I’m PMSing today, so I will grump about my latest grump.
So, my gorgeous couture princess dresses, the ones that cost about $300 each? I saved up to buy a pair of brand new ones, the first new ones since I got the first four three years ago. Now, I know that $300 per isn’t all that huge in the scheme of things. I mean, I gripe about clients that come to me and only spend $300. I know she has a family to feed also, but when I’m the sole support for both John and I, it’s big chunk out of our bill paying money. Anyway, back in the beginning of August, I ordered two more, both chocolate brown in a size 3 and a size 5/6. The dress designer said that she had the size 3 with her, but the 5/6 would have to be ordered. I told her fine, hoping that even with her professed 6 month wait that I would have both of them here in time to shoot some fall princesses in the changing leave. So the 3 was shipped and it got here all fine and it’s gorgeous.
Last week, the 5/6 was shipped and it arrived, also stunning. The problem? It’s not the same color as the size 3 brown one!! 
Yep, the 5/6 is quite brown, but the 3 is nearly burgundy when next to it! The kicker? They look identical to the naked eye in natural light, but the camera picks it up every time. So I fired off a quick email with the above photo to the dress seller and her reply was “Your right, the die colors are different. Â Silk runs in different die lots because of it’s natural fiber origin. Â I hate that they weren’t cut off the same bolt. Â I’m not sure what to do now. Â Have photographed them on two girls not under fluorescent light. Â fluorescent light tends to bring out yellow under tones and heighten reds. Â Are you going to photograph them inside or out and have you tried in a setting as you would normally use? Â I am going out of town for 4 days, but will be checking emails if my phone gets reception. Â Email me and let me know.”
I replied back “I always shoot outside with these, so I had John step them outside to see. To the naked eye, they’re identical in color outside, but in the camera they’re again a burgundy and a brown. I haven’t put them on two girls at all because I didn’t know if I could return the smaller one if it’s been used. I understand about natural fabrics and dye lots, but I bought them to be the same color in sibling shots and I really can’t use them in the manner I had intended if they don’t look like they go together. I will put them on a pair of girls and take them out if you say I can and still return the 3 if I can’t use it, but I’m really hesitant to do that right now if I won’t be able to use them together. I LOVE the 5/6, it’s utterly perfect.”
Sooo yeah. I bought them to use together, and right now they look like a mistake. I’m hoping that I can return the 3 and maybe even get a second in the same style as the 5/6 because I am seriously swooning over all that gold lace. The ivory flowers on the other one don’t captivate me as much. It will be a nightmare tinting that size 3 in each shot I use with these if I can’t.