It just got REAL(er)

Yesterday, I had my first real photo shoot. Though I have been taking pictures for as long as I knew what a camera even was, for the most part it’s remained a joyful hobby.

A few weeks ago, my good friend Sean asked me if I’d do a shoot with his new band, Condesa (a super cool, Latin flavored folk trio). I still had stars in my eyes from taking a passel of photography classes via CreativeLIVE, and was also still basking in the afterglow of realizing I actually knew how to use my camera in Manual. So when he told me he wanted me to take their photos, I was ALL ABOUT IT. Uber-confident. Yes! I can do that! I am building my portfolio, says I! See 

you in June!

Cut to yesterday.

Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god. It’s raining. What am I going to have them do? I can’t talk to people.(Google “band photo shoot ideas” whilst driving. Jot ideas down on already used sticky note attached to steering wheel at every blessed red light during the 10 minute drive to Sean’s) Please stop raining. Is the cemetery weird? Too dark? Too stony? What if I’m not funny? I should have worn pants.

In short. I was FREAKING out. This wasn’t the fly-on-the wall, blessed by serendipity, documentary style photography stuff I was used to (and love). These were clients. Who needed things. From ME.

It was a challenge, but I had wonderful friends as guinea-pigs clients. During the hour and a half we spent traipsing around a soggy Cedar Hill Cemetery, chasing light, I learned a lot. 

So, after a subsequent evening of studiously ignoring my camera, some “WTF am I doing?” tears this morning and some serious self-rallying, I decided I should officially document my development as a photographer. That way, I can look back and chuckle over my growing pains when I’m clinking champagne glasses at my studio’s silver anniversary.

Lessons learned:

1. I need more practice.  
2. I should be more MacGuyver-y. Now that I’ve learned all the rules, I need to be ok with breaking some.
3. Scope out your location ahead of time. Know where the light is going to be, and when.
4. Brainstorm ideas for your shoot. Make sketches even. Have a shot list.
5. Plan and gather props well beforehand. Not duringhand.
6. Don’t be afraid to bump ISO up.
7. Bump up shutter speed. You do not have the hands of a surgeon. Shaky shaky.
8. Learn how to better direct people effectively. And don’t be afraid to be direct.
9. Set a hard time for when you will start shooting. Punctuality (your clients’ and yours) is important when you’re dealing with natural light.
10. Bring support if you can. Sean’s sweet and patient brother Mike came along and was my ROCK. As well as reflector holder, lens exchanger, chatter provider and 80s pop song accompanist while we drove off-road amongst the dearly departed.
11. I don’t want to do graphic design. (WARNING: Tangent!) I kind of knew this already...but last week, I pitched to a local church who needs some promotional materials for their Fall chamber music series. It’s occupied so much of my mental space in the past two weeks that I haven’t had enough time to think about what really matters to me. So what if it’s a fast buck? I hate doing it. It gives me acid reflux. It’s not my heart. Sue Bryce, a photographer hero whom I admire very much, says she transformed her business when she stopped doing the kind of work she didn’t want to do. So, once I finish these brochure mock-ups...Peace out.
12. I need more practice.

Henceforward, I’m giving myself weekly photography assignments. This week, I vow to take pictures everyday, no matter what.

I’ve waded in. My shoulders are underwater. Time to swim.