If you've ever been to a photo shoot with a 1-year-old, you probably know to expect the unexpected. Some over-the-top cake smashing, perhaps; or maybe even a mini-toddler tantrum. But according to ABC13 Eyewitness News, two parents from Houston, Texas, were shocked on February 16 when their 1-year-old's outdoor birthday photo shoot was rudely interrupted by a complete stranger — who reportedly stopped her car, got out of it, and confronted them on the sidewalk.
(Yes, you read that right.)
As the parents' camera footage shows, the woman who crashed their photos was angry, barefoot, and accompanied by her small dog.
Kelyn Alyssa and Isaiah Allen told ABC13 that while they were posing their daughter on the sidewalk with a baby blanket and some festive balloons, a woman who has since been identified as socialite Franci Neely pulled over and approached them. And she wasn't happy.
Alyssa later took to Facebook to detail the exchange, which she called "disgusting."
Her Facebook post also describes Neely shouting at them before getting out of her car, saying, “You are trampling the grass that WE pay for."
The couple's video also captures Kelyn shouting "shame on you!" as their daughter cries off-camera. Moments later, Neely comes over and slaps both the balloons and the cell phone.
The uncomfortable scene went down on a sidewalk in North Boulevard in the Broadacres community, which ABC13 describes as "a stretch of land popular with Houston photographers." Apparently, the beautiful tree-lined street has been a source of tension in recent years among residents who want to keep the area private and local Houston photographers, who can't help but want to capture its beauty.
For what it's worth, Neely has since apologized, telling ABC13 that she's "very sorry that I got so upset."
But she still maintains that the photo shoot blocked the walkway and that the parents were not being respectful or understanding about getting out of the way.
According to her official statement to ABC13, Neely said:
The Broadacres Homeowners Association Invests lots of money paying to maintain the trees, grass and walkways in our neighborhood. The high volume of commercial photography damages the property that Broadacres HOA pays to maintain and interferes with dog walkers and others who merely want to walk under the pretty trees. We asked the commercial photographers to please stop.
I am very sorry that I got upset on late Saturday afternoon. Putting it in context, however: I saw three commercial photography shoots in one block at the same time, something that happens frequently. When I explained the situation to the first and third groups, they were respectful. The couple whose photo shoot obstructed the walkway was not. It's hard to remain composed when confronted by shouted threats of lawsuits and false, inflammatory accusations.
Although the City of Houston told the outlet that the sidewalks on North Boulevard are public domain, the homeowners association says the situation is getting out of hand.
"We had to take a stand is what we basically had to do because people were going into people's gardens, standing on people's front steps and they felt that they could just take over the neighborhood," HOA president Cece Fowler told ABC13.
Believe it or not, this wasn't the first time Neely publicly confronted people taking photos on North Boulevard.
ABC13 also reported this week that Neely — who was formerly married to Houston Astros owner Jim Crane — approached a group of teens taking prom photos in the spring of 2018.
"I still feel violated that someone could just come up to you," said Mario Montemayor, whose daughter was involved in the prom photo incident.
"They didn't like where you were. It was a free space. It was disturbing. I don't think she committed a crime, but she was very rude. I'm not asking for an apology, but it's disturbing we can't walk in a free space."
Sheesh — talk about an uncomfortable encounter. Here's hoping the residents of Broadacres can call a truce with local photographers sometime soon. (Or at least not ruin any more 1-year-old's birthdays.)
