Bessie Benton, KiddieCandid's First Customer

KiddieCandids is Cloverdale’s first professional photography studio. It opened yesterday in a converted Winnebago Camper Trailor parked near the south exit of the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. Paul Bloomer is the owner. Many local residents know Paul because of his years of work as the one and only photographer for the local newspaper, the Confederacy Times.

Paul Bloomer Stands Ready to Capture Your Candid Shot.

Paul retired last month from the newspaper. He spent his first three weeks of retirement sitting at home watching his wife. She kicked him outside when she'd had enough of his moaning about being 'majestically bored'. His forth week of retirement found him taking long walks. Those long walks gave him time to take an inventory of his life. Depression followed the inventory. He eventually came to the conclusion the only thing left for him in life was a career in alcoholism. Then one day a friend asked him to take pictures at his grandson’s 10th birthday party. He accepted the offer. For one day he had a reason to get out of bed. That very day Paul Bloomer fell back in love with photography.

KiddieCandids, Cloverdale's First Professional Photography Studio

During the party Paul reconnected with his camera and found a new reason to live. The next day Paul was at his computer writing a business plan. With his wife’s support, he took out a small business loan, bought a used Winnebago trailer he found online, scoured the Salvation Army Thrift Store for costumes and props and opened KiddieCandids just in time to cash in on the holiday portrait market. Luckily Paul is a good friend of the Piggly Wiggly’s manager. By pulling in a few favors he got exclusive rights to the parking lot.

The Bentons were Paul’s first customers. They knocked on the Winnebagoe’s outside door shortly after 9:00 A.M. The sat at the kitchen table and looked over the different Christmas Photo Packages before deciding on the least expensive single shot with one prop for $9.95. Little Bessie Benton was put on the bed with the Santa Hat. Ten minutes later Paul captured his first masterpiece.

KiddieCandids is open every day from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. You can find it on the south end of Piggly Wiggly’s parking lot. Just look for the Winnebago. If the temperature isn’t too cold you’ll find Paul sitting outside on a lawn chair bundled up in his green parka with a cup of hot coffee and a smile.