Oh yes, yes, yes. I tossed on my favorite old black cotton sweater and felt much more at home.
We took a formal family portrait in front of the fireplace, and then he asked: "So, let's put Gracie up on the kitchen table." Now THERE is good behavior training! But we pride ourselves in our poorly behaved dogs, so up she went. Who cared if we were teaching her a new bad trait? Gracie stood on the table, looking slighly shellshocked that we were actually encouraging this, while the whole family gathered around her. At one point, we put an apple in her mouth (she was thrilled to oblige)and gathered around her with knives and forks in our hands. Sick, sick, sick....but pretty funny.
Just before breaking down his equipment, David took me outside on the deck behind my house for a few last shots. He said, "Why don't you pick up Gracie and hold her in your arms."
I said, "She weighs 70 pounds and is a squirm monster. You're not serious?"
He said: "Let's just try it."
So I reached down, grabbed her like a sack of potatoes and hoisted her up, stomach exposed, paws jutting skyward. He clicked a few quick shots of the two of us. And that was it. Done at last.
The March 13 issue of People came out yesterday, and there on page 140, it was: A one-page spread with the headline: "Bad Dog Makes Good Read: How did a naughty Labrador retriever land his owner atop bestseller lists? John Grogan ponders the mania over Marley & Me." Most of the page was taken up by the David Yellen photo. And the photo used? The one taken at the last minute out on the back deck: Me holding Gracie in my arms, her paws sticking out in all directions. She has a ridiculous look on her face, as if she's saying, "Put me down, you sick freak! I'm not into this scene."
So the bad news is Jenny and the kids, after giving their whole Sunday to the photo shoot, did not make the final cut. But I can't disagree with the People editors. The photo of Gracie and me is a total hoot. And David Yellen is a great photographer. To view more of his work, you can visit www.davidyellen.com.
posted by John Grogan at 12:46 PM
 
4 Comments:
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Will the photographer at least grace your family with a copy of each of the other photos you all had to sit through? It's the least People Magazine could do for you guys since you had to accomodate them on a Sunday? Wouldn't the Gracie on the Table one make a great (and sic) Family Christmas photo for your 2006 family newsletter?
I LOVED your book, and just saw the People article today. Gracie looks a lot like my sister's Fox Red, Reagan. I've got two labbie girls, Buffy and Taylor, and they are super companions, but plenty naughty! My copy of your book is making the rounds through the family. I'm a reader, and it's going to stay on my lists of favorites for a long time!
Hi, I just bought your book last night, and I'm already past the part about his movie debut. I love this book, so many parts of it have me literally giggling out loud, because it's so true!
I have a 8 month old Shih Tzu who has some of the quirks that Marley does, however he'll never be able to run me over, or stand on his hindquarters and lick my face. Unless I get down to his level of course!
Just wanted to say thanks for amazing book! So many friends have read it, and actually it was a selection for the "Book Club" for a dog forum I go to called Global Paw, and they all loved it as well.
Eep! Sorry for the long comment, just wanted to say how much I liked your book. :-)
David came to Hollland Michigan on April 1, 2007 April Fools Day to photograph my daughter and her dance group for People Magazine. After 7 hours of shooting, re-touching makeup and costumes changing I can only say this guy knows his stuff. He was only very personable, but a great person to work with. We had kids, teens, adults waiting patiently waiting their turn and David entertainting us. My daughter did say if I ever make it in the dance world I want Mr. Yellen to photograph me again.
We are honor to have been part of David long list of people he has touch our hearts with his camera.
Dominique and Norma Luna