Getting Spooked!

So you are in your first year of a four year bachelor of photography program and you keep hearing about how you have to be able to shoot interiors of buildings, news stories, portraits of business people, create window light when there isn't any, etc. The list can seem unending, and at times school will too. Do you allow yourself to get spooked away?

As I look back on my AIPOD experience, I can remember the hardest things, and the most discouraging as well. I didn't, however, get spooked off.

By far the hardest thing was finding models for all the different kinds of assignments. It is easy to ask family members, but as you advance, you will find that you are no longer allowed to use family. I found my best source was through church. Sometimes I could ask people directly, but several times I asked youth and adult leaders to help me. They led me to some of my best models. Another great source is contact a modeling agency and ask for new model candidates who need portfolio images. (You can trade the model's time for use of your images.)

Another difficult things was timing. Some classes start and immediately you have shooting assignments. Having to arrange quick shoots with no prior knowledge of what kind of models you'll need can be overwhelming. I suggest you build a list of people (not family) who like to model or at least be photographed. Then you have several people you can contact on short notice. Normally at least one person will be available. Another issue with timing is that life doesn't go on hold just because you are in school. Prioritize and ask for help. None of us are super-humans.

Learning lighting was difficult, especially in an online environment. I suggest you ask for video samples if they are not provided in your classroom. lynda.com has some tutorial videos. I love creativelive.com for online webinars. Another option is following examples from a good book. I love Glenn Rand and Tim Meyer's The Portrait Understand Portrait Photography put out by Brooks Institute Press Rocky Nook. Learn to quickly create a loop lighting pattern. If you get that down and can create it in 30 seconds, you will be in good standing for most portrait sessions!

After the newness of being in photography school wears off, you roll into the perseverance stage. One class just leads into another and another. It will seem unending at some point, but think about all the classes you have to complete to get your degree. When you started then were all on one side of the scale. By mid program, the scales are evening out, and soon there will be more completed than unfinished. Finally one day you will be completing that last class. If you have given everything to your learning experience, you will have not only done something wonderful for yourself, but for the world around you as now you are able to capture the beauty and amazing details that most people miss.

So remember, don't let the hard times spook you. Instead capture the emotions of those days in images that you can share with someone who needs to be encouraged also.

Have a Happy Halloween and a great Thursday!