Photographer under fire for posing a baby with a toy BB gun
Nov 20, 2018
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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It’s November, but let’s face it, Christmas is gonna be here in no time. So, a Shelbyville, Indiana-based photographer Amy Haehl recently posted a baby photo inspired by the iconic movie A Christmas Story. But instead of evoking holiday spirit, the photo caused a flood of negative comments because of a wooden BB gun the baby boy is holding in his arms.
Amy, who is the owner of Coffee Creek Studio, creates Christmas-themed photos for babies born around the holiday every year. This year she was inspired by the holiday classic that’s watched in many homes around the Christmas season. However, the photo didn’t get as much approval as the photographer was hoping for, despite the disclaimer that the BB gun was made of wood.
FOX News quotes a couple of negative comments, and they have been deleted since. After Amy posted the photo, one follower wrote:
“Will now unfollow you. Who the hell would take a picture of a baby and a gun just for money. Such a waste since you are so talented. Think hard about your lack of principles.”
Another commenter was even harsher in a comment that has been deleted since:
“Also unfollowing and unliking you. Extremely distasteful…. Guns are never ‘cute’, not even as a prop or movie reference. Disgusting. The gun culture in this country is a disgrace.”
After receiving lots of negative feedback and having Yahoo publish an article about it, Amy posted a statement to her Facebook page. She writes that she wanted to create a photo inspired by A Christmas Story for years, but she only managed to accomplish it now. The photographer adds that she hopes that any negative comments were caused only by a misunderstanding and not knowing the movie.
Since the story got published, the photo has also received a lot of support in addition to the negative feedback. Many people have recognized the reference to the movie immediately and loved Amy’s photo because of it. “You captured the essence of A Christmas Story. It is my favorite Christmas movie and it isn’t Christmas if I haven’t set aside the time to watch it on Christmas Eve,” one of the comments reads. And this is exactly my thought.
Personally, I’m the first one to judge when I think guns and violence are promoted. And I’m also pretty quick to judge, to be honest. But this time, I think it’s clear that the BB gun is merely a reference to the holiday classic. And I think that it just wouldn’t be the same without it, considering the story of the movie. I understand that the political climate in the US has been kinda sensitive lately. But, no matter how much I don’t support posing children with guns: I believe this is different. It’s not made to promote guns nor children with guns. It’s not meant to offend anyone. It’s just a reference to a classic holiday movie that’s been watched all over the US for decades now whenever Christmas approaches. Despite the toy BB gun in the image, it’s meant to cause warm and fuzzy feelings you get when you watch A Christmas Story with your family.
[via FStoppers; image credits: Amy Haehl, used with permission]
Dunja Đuđić
Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, concerts, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.
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31 responses to “Photographer under fire for posing a baby with a toy BB gun”
I hate guns, but this shot is wonderful ?
Intolerant liberals are easily triggered and feel they have the right to tell you what you can or can’t do.
Some people are prone to overreaction. Don’t be one of them JOhn.
This isn’t even a gun or liberal/conservative issue. It’s a freedom of expression issue. And in this case, the photographer is free to create and post photos as she sees fit, and her audience is free to follow or unfollow as they see fit. No one’s saying you can’t take a picture of a baby with a BB gun. They’re saying they don’t want to see that. Both parties have the right to do so, and no one infringed on it. The only story here is people had different opinions, which isn’t news. So let’s try not to turn it into something and create a rallying cry for the whackos, just so the media can turn a profit on a slow news day.
She should had put Elmer Fudd for lamp stand, maybe this would had pass better. Love it or hate it, not everyone is the same, and that’s a goodd thing.
Jeez might as well stop selling toy guns.. Some people need more diapers than a baby
Tamara Shipp why not ?
My mother never allowed me and my brother toy weapons either. They normalise violence which is not good.
It’s too cute
The gun was unnecessary TBH, but I have no issue with it.
I don’t like using children to promote guns, but I don’t think that was the intention of this photo. It’s actually pretty clever.
Anybody that has a problem with this is definitely nuts.
This is classic. Love it.
She should do Terminator or Cobra now. Lol ?
Awesome shot! Bugs always gets Elmer Fudd….?
lol…some ppl, srsly
The gun is really not necessary as the outfit is adorable enough. Considering all the deaths due to gun violence, recently, I don’t think this is a good look.
The gun is a central part to the whole movie. For those that grew up on the movie they will completely get it (and not see an issue here), and for the rest they’ll just talk about how bad a choice it was.
Do you folks not get the A Christmas Story references?
A toy BB gun really isn’t appropriate considering the number of people who shoot their eye out each year.
It’s clearly a reference, had it been the gun alone I might think it was in bad taste.
At lease the kid isn’t in a pot of spaghetti or some sort of bean pod.
Classic!!
I’ve never heard of that film and find it quite distasteful considering the climate in the US rn. The vast majority of the world does not understand the reference and there was honestly no need for it. There are so many Xmas movies and things to be inspired by, this is so unnecessary.
Not everything is for everybody.
Produces a absolutely beautiful and adorable pop culture reference and those who know this love it. Those who have no idea what its about whine about the toy gun.
Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial? Son of a…
Not a good idea (adorable baby – with a gun, any kind of, really?) and not even neccessary for the shot. No need of.
What next ? they’ll ban Elmer Fudd and Bugs Bunny ?
seriously, some people “jump the gun” too soon, they are “triggered” by anything :p
Nice puns LOL ;)
Liberal: Using a toy gun as a prop is bad, it normalizes violence.
Also Liberal: I totally support a mother’s choice to abort her baby.
Personally, I support the choice of the plastic gun to self-identify as an undocumented peace enforcement stick.
Those photo shot on railway track can kill; this one is harmless, and I am an anti-gun nut.
Here’s a question: wasn’t it the idea of the paying client to have this taken? So if the photographer refused to take it, wouldn’t that be discrimination? Is the refusal by the photographer to take this picture intolerance, or bigotry? If this were a same sex union, the photographer shouldn’t have the right to say no, should they? People need to get their agendas right, before you mouth off. You can’t tell a photographer to refuse to photograph one thing, yet tell them they must photograph another. Your fickle.