Behind The Scenes

#1. Photographing Non Professional Talent

Make sure when shooting talent not affiliated with a professional agency that they sign a release form before you start shooting. This way they won’t hold you hostage asking for more money at the end of the shoot. Talent will talk to one another. So, if you have negotiated different fees for the use of their image, you better be prepared to deal with it and the best way is for all parties to have a clear understanding of compensation.

I learned this lesson on a shoot for Red Stripe Beer in Key West. One model wanted more money and he thought he would hold out until he received more of what he had originally agreed on. Well, it was a long walk back to Miami for him and he knew it. He eventually signed and got his check on the spot.

#2. Catering Photo Shoots

Try to avoid high carb lunches. You don’t need tired eyes and low energy on the set. Keep lunches light, high in protein and you’ll make the day breeze by. My energy sets the tone of the shoot. Therefore, it doesn’t look good when everyone associated with the shoot starts to yawn.

This wasn’t the case on a shoot for a upstart football league called the WFL. All our men were former players in great shape willing to show off their washboard abs only to be disappointed to learn they would be in full uniform. At the catering table these guys ate everything protein and left only foods high in carbohydrates. They had their energy and left me with fighting the yawns. Thank goodness for bottled water.

#3. Expect The Unexpected

Sometimes during the course of the shooting day you hit a road bump. One of the reasons art directors hire photographers is their ability to solve problems. So when a new challenge arises, take a deep breath, step back, analyze, and trust yourself. You may end up with a stronger image and your rep intact. In casting “real people” you never know what you’ll get out of them.

On a Miller Beer shoot I had cast an older man in his 70′s to play the barber. The shoot’s location: a bar in an urban city. All the “real people” showed except this man. When it became obvious that this man was a no show, I sent my assistant to the corner bus stop and told her to find a replacement. She found him getting off the bus. The shoot went on without a hitch.