Sometimes it's good to step out of your comfort zone.
I had to step out of mine the other week, having not only my first paid gig, but also taking shots and working with a kid. Now I have taken shots of other people's children, but never in such a professional manner, with the express purpose of having some nice photos for them to appreciate and share.
I was lucky then, that the people I was working alongside were lovely, accommodating and just as nervous as I was. We both helped each other and at the end of the day, we got some great stuff out of it all.
So who were the people I took shots with? Casey is someone I work with at my job and she's fantastic. She asked me to take photos of her daughter, Paige. I was very happy to do so, welcoming the challenge but more importantly, help create some lasting memories for Casey, Paige and her family. I've worked with Casey for about 2 years or so. Paige on the other hand, I had only met once before and unfortunately it was early and she was pretty crook so she wasn't in the best of spirits.
This time though, I got to get to know her better and see what a great and interesting kid she is.
We met at Mt Annan Botanical Gardens, located in South Western Sydney and a beautiful place to shoot. Fortunately the weather decided to play nice and it was sunny and just a bit of wind. We all had no idea where to begin, so we walked around for a while, trying to find spots and sights.
Eventually we found a good place to begin and the nerves really kicked in for me. I hadn't ever really asked people to pose for me or follow specific instructions when it comes to photography and I think it showed at first, with my very specific instructions being "Ummm...just look at the camera and smile"
Those nerves quickly wore off, and we all got into the swing of it. Paige got into it, knowing how to strike a pose, with Casey directing too. I was more fluid in what I was doing and I felt more comfortable as the day went on.
We had a few outfit changes, location changes and more, but after about 2 hours we called it a day, everyone happy and satisfied with how it all went.
Like I said earlier, I had never done anything like this before, but I was very lucky to work and shoot with Casey and Paige. I couldn't have asked for a better experience with it all. I got dragged out of my comfort zone, but I'm extremely happy I did. Seeing Casey's reaction when I handed over the photos to her made the entire experience worth it and I can't wait to do more. It's why I love photography.
Brendan