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Dear Martha Stewart

How I really enjoy you.  I have used many of your ideas and done them up in my own special way.  Your recipes have been made in our house year after year, cookies, rolled turkey with todd, cakes…  I even almost applied for a job in your offices just after my husband and I got married.  I chickened out at the thought of going to New York for the interview.

So today, when you (or one of your assistants) Tweeted that you were taking questions live on the air on Sirius Radio, I figured, why not.  I dialed the number and had the question ready that I have wanted to ask you for several years now.  But, your assistant wasn’t sure you would want to or know the answer so she encouraged me to think of another question. The only thing that came to mind was to ask you how to keep my fresh greenery fresh.

You probably thought, who is this Canadian girl asking me about a fresh tree?  Go artificial already!  You were quite sweet though and gave me a few suggestions including using prelit artificial garland that you are selling through Grandin Road and appropriately had on your show today.

But, just in case you drop by my little site, here is the real question I wanted to ask.  Why do you reuse so many of your photos in your magazine?  Sometimes you have a new recipe or at the very least a new spin on an old recipe, but instead of using a new photo you (and I mean your magazine, not you personally) reuse the same photo year after year.  Since I am a photographer it really plays on my heartstrings that a new photo can’t be taken to freshen things up.  That was my real question.  Bear in mind that I have many years worth of Martha Stewart Living gracing my bookshelves that I reference often and I still get inspired by your magazines.

Thank you for the opportunity to call in today, I never thought in a million years that I would get the chance to ever talk to you and certainly it wouldn’t have been about my Christmas tree and garland.  It was fun and truly made my day.

And most of all, I was so happy that these guys didn’t start fighting or screaming while I was talking to you.

Thank you,

BeachMama  from Ottawa, Canada

Categories: Holidays, Kids, Misc., Photography

Comments on this entry are closed.

  • andrea from the fishbowl December 3, 2009, 10:22 am

    I’m not surprised that she didn’t want to answer that question. I’m sure you already know the answer: money. It’s expensive to light, style and photograph stuff. It’s cheaper to reuse the photos. Money saved is more money being reinvested in Martha’s empire.

    I wonder if the photographer gets anything if the photo is reused?

    Obviously they aren’t counting on anyone to notice. I wonder what the ratio of longtime subscribers is to new ones.

  • Chantal December 3, 2009, 10:38 am

    oh that is so cool! You TALKED to Martha!

  • Shannon December 3, 2009, 10:50 am

    I think that’s hilarious they didn’t think she’d want to answer! I’m going to guess that she has no idea they even do that! Is it really that hard to take photos? *click* Hehe. 😉

    You know…you should send your resume! 🙂

  • Loukia December 3, 2009, 3:09 pm

    Oh wow… you talked to Martha Stewart!!! That’s sooo cool. Oh, I wouldn’t even know where to begin with the questions I have for her!

  • Shannon December 3, 2009, 4:37 pm

    I wish I had heard you call in and speak to her – that would have made my day.

    You mean you didn’t want those three making noise and screaming, like MY children did this morning for you :)? That the was the worst part thankfully, they have been much quieter so far!