The Many Thanks of Jin N Tonic with Todd Powers Photography (Bakersfield, CA)

Welcome one and welcome all, my beautiful VIPs, to the Thanksgiving Dinner Table of the one and only Jin N Tonic family!

Like any normal family, The Tonics have our squabbles, but mostly we are just your average, white, drunk, near-sighted, loving, Passive Aggressive Christians and Consumers just like every other healthy, normal family on this joyous holiday.

​Join us, won't you!

Let's take some time to get to know each wonderful member of The Tonic Family, and also find out some of the amazing behind the scenes secrets that brought this photo shoot to fruition!

First, I have to thank my real life grandparents, who allowed their Weird Grandaughter to set up such a crazy event in their actual dining room. All the furniture and artwork in these photos are theirs, complete with Jebus Portrait. It's just not the same without Jebus. My amazing Grammie was even sweet enough to allow us use of her wedding China, purchased by my ​Papa in Japan on his way back from his time served in Korea in the early 1950s.

"The Dad" AKA Mr. Tonic AKA Sir to You - he's all business. Mr Tonic works hard 351 days a year to put food on his family's table, Goddangit. He's the type to tell his kids they're taking a road trip to Disneyland, but drop them off at Business Camp instead (haha, is that a thing??)

The china and crystal-ware all came with a word of caution from Grammie of course ('now you be careful...' - I may or may not have a recent history of breaking her dishes. .. I may), and the fine ass carving set you see is my very own, left over from my glorious days as a Cutco salesman. (Technically, I still sell it. Check that shit out; best knives in da world. Hit me up when you're ready to order, or if you need a sharpening - I'm trained ;)

"The Son" aka Junior - he's the only one living in the 21st century. Despite the alfalfa hair, he's a big fan of violent cartoons and he once stole one of his uncle's beers - ten minutes before returning it, unopened, followed by three hours of prayer.

"The Mom" aka Mrs. Tonic - she's dying inside! But boy is she going to leave a spotless home and a fabulous corpse! Pass the wine will you? She dresses like it's the 1950s and is popping Quaaludes like it is too! She's not 100% what the holiday is, but she's toasting like it's 1999!

"The Daughter" aka Jinny - She's too cool for any of this. She's got a boyfriend with a shitty van and a blog on Tumblr - something her parents think you use for making drinks. She's heading straight out of their plastic wrapped American Dream the moment she turns 18.

I also borrowed my grammie's pearls and reading glasses, and some of the props were taken straight out of her cupboards - such as the classic Dr. Pepper can, and the oldest box of tea I've ever seen (I googled it and the design is from the 60s). The wine itself is prop cherry juice, for the sake of my very sober grandparents, the bottle having been secretly emptied by yours truly the night before. .. In to mah belly. .. In case that wasn't clear. The lovely dress worn by Mrs. Tonic is a real vintage beauty, borrowed from a beautiful Costa Rican woman I met during one of many modeling adventures. It belonged to her grandmother, who hand made the dress and modeled it herself back in the day when a photo of anything was a really big fucking deal. I felt purely I Love Lucy in it.

As the model of this shoot, each family member brought something fun to the table (HA!). Mom had the dress - and the constant wine buzz, *shh*; the son was just fun and simple to be; Dad's angry-at-nothing-all-the-time is a lifestyle that I can definitely relate to; and the daughter brought me back into all the things that I loved about being in high school, like the pants and the spikes, and all the things that I hated about being high school, like EVERYTHING else.

But the crucial Tonic Family member that really brought it all together ..... 

"The Brother-In-Law" aka Uncle Jinn - He's everybody's best bud! Always ready for a cold brewskie and an inappropriate knock-knock joke, he's an over-achiever at under-achieving! Mrs. Tonic's twin brother, she convinced her husband to take him in after his DVD to VHS and classic Yo-Yo bizz failed.

Out of all the Tonic Family members, it was Uncle Jinn that got the best reaction out of my grandparents. The surprising part is how gross I felt - I couldn't wait to be me again! Uncle Jinn doesn't give no shits though - he doesn't live life by your judgements and he brings the true Thanksgiving Spirit to this table.

The true hero of this entire event though is the photographer himself, Sir Todd Powers. Not only did he MAKE THESE MASTERPIECES - He also made the dinner!! Can you imagine?? The man spent hours if not days prepping that turkey, and before he could eat it, he was forced to photograph it for three hours.
Is he some kind of Art/Willpower God???

​Yes. Yes he is. 

Of course the real Jin N Tonic has passed on the turkey for the past two years, but I can assure you a solid TEN POUNDS of mashed potatoes was consumed. 

Oh yes it was. ​

My actual Thanksgiving this year was spent with those same amazing grandparents, sitting at that same table along with my old ass, blunt ass, loud ass, cranky fuckin ass aunt and her even older-ass husband. After a very tense 48 hours, I'm pretty sure the point of ALL Thanksgiving traditions is that no one enjoys them. No one does. BUT they're tradition sooo... Here's your Cheese-Whiz Broccoli Casserole!!

(I'm not joking)

I of course wouldn't trade it for all the real bottles of wine in the world. Or would I . . . 

Here's hoping your holiday was spent however the fuck you wanted to spend it! You're all fabulous, and I am thankful as fuck FOR YOU!
​I mean it.

XoXo
JNT

Still Thirsty? Come and follow all the fun on instagram! You may even find a hidden photo of that Gawd Awful casserole (you won't - I love you too much and would never, ever do that to you. omg.)

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All images are ©Todd Powers Photography 2014

Please be sure to share the proper credits if you share the photos! <3