I would SO do this!
Christian Jaillite, the managing director of Elizabeth Eakins, a rug and fabric company, explained how a 45-by-60-inch photo of a much loved stuffed toy came to hang in his suburban New York dining room, above: “Most kids have a blanket or toy that they attach themselves to,” he said. “For my son, Hippo is it. I thought that one day we may want to remember Hippo, so I decided to photograph it.”
Friends took notice and asked him to photograph their own beloved objects, their children’s and even their pets’. “It seems everyone I talk to has something from a trip or a family member that’s meaningful to them,” Mr. Jaillite said. “But they don’t know how to showcase it, so it’s stuck in a closet or drawer. This is a modern way to preserve that memory.”
Mr. Jaillite shoots the items in his home studio, on a white backdrop, then ships the photo with what he calls a “gallery mount” (sandwiched between quarter-inch UV-protected Plexiglas and Sintra board) or as-is, so the client can frame it as he or she prefers. Prices start at $500; information: (646) 535-4476 or hippopota.com.
