Photo Shoot Wizardry

Photo shoots are a tricky ordeal. I have had the pleasure of accompanying Rebecca to several in the last year. It's a glorious thing to carry a high-end camera. People don't even question your legitimacy. They stand around you with gaping expressions, uber confident that you will, indeed, make them look stunning no matter which angle you happen to catch them at.

Jonathan and I are rivals as far as who gets to accompany the great creator of "Tamiz Photography". He often wins, only because they unfairly share the same last name. I say that is no reason at all. I am often rewarded with Starbucks or Panera cards for helping, while Jonathan gets a peck on the cheek or a pat on the back. He is thrilled, nonetheless.

Either of us are chosen to tag along merely for the reason of "making the client comfortable". What is that??!!??! I am a nervous wreck myself because I don't know what in the world I'm doing. However, as long as I'm carrying a piece of expensive equipment and have my eyeballs glued behind the lens, the secret is mine to behold. Back to this "making the client comfortable" thing, I have to admit that it is a terrible chore trying to make the person(s) at ease with being oogled by so many wonderful and expensive cameras. We are to talk to them, make the little ones "giggle", converse with the anti-social teens, and somehow make everyone's demeanor match that of a utopian family. As I awkwardly gaffaw at my own jokes, I am normally stared back with wide eyes and subdued personalities.

Jonathan's strategy to make the "little ones" laugh is to smack himself in the face with his fist and he unanimously gets a roar of laughter from every member in the family. Despite coming home bruised and battered, he nonetheless return victorious. I, on the other hand, spin a round in a circle 'til I nearly fall over with nausea demonstrating how to "let go and relax". There is an awkward moment of "are you serious" expressions, then slowly and one-by-one, they indulge. It's not the safest method (as we normally get a few casualties) but it always produces the results we want: delighted expressions of delirious oblivion.

Now that we've shared our deepest secrets to our photography success, the rest is left for you to figure out. If you would like to view Rebecca and Jonathan's work, please view their site at: http://www.tamizphotography.com/ and check out the blog. Until next time!

Not So Thrifty

greetings.

so, this is my first blog. ever. and i am excited because it is the beginning of something new and different and that is always fiercely refreshing.

i will try and update this as much as possible. there will be no rhyme or reason for the topics chosen. just whatever piques my attention for the day. if you don't want to read this, that's ok. i might not want to read yours either but i will merely for the sole sake of politeness because my momma raised me right. that was sarcasm. i mean, she did raise me right, but...nevermind.

today, rebecca and i drove down commercial street (be on the look out for scrappy looking people-if they make eye contact with you, cross your eyes and look straight up. that should do the trick to stave off any unwanted attention). our goal today was to go "thrift shopping". we weren't planning on spending any money, but then again, when do we ever? we wanted to feel cool and hip and be in the "in", but unfortunately all the stores were closed. darn the economy and darn musty smelling clothes that are supposed to be "in" right now. i choose rebellion from now on and decided that i will be the master of what is "thrifty" or "vintage".

if i really really wanted to fit in right now, i would simply waltz into my mother's closet and find the moldiest ugliest jacket with the biggest football pads in the shoulders, stick a grandmother's brooch in it and call it good. but i don't. instead, i headed over to 1/2 of 1/2 and had a magnificent time digging through the racks and racks and racks of $3 clothes....bcbg, dkny, free people, you name it. i got a sweater with a price tag of $275 for $3. and a dress from $200 to $3. don't argue with me. my way is better. all i have to do now is figure out how to sew the massive holes in the armpits and find exact buttons to replace the ones missing. but those are minor details for now.

lesson for the day: we put value on things determined "valuable" by other people. who in their right mind would charge $275 for a sweater? i could find a $3 shirt, shred it up, splash some paint on it...and i bet...someone would buy it. if i put a fake tag on it. that would be awesome.

that's all for today. come back for more mind-blowing inspiration.