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Don’t quit your day job

I don’t remember who came up with the idea but when my friends were in town last week someone suggested we take pictures of people in front of the Eiffel Tower with my vintage polaroid camera and then go out to dinner with our earnings. It sounded like a fun challenge and the entrepreneur in me was curious if it would work. It was hilarious! As an adult I’m not used to rejection like that! After two hours we’d made 45 euros. Not enough to pay for dinner but not bad either! It was a lot of work but ended up being really fun to interact with all the people. I’m glad I have friends who think doing things like this is a great way to spend an afternoon. Would you ever do anything like this? It’s essentially a lemonade stand.

Thanks to Charlotte Beck for the photo.

  1. Amber, theAmberShow

    August 12, 2011

    I want to try this on the Brooklyn Bridge. I’ll see if I can beat you! International challenge accepted!

  2. Staci @ My Friend Staci

    August 12, 2011

    I definitely would have paid for one!

  3. NY_NKE

    August 12, 2011

    I think I am to shy to do so, but I love the idea. I would have had my photo taken, that’s for sure. But doing it myself? Nah.

  4. isabelle

    August 12, 2011

    wonderful idea! i would definitely have paid for one!

  5. nicole b.

    August 12, 2011

    Ha! I love this… 45 euros isn’t bad at all! I would’ve paid you to take my photograph. I love the old-school sign, too. TOO CUTE. xo.

  6. brenna

    August 12, 2011

    I love this idea! I’m sure it was lots of fun ! I considered having a bake sale to fund an iphone 😉

  7. Fernanda

    August 12, 2011

    I think you should do it again! I´m sure word will start spreading around and people will go look for you!! 🙂

  8. Ashlyn

    August 12, 2011

    That’s a great idea, Jordan! I love the look of “vintage” Poloroid photos and definitely would have paid five euro for such a keepsake! I may find a pretty location in Boston to offer a similar service.

  9. joana

    August 12, 2011

    awesome idea! i would’ve had mine done too!

    might find a nice spot when i go back home to lisbon and give it a try!

    xx j

  10. Lisa Maria

    August 12, 2011

    I love this idea! I would definitely have paid 5 euros :).

  11. The New Diplomats Wife

    August 12, 2011

    that’s enough for dinner in a good cous cous joint on rue mouffetard. i definitely would have paid for a pic like this. maybe try on a saturday?

  12. Kimberly

    August 12, 2011

    I agree with Fernanda, try it again – word will get around and you’ll learn to pick up cues on who’s most likely to be a customer. What a fun challenge!

  13. Emma Robertson

    August 12, 2011

    haha this is hilariously awesome! 45 euros may not buy you dinner but it will buy you lots of wine and chocolate 🙂 I am going to seriously consider doing this when I visit 🙂

  14. Phuong

    August 12, 2011

    so fun! i definitely would have gotten my picture taken 🙂 love your sign ♥
    45 euros would get a nice box of Laduree macarons hehe

    http://littlerandomhappiness.blogspot.com/

  15. BRITTNEY

    August 12, 2011

    Adorable!! I love your sign with the little flowers taped to the pics. This sounds like an adventurous afternoon I would have spent with my sisters laughing the entire time.

  16. Rebecca

    August 12, 2011

    This is awesome! Reminds me (for some reason) of the kids in Slumdog Millionaire!

  17. Madeleine

    August 12, 2011

    A street kid took a vintage polaroid picture of me and my husband for $10 on our honeymoon in New Orleans. He explained that he had to charge a bit more since the film was expensive but that *hopefully* it would turn out *pretty cool*. I have it framed on my nightstand and it is one of my favorite photos ever.

  18. rebecca s.

    August 12, 2011

    45 euros or not, it sounds like it was so much fun and you, your friends and whoever got their picture taken will have this lovely memory to cherish. wonderful!

  19. Michelle A

    August 12, 2011

    Saw people doing this on occasion up at Alamo Sq Park, sans the pretty camera (I think it was digital and emailed?). My favorite was once they had a life-size cutout of the Full House family to stand with. Hilarious.

  20. Krysten {Clickable Party}

    August 12, 2011

    Great idea! Unfortunately for me, the closest tourist attraction is in Fall River at Battlship Cove. I don’t think it has enough draw to compete with the Eiffel Tower, but it would be a fun challenge. Probably, if I enlisted my 12 year old as my sales person, I might make enough to take the kids for ice cream!

    Best,
    Krysten

  21. Aimee @ Paging Supermom

    August 12, 2011

    That sounds like a riot to do with friends!! (And, for the record, I would have paid 5 euros for a pic!)

  22. Reading (and chickens)

    August 12, 2011

    I love this 🙂 What a great way to spend a day.

  23. Stephanie// Vintage Modern Bride

    August 12, 2011

    I love this idea! Sounds like so much fun!

  24. Risamay

    August 12, 2011

    Sounds like fun in theory, but I wouldn’t likely give it a go. Glad you did though!

  25. christine

    August 12, 2011

    maybe you would have more people if your sign was in french

  26. Annika

    August 12, 2011

    That was an awesome idea! I have all the equoimnet, but not sure I have the guts…

  27. Meg

    August 12, 2011

    This is too fun! I would have stopped by!

  28. Lili @ Relatable Style

    August 12, 2011

    I’d do it, but probably take 2€ in hopes to attract more people 😉 Then again, Polaroids do not have so many pictures on a film, right? ^^ Anyway, sounds like a very fun idea! And for Paris, 5€ is nothing, once a man from Senegal tried to rip me off and as he became aware I spoke French he said to me “Ok, this was the American price. I give you 50% discount”. LOL. Thanks, but no thanks 😉

    Relatable Style

  29. kasey at girl in the gray house

    August 12, 2011

    oh that is so funny! you have some balls! i might not have been brave enough!

  30. Katherine

    August 12, 2011

    Haha I love this! What a fun idea! I totally would have taken you up on the snapshot.

  31. hanh

    August 12, 2011

    that’s waaay cooler than the lemonaid stand

  32. Janel

    August 12, 2011

    We have the same camera! We took ours to Disneyland last year, I thought about trying to get people to pay for pictures- never did. I love that you did though, Good Job!

  33. Libby K

    August 12, 2011

    Ok, you’re my hero. That is such a hilarious idea. Two points for you and yours!

  34. melissa

    August 12, 2011

    That sounds like so much fun! I’d totally try that. Who wouldn’t love a polaroid of themselves in Paris?

  35. Cher

    August 12, 2011

    Maybe if you wrote it in French it would’ve attracted more people?

  36. Chelsea

    August 12, 2011

    YES! Love the idea. This is what I live for. I’m a bit of a gypsy at heart and would love to just travel the world coming up with spur of the moment ways to enjoy an evening!

  37. Rose

    August 12, 2011

    How fun! I don’t think I’d ever try to sell photos, but I’d certainly buy one if I were in front of the Eiffel Tower!

  38. Hannah

    August 12, 2011

    How about a wireless printer on battery (do they make such a thing?) to make an instant postcard the person could send?

  39. Joy

    August 12, 2011

    I would have definitely bought one! What a great idea for an adult lemonade stand!

  40. ainsley

    August 12, 2011

    what an adorable sign, i would buy a picture!

  41. Jen Byard

    August 12, 2011

    I would totally do this! What a fun idea. We live in San Diego so I’m going to scope out my version of the Eiffel Tower 🙂

  42. Ana F.

    August 12, 2011

    That’s a fun idea! I might be trying that at the Golden Gate Bridge haha

  43. Kelsey

    August 12, 2011

    Such a fun idea to do with friends!

  44. Katie

    August 12, 2011

    What a super fun idea!
    I love meeting new people so this would be right up my alley.
    Have fun!

  45. Nira

    August 13, 2011

    You guys are too fun! love your spirit

  46. Zoe {Conversation Pieces}

    August 13, 2011

    I love this idea! You should tell us some stories of the people you met! (It is like something that would happen in a movie.) 🙂

  47. Susana

    August 13, 2011

    I surely would!!! I love the idea and should try something similar in my city :)!

  48. My Traveling Troop

    August 13, 2011

    I think that’s a great idea! And if you do it consistently, say once a week, I bet tourists and locals will try to find you for one! Plus, 45 euros adds up after a month!

  49. Jacquie

    August 13, 2011

    ahhh, I wish I was a tourist around the Eiffel Tower more often!!! I would have loved to have my picture taken and I would have dragged my husband to do it with me…

    great idea and i’m sure you make some good memories for those tourists…

    PS Have you ever tried this restaurant?? Krishna Bhavan at metro La Chapelle? My Mother, husband, and I ate wayy tooo much and only spent 30 euros…(best indian in paris!)…

    So it is possible to have dinner for 45€ in Paris

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  1. polaroids + weekend |

    […] Think of it like a lemonade stand, but instead you offer to take people’s photos. Oh, and one minor detail: you’re in front of the Eiffel Tower. Boldly talking to strangers and tourists from all over the world. Crafting beautiful little vintage polaroids. It’s a genius idea! […]

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