First, I think it pertinent to report that JC Penney Portrait Studio has decided they need to set new standards in the field of photograph security. I had Jonathan’s 6-month pictures taken there in March and got a detailed explanation about not being able to pick up the pictures without the identification page and a driver’s license even if I have the photographed child with me.
Well today I went to the Fort Knox of photography studios to pick up the pictures. You may wonder why I am just now picking up pictures that were taken in March. All I have to say is that is the life of a mom with four kids (Thomas, Jonathan, Katherine & Autism). Anyway, when I arrived today there was no one there and the counter displayed a sign saying they would be back at 3:00. Since it was only 2:00 and it had already taken me 3 months to get myself over there, I was a little unhappy.
Having previous experience with JC Penney Portraits, I knew that if there were someone there they would just find my pictures in a file drawer and hand them to me (after checking all pertinant sources of identification). For a few minutes I stood in the studio archway, there is not even an attempt at a door, observed that no one was disturbed by my presence, and then decided to find the portraits myself. I peeked in a few drawers that were out in the lobby just enough to notice that they did not contain portrait folders. Then I noticed drawers behind the counter labeled “portraits”. I went to the one on the right since our last name starts with “W”, leafed back through the envelopes, found the one labeled “Robin Wigdahl” and took it.
So much for security procedures! If JC Penney is going to make a big deal about providing identification they shouldn’t leave their facilities so wide open! I could have walked off with a whole stack of pictures that didn’t belong to me.
Admittedly, I was a little jumpy about breaking the rules. I am a rules-following type of girl. However I paid for the pictures all the way back in March so I was only taking what already belonged to me. I was careful not to disturb anything else so I feel that I observed the intent of the law if not the letter of the law.