When I was a kid my father would often say, “Ain’t no one monkey gonna stop the show.” Over time I learned what he meant by that and it wasn’t until after his death I researched where that phrase came from. Although strangely worded, it’s a powerful message that has served me well in my photographic journey. In essence, it means don’t let any one person (or two) stop you from your goals. On several occasions, following this saying has led to great results. One of my most memorable instances of following this saying was when a model canceled last minute – and I do mean within an hour or so of the shoot. I had everything setup and ready to roll so I shifted gears, grabbed some props, and came up with what has essentially become my logo and one of my most watched YouTube videos. The image and video have also led to individuals all around the world reaching out to me to share their results and companion videos and blogs related to this idea. I could have easily packed my gear up and called it a night but I was more than half way prepared to do a shoot so I did one anyway. Another instance came as the result of COVID. I had a group shoot planned with another photographer and some models to do some close-up lips ideas. We did eventually get around to doing the shoot with just one model much later on, but the original shoot was canceled due to the pandemic lockdown. Once again, I changed my mindset, bought some supplies, and spent the evening playing around. It was a ton of work for just a few images, but again, well worth the effort. The manufacturer of one of the items (Outer Space Vodka) reached out and asked to use my image. I was delighted to share my efforts. And yes, even for free! My most recent example was with the amazing Lexi. We had planned on doing a blacklight shoot and she had reached out to a friend to help do some intricate painting on her body but her friend canceled the night before the shoot. Lexi and I discussed our options and decided to shoot anyway. I researched some ideas on my ‘bucket list’ and forwarded her some sample images of one idea in particular. We forged ahead with the shoot. Lexi applied her own paint which turned out AMAZING and the other idea we added to the shoot was nothing short of phenomenal! It also resulted in a kickass video, if I do say so myself. Once again, had we called it quits when her friend backed out, neither one of us would have these amazing images in our portfolios. So the next time a model cancels or a makeup artist comes up short just remember, ain’t no one monkey gonna stop the show!
0 Comments
|
SteeleKeep the interesting parts of life in focus. Archives
November 2020
Categories
All
|