Photographer Defends Controversial ‘A Christmas Story’-Themed Picture of ‘Baby Ralphie’

What’s your favorite Christmas movie? There are so many good ones to choose from that it can be hard to pick. There are the classics, like “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “White Christmas,” but then there are more modern classics like “Elf” and “A Christmas Story.”

Do you remember the movie “A Christmas Story”? Throughout the movie, the main character, a little boy named Ralphie, really wants a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas, but he keeps being told “you’ll shoot your eye out.” The movie is a fun holiday film that portrays what’s it’s like to be a family and a little boy during Christmastime.

That is, the movie portrayed what it used to be like. Nowadays, there’s a lot of controversy over guns. We’re not so sure that a family film featuring a little boy who wants a gun for Christmas would make it to theaters today.

Gun control is a hot topic. Even Kate Middleton has been accused of not being sensitive enough to the subject.

So, you might wonder, what was photographer Amy Haehl thinking when she photographed a newborn baby posed with a fake BB gun? She was thinking she wanted to recreate the essence of the movie A Christmas Story.

Haehl posted the photo on her Facebook business page for her photographer company, Coffee Creek Studio. She even included a witty disclaimer in the text saying “the BB gun is made of wood to ensure that he did NOT shoot his eye out during the creation of this photo.”

She knew the photo could be controversial, and as it got more and more views online, she sure was right. Commenters have said things like, “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.”

Haehl is defending her choice though. She says, “This photo is not about a baby posed with a ‘gun’… it is about love, tradition, family, and happiness. This movie has encouraged smiles, laughter, and happiness for 35 years.”

All the negative comments are drawing attention to her business, but not every commenter thinks the photo is inappropriate. Some are saying things like, “This is the cutest thing I have ever seen. Amazing job on this photo” and “this recreation of the iconic film is epic! New follower!”

Do you think Haehl’s photo is inappropriate?