First [kinda] real shoot [with people]

So a friend of a friend is starting this online clothing boutique called House of Plum Red. She had a photoshoot last weekend for her website so she can get started and get the site up and running. Well she needed assistance with the photography and I, very willing and anxious to learn more, of course volunteered. I warned her though that I am far from professional and I know not much more then shutter speed and aperture. She was still willing to have me help. So nice! Well days before the shoot the photographer cancelled and i was SUPER worried that I was going to be the only one but then as God has been helping her, she got a new photographer. ::whew:: because we know id dint want to responsible for messing anything up. So once again I was assisting. yay.

Well when I arrived I really wasn't too sure exactly what I would be doing. Thinking to myself "what did I get myself into, I really know nothing about photography just yet, i only take pictures of plants...". Well most importantly I knew nothing about lighting, esp indoors. my class had just begun that process and then it was over. poor me. i get inside and see the inside of the house setup to shoot with all the professional lighting set up and the nice camera and stuff and then i really felt out of place. well immediately i was welcomed and introduced to the real photographer, Andrew Lee, who was VERY nice and assured that I could learn some from him. He started asking me questions and i had NO IDEA what he saying at certain times yet just as eager to continue learning. I was to at the least take some "behind the scenes" pics of all the girls and stuff. This made me breathe a little easier as I knew my pictures weren't going to be near as good as the real photographers considering I then noticed how lighting is such a big deal esp when shooting fashion and indoors.

I started taking pictures of the girls getting their hair/makeup done and the clothes and preparation. I wanted so badly to be able to shoot the actual girls so while they were shooting for Andrew I stood afar and shot them myself. Hoping that with some good editing, my work could still be seen. I got a few good shots but quickly saw myself how lighting makes all the difference in the world. GOOD thing i wasn't the only photographer there. The only thing I noticed I needed more help with as far as being the "behind the scenes" photographer was that I need to be more assertive and confident. I was kinda shy being that I had never shot people before [besides my son] and I although I got some great shots I'm sure I could have gotten more if I would have spoken up a little more and talked to the models more about taking pictures for me. I could have even grabbed them aside to do a mini photoshoot with me. Andrew assured me that this part was indeed the hardest obstacle when shooting people for a first and you need to realize that they are people and you just have to tell them what you're here to do. Maybe next time I can do that.

I learned a lot from being at the photoshoot. Everything was so professional. There were people doing hair and makeup. A stylist to help put together outfits, runners to help on the side with little things, and wonderful models to work with. I was glad it was someone I sorta knew and I definitely felt more at ease. In t he end Andrew asked me for my contact info and said that he would contact me if I were ever interested in assisting him in the future which of course would be ideal for me. I'm determined to l earn more before then though. Maybe get some better equipment to help me out. I quickly realized how serious I need to take this work if I really want to do something with it on the side, if not full time. I need to put my heart and soul into it and dedication. I was only doing this on the SIDE SIDE SIDE, so far meaning that "when I had time" but i realized I have potential to really be good and make some decent money, I just have to learn all I can and invest in some better equipment. Seeing how professional Andrew was made me strive to be as good.

Hope you enjoy some of my work. I didn't share too many of the behind the scenes pics I took. These are the mostly shots I caught from afar. Thank god for zoom lens right.... and photoshop. The quality of mine weren't nearly as good ad Andrew's but photoshop gave them a little justice.

Hope you enjoy and keep a look out for HOUSE OF PLUM RED opening sometime mid November 2009. The clothing is awesome.

I'm suppose to be helping again this Sunday but depending on my daycare schedule it might not happen. Wish me luck. I'd love to shoot with these ladies again.