Hey there folks!

So I decided to do a quick blog today. Earlier in the year I was approached to do win photos at a dog show. Now I have attended too many dog shows at this point to keep count. So I had a solid idea on what it entailed and what to expect...that being said, who doesn't get a little anxious when attempting something new and outside their normal wheelhouse? I took the job and started keeping a better eye on the photog's at all the shows I attended between my decision and the show I was scheduled to shoot. What I saw was off camera flash from 90% of the time a single light source and a camera on a tripod with maybe a speedlite on it. Part of me wondered why shoot like that, more than likely the lighting would be very flat on smooth. Sure it is flattering and makes things look good but there is no dimensionality to them. I have only seen one person editing on-site most of the time the photog's are waiting on someone to come to them or headed to a ring with a camera and L-bracket with a speedlite. So I kept asking myself...this seems to be the normal way, why would I want to alter it. A good deal of the shows I attend are the same photog and he and I have not actually met yet. (I like to stay in the background and not be overly bold.) So now I am in "thinking" mode about how I want to light the scene for my shots. I decided on 3 speedlites with MagMod modifiers on them. I only just bought the MagBeam (see previous blog entry...) just before the show. Crazy idea right? Well I had a good idea of what to expect from it and got what I wanted. A spot beam on the dog just slightly brighter than the rest of the shot. Now I didn't do it for all the shots as I was concerned not everyone would like that lighting as they are not used to seeing it. I still REALLY like the shots with it more so I think that is the way I would continue to light that part of the frame in the future. So...I had my lighting idea. Now watching them they take down info and talk to the people in the shot for a couple minutes to get all the info to make sure the person gets the right image. Well I didn't see the point to making other folks wait while I try to scrawl info down that I might not be able to read later on as I have crappy writing (should have been a Dr!) I thought, hey why not just make a simple handout with images and studio name on the front and custom directions for getting to and logging into the gallery. Turns out that is THE best choice I could have ever made, instead of backing up a whole bunch of people waiting to get photos done. I just handed out or was able to have the one of the people involved in the show hand them out quickly. There have been a couple hiccups with ordering or login but nothing major and no new plan ever goes off without a bump or two. Of course the photog's normally have a decent sized area all ready and setup for people to just come up and do win photos.  I didn't get that, the space was too small and I had to tear down and reset everything for each of the shows. Plus do the setup while the first person waited, thankfully everyone was understanding and patient. Once again...MadMod's and speedlites already on stands for the win! I didn't have the funding or time to get a backdrop before the show so I did go into the shots afterwords and drop backgrounds so that the shots were more in line with what I wanted to see from them. Thankfully it was not a big show so I didn't have a huge amount to do it on and was able to post the shots quickly. But they are selling and people are complimenting on them....so at the end of the day, that is a WIN! 

So get out there try something new and shoot something unlike ever before, you never know when it could open up new doors and you will learn and meet new people!!!