Quick Update

The headshot photo shoot went pretty well yesterday.

I was careful to be sure I was in no way telling my fellow classmates what to do.

I will admit though, that my tone in the last hour to hour and a half, may have been a window for the same complaint.

But I will not apologize for that.

I was not, bossy or disrespectful.

I was merely assertive and succinct.

Can you blame me though?

We were supposed to be done at 2 pm and people were taking their sweet time.

We were not done til after 2:30.

We started at 8 and had nothing to eat all day.

Yes, I wanted to stay on schedule.

But, it's a learning experience.

Every session is.

I'll be back with sneak peaks soon.

For now, I'm off to do another session of the Fitness calendar shoot.

{LPS}

Learning Lessons

So this past Sunday I received an e-mail from my photography instructor. She said she needed to speak with me.

I was scared.

She never told me what it was about, so of course I imagined the worst possible scenarios.
(i'd rather be prepared for the worst so if it happens, it's not a shock)

We scheduled our appointment for friday.

Yes, nearly a week of not knowing. I don't know how I made it through.

Anyway, when I finally met her, it was as I imagined.

Only, more shocking.

More than one member from my crew had complained I was bossy and pushy during our "shoots."
(we've only done practice ones with each other so far, so i don't count them as real yet)

And even one person from another group had told her the same thing.

While this may seem as very ordinary in the sense that there are many people in this world who are this personality, I am not one of them.

On the contrary, I am reserved and avoid drama.

So, I have been careful about not telling people what do when it is not my turn to shoot.

This italized part is important.

When I am not shooting, I am an assistant.

I shut my brain off and do as I'm told or as is needed.

When I'm shooting, you bet your rear I'm telling you what to do.

As photographer, that's my right.

If I need something done, that's what an assistant is for.
(And they know this too. It's part of the real world lessons our instructor teaches.)

Now I also want to clarify that I'm not disrespectful.

I don't mistreat my crew members!

So I am very confused as to what they are referring to.

Even more so because some of the things I was told about, those same people told me the opposite.

Some people who said I was telling them what to do, told me that I was helpful or had asked my opinion.

Not to mention the fact that everyone in my group has been very friendly with me. I haven't once picked up negative vibes.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . ???

I just don't know what is going on.

I know I have been careful to make sure I wasn't telling people what to do.

But if I saw a fellow crew member struggling I would speak up and offer a suggestion.

If I was asked, I spoke.

If I wasn't, I asked for permission.

I know sometimes I can say things and they sound completely wrong from what I intended it to be.

Maybe that's my problem.

-----------------------------

Tomorrow is our first photo shoot with actual clients so I'm very glad my instructor decided not to keep brushing the students off as having a personality clash with me
(to further illustrate my side, she had ignored the first two complaints as such, as she couldn't believe I would actually be behaving in such a manner, but when the third person spoke she thought maybe I wasn't aware or maybe it was possible it was happening)

But back to the point, I am glad I am aware so I can be even more aware tomorrow.

It was never my intention to be bossy or come off bossy.

I'm sorry if I was misunderstood.

Tomorrow I will keep completely to myself and I will kill with kindness.
(not literally of course)

It's the only way I know how to handle this.

*Sigh*

So, I have to ask, what do you think about this situation? How would you handle it?

I'm not going to lie, I'm feeling lost and confused.

{LPS}

Fitness Photo Shoot

Ok so here are some final shots of the photo shoot I went to a few weeks ago. 


I was a bit disappointed in the shots I had because many were well composed but a little soft. 


But I'm not complaining because at least I had an opportunity to shoot.


So with out further ado. . . 

Comments? They're always welcome. 

Oh, I almost forgot. 

The guy who is in charge of this photo shoot called me today. 

He asked if I would be available to shoot for him this Friday!!!

So, if all goes well, I'll be doing some shooting all on my own.

For time scheduled specifically for me.

I don't get those very often right now. 

So yay!!

Have a great one everyone!

{LPS}

Photo Quote of the Week

The difference between a good picture and a mediocre picture is a question of millimetres. - Henri Cartier-Bresson


This is a lesson I believe I have most definitely come to learn one too many times.
(and yet it hasn't stuck. . . hmmmm)


I have a tendency to do my cropping in camera.


So what happens when you are new and crop in camera?


Well, let me tell you.


You get mediocre pictures.


Rather than good pictures. 


For example

Here we have another straight out of camera shot.

Lovely, sweet, rather endearing really.

Until you follow the flute.

Left side, lower corner.

Yep, that's a millimeter of flute i'm missing.

And this one.

I almost got an A on this project. 

Except she threw this quote at me.

See on the right, I'm missing part of the agave. 

Yes, it is a thing I like to do.

Sadly, I don't have much else to say about this quote.

Other than, it is very true.

. . . And it will probably haunt me until I'm an old, decrepit photographer who can't shoot anymore because of arthritis or osteoporosis or some other bone troubling disease.

(before you run away screaming from my blog, i say that not because i'm such an optimist but 

because that's the only way i'll ever stop shooting. ah now it makes sense, bet you didn't see that coming.)

Hope you're all off to a great start this week!

{LPS}

Sneak Peek: Fitness Photo Shoot

So here are some teaser photos from the photo shoot I assisted in a couple weeks ago. 

They're a little dark since it was the end of the day and I usually rather go darker than lighter anyway since darker is a problem that can be fixed. 

I'll post the edited images later. I might even post them before and after style. 

Let me know what you think and remember they are straight from the camera.

Have a great week!

{LPS}

Photo Quote of the Week

"PHOTOSHOP" - Everybody

Ok so it's not really a quote but I was working on some photographs from a photo shoot I assisted in over the weekend and I thought "This is my least favorite thing about photography!"

When I first started it was very much exciting to me. The things I learned to do and how I was able to sometimes transform my images, I was amazed. 

So I obviously didn't mind spending hours editing. 

These days, I despise editing. 

I have so may things going on that it just feels like a chore.

How does this relate to the "quote" of the week, you ask?

Simple. 

Editing means photoshop.

(or Lightroom for some of you, but i'm ignoring you for today's purposes)

Photoshop means many, many connotations.

Mostly bad.

Most people think botched artwork when they hear photoshop.

Something poorly done and even ghetto.

Yeah, that really makes me want to take my time editing.

And for a select few it means positives things which I am choosing not to dwell on today since I am only interested in the negative.

Yes, that's me, the optimist.

(actually i normally am, but today i choose not to be)

So back to editing.

It sucks.

I'm sure I'll think otherwise when all my work has been completed and I am once again filled with

Wonder,

awe,

and PRIDE

in the work I have done.

Until then, I shall be an unhappy camper.

Er, photographer.

{LPS}

P.S.

When I am back to my optimistic self and find myself with some free time, I shall fill you in on my recent absence and share my experience about the photo shoot I assisted in with some sneak peaks.

Byeee

Photo Quote of the Week - Among other Thoughts

You can't photograph your thoughts.
- Stephen Johnson


I say nay to Stephen Johnson. 


You CAN photograph your thoughts. 


Photography is all about photographing your thoughts!


It's the visual expression, 


the physical embodiment, 


the.tangible.of.your.thoughts.


You photograph what you see.
You photograph what you hear.
You photograph what you smell.
You photograph what you taste.
You photograph what you feel.


You.photograph.what.you.think.


But you all know that.


Isn't it one of the reasons you enjoy photography so much?


I know it's one of my reasons.


Anyway, speaking of thoughts, here are some more of mine. 


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


I have been MIA yet again. 


Life has been quite the busy bee for me these last few weeks. 


But i start school on monday.
(nay, bring on the summer once more i say)


So I hope to get back into a working routine. 


You know, for someone who was never a fan of the day to day routines,


I sure have grown to love 'em.
(sigh)


See you on the other side of the lens!


{LPS}