Thanks. No, really...

It's good being a photographer. OK, there are some points that do verge on the negative - but if you treat them as 'challenges', harassi- er, reminding editors about outstanding invoices, interpreting client briefs (OK, accurately interpreting) and the constant thought of where the next job is coming from actually add to the experience. Admittedly, you might have squint and hold your tongue just right to see this as a positive.



Why do I enjoy my job? One of the many reasons is its variety. Very rarely is one day like the next. I photograph weddings, fashion, corporate and environmental portraiture, product, events music - the list goes on. If I'm not shooting, then it's research, admin, communication and marketing (and housework). And chasing invoices. Getting paid is good, and highly under-rated by some.



But sometimes it's not about getting paid. Sometimes you get asked to do jobs where money doesn't even enter the equation. And yesterday was one such circumstance.
Yesterday I was graced with the presence of Thanks, a DJ/graphic designer/creative from Melbourne, who was stopping in for a few days before returning to the shores of the Long White (cold, grey, damp) Cloud. And he asked me for some portraits. To which I agreed, on the proviso that I could have general control over the creative process, unhindered by everything except the vague brief of: "Can you take some photos of me?"
So - bags packed, batteries charged, CF cards emptied - off we headed. Albeit after Thanks had visited the barber to have a hair cut and his beard trimmed. Really.
So - how did the day go? Very well. Any day out shooting is generally a good day. Especially when the midday sun/black tee shirt combination lends itself to a quaffing of a few lage- um, refreshing beverages. And he received direction well, standing/holding/looking where/what/where I asked him to. With the exception of one incident where I asked him to jump a railing ("In these jeans? I'll fall and break my face man...") or stand in a water feature ("Um. No.")
Other than - pretty much everything was fair game. So - we made the most of the day, covering about 6-7 km, trekking through the city taking turns at lugging the camera (OK, only I carry the camera) and it's peripherals...

So where's this going? Well, upon trolling an alleyway looking for an interesting backdrop, I was approached by a woman who needs some catalogue photography done for her clothing business. I gave her my details, so hopefully I'll be hearing from her in the near future...


Thanks...