I know I’ve said this a hundred times, but I love my job. When people ask me what it’s like to be a photographer, I always say the same thing. “It’s never boring.” In the past ten years we’ve shot all across the country in every kind of environment and weather imaginable. Time constraints, obstacles, crisis – photographers have to learn to eat that stuff for breakfast, because Murphy’s law of photography – you’re going to throw the plan out the window. Anything that can fall apart, be late, or go wrong – will do just that – and it’s our job to capture the day no matter what. You have to keep your energy up, keep smiling, be resourceful and get the job done. If Martha Stewart and MacGyver had a love child – that’s a wedding photographer.
In the field, you’re only as good as your team. Photo assistants deserve serious street cred (especially when they work with me!).
Actual things I have said to photo assistants:
- “Bring me a red leaf with orange spots from that tree” *torrential downpour and the tree was like 200yds away*
- “Give me your shoes.”
- “Hold this frog.”
- “Stand on my shoulders.”
- “Can you get taller?”
- “Watch for cops.”
Today we wanted to share a little behind-the-scenes action with you from weddings and photo shoots over the past couple years!
Our unofficial motto when we’re working to get THE shot – “whatever needs to happen”. Even it if means standing in a lake.
Overcoming danger -like that time that Dana helped Lauren & Dan climb out onto a slippery waterfall after a rainstorm.
Or when I saved Britta & Andy from the Loch Ness monster.
Or the time that Ashley almost got set on fire – yes – that is a flash strapped to her chest.
Or the time that we were photographing waterfalls and rangers told us we had to evacuate for hurricane Sandy.
When you’re on the job you have a lot of responsibilities, like communicating with challenging subjects.
And wrangling the veil.
Ashley takes protecting the veil extremely seriously. No one touches the veil. No one.
You have to pay extreme attention to detail.
Be willing to go the extra mile.
And not be afraid to get dirty!
It really helps if you have no shame.
Seriously. Shame will only hold you back.
You’ve gotta know your equipment. There’s no substitute for a well placed reflector.
Or being able to create mass quantities of bubbles without hyperventilating. (Pro tip – just get the battery operated bubble machines from Target.)
You’ve gotta have good aim with the umbrella gun,
and hold the line with the other pros.
You also have to practice what we call ‘photographer yoga’ – sometimes being able to be your own tripod and lightstand in a tight space, or bending around things you can’t move out of the way. (Thanks Jen Mcken for these snaps 😉 )
Sometimes you have to know where to turn to find good help 😀
And no matter much your feet hurt, or how many hours it’s been since your last meal, you’ve gotta have fun!
Like that time that Ashley proved she could hula hoop with the camera.
Usually at the end of the day we look like this. (Thanks Sean for the cell phone snap LOL.)
But we wouldn’t do it if we didn’t love it.
Thanks to Ashley, Dana, Megan, Amy, Megan U., Kayla and Nikki for being a great team 😀
Do you have a great story or memory to share from shooting with us?
Please share it in the comments section at the top of this post – we would LOVE to hear from you!
