It's Time
I have been meaning to start writing these stories on here, because I know some people are interested in the goings on to create these shoots. I'll start with my very first model shoot, which was not all that long ago, but a LOT has gone on in my life since that day. Several shoots, the birth of my son, a move halfway across the state of Texas, just to name a few.
The Goal
It was early 2021, the pandemic had peaked, and people in Lubbock were done hiding in their homes, and life was getting back to normal. I had been working on growing my side businesses, and I finally was ready to get my name out there as a portrait photographer. I wanted to be able to use the talent and skills I had to provide for my growing family. My wife was about 4-5 months pregnant at this point, so the goal was set, and then the next step: Setting up a shoot.
The Client
A friend of mine from church was trying to start an apparel company, and he had done some marketing, but he had not been able to get photos done for his new shirts that were being produced at the time. I reached out to him to try and see if he would get me a few for marketing purposes, and he was more than happy to provide me some. Now, time for the hardest part for a photographer starting out: finding models to do the job.
Building The Team
I went to Instagram and started advertising for a brand shoot. It was a TFP shoot (Time for Photos), and they would get to keep the shirts they used in the shoot. After a few days, two models reached out. Ainsleigh and Jennifer were super excited to do the shoot, and we started working out details.
Zack Morris
@zmorrisphoto
Ainsleigh Mitchell
@ainsleightheday
Jennifer Herrera
@jenniferherrera806
The Mural
I had spotted this mural while on my commute to work. When I saw it, I told myself I HAD to do a shoot there. Little did I know I would come back and do one with my wife a few months later (coming soon). I set up the shoot to be done here, to create the urban vibe that the Jester Brand was inspired by.
The First Shoot
Ainsleigh met up with me one Sunday afternoon, and we got to work. I was so nervous working with her, because I had never done a photoshoot like this before. I had researched poses and watched youtube videos on working with models, but it did not prepare me like I thought it would. The first few shots were good, Ainsleigh did great, I just couldn't get the result I wanted. After a few more shots, I finally just took a deep breath, and let my mind work. The shots started getting better, I started to just let my creative brain do what it does, and the photos reflected it. After a few more minutes, we started clicking, and the shots got even better. After we knocked out a few more shots, we decided to move locations over to the Buddy Holly Hall in downtown Lubbock, which was a relatively new building, but since there were no shows or performances, the building was empty. That was where we finished the shoot.
The Model
Ainsleigh was phenomenal, a true pro, she has a great combination of natural beauty, and a great level of confidence when she gets in front of the camera. During the shoot, we built a good rapport, which became a good friendship. We would then proceed to do a future shoot, and are trying to find another opportunity to work together again. As of the writing of this post, we have a concept for a new shoot, and now just have to find the time to travel back out to West Texas.
The Second Shoot
The second shoot was scheduled with Jennifer, unfortunately due to circumstances we couldn't control, we had to improvise on the location. There was a nearby park, and we worked with it, and I was not disappointed with the results. We had a few small buildings and features at the park, but we made them work, didn't hurt that Jennifer was an absolute beast in this shoot. The way I looked at it, we got a wide range of marketing photos, for the young adults living downtown, and for the parents living outside the city. This shoot was definitely a creative challenge, but once we hit a few good shots, the rhythm got set, and we started hitting shot after shot, each one better than the last.
The Model
Jennifer has such a strong presence on camera, you could see it immediately. Her beauty, mixed with the confidence she exudes, makes her an incredible model. We would get one more shoot done, which was actually my first themed shoot in a studio setting, and I also did her real estate headshots later on. She will always be a friend, and hopefully we will get to work together again someday.
Practice, Practice, Practice
I learned that you can do all the studying and research you want, but it will never surpass hands-on practice. The more I spent time working with Ainsleigh and Jennifer, the more confidence I would build up. My shots were starting to reflect that confidence as well, which to this day I am still very proud of. Overall, this shoot was a great learning experience for me, not only because I moved into a new genre of photography, but it forced me out of my comfort zone to learn to work with complete strangers. Fortunately, with my easy going, extroverted personality, I was able to adapt very quickly, but I can tell looking back how much I've grown from that point in time.
Thank You
To those who made it to the end of this, thank you. I appreciate your interest, and welcome you to this BLOG. I can't wait to continue to share these stories with you, and show you some great new content. Feel free to check out my site, and if you're looking for a photographer, reach out. I would love to get to know you and work with you.
