My First Job As "Photographer"

Doesn't it happen eventually to all amateur photographers? Recently, I was asked to be the "photographer" at a local Tucson event.  There were many things I learned on this first outing.

1. Find interesting shots.  It's difficult to do if you don't like whatever it is you have to photograph.  Luckily, I enjoyed this program which related to literacy among kids.  But imagine being forced to take pics of something you DISLIKE!  Could be painful.
2. Deadlines.  Pictures take time to edit....and with my camera, it's mostly cropping!
3. Being forced to cope with lighting conditions during the time of the event!!  My battle happened with intense sunlight.

Matters of the Human Kind

1.  Bring pens and permission slips. Otherwise people's faces are off limits!
2. Find out what events are going on so that you can be there for each of them.
3. Get a list of things people may want taken.
4. Investigate the event before the shoot and think of ways you'd like to capture the images.
5. Bring your professional cards....you never know who you'll meet.  During that day, I gave away 3 of my cards.
6. Talk to the crowd.  Let them know who you are so that they aren't scared of the mysterious man.

Physicality

1. Watch where you're standing or you may get trampled.  In my case...runners!
2. Bring a notepad to jot things down.
3. Stuff as many lenses as you can physically carry into your pocket to switch around during the event.
4. Take a break every once and awhile:)
5. Credit your work!

There's probably more that I'm forgetting but please note that these are the only shots that I am able to show on today's post. Note the clever ways to avoid showing the person's face.  In a 4 hour time period, I snapped off around 1500 photos!!!  This was a fantastic event and I'm really glad I was given the opportunity to perform my first gig.  I love wildlife and flowers more, but I did enjoy the challenges that people present.   Here are some comments on the photos you see today.  Literacy for children is an important one so finding a shot with a kid reading was essential.  There are actually better shots out there but their faces were showing.  The little boy with the helmet was absolutely adorable.  He, like many of us, enjoy sitting and reading or writing while eating a donut or salad or whatever.  I think he captures the inner child in each of us.  The last photos make me laugh very very much.  A runner and his pooch.  They did the Laps for Literacy run and it was really fun watching this particular event.  However, after the race was done, the pooch needed to stretch.  I've NEVER seen anything like this so I shot pics.  I move up the hill a ways and there is a gaggle of women...older women.  And they say, "Did you get that shot of the dog?"  But while they were saying it, they were giggling like little girls which makes me think the dog wasn't the focus of their attention:)  That made me laugh even harder.  I enjoy photography but more for the art and discovery and it's not something I'd want to do on a regular basis for a job.  The idea of filming a car race would kill me.  But, I'll leave you with this thought and a question.  I love that photography takes you places or gives you permission to go places that we normally wouldn't explore on our own.  And that is the beauty of being a photographer....you never know what each day will bring.  If you could, would you do photography full time?