Kristin with a backdrop and backdrop stand.

Sometimes I haul a lot of equipment to a portrait shoot. I have worked with a lot of models and I’ve noticed that only about 1 out of 10 offers to help carry my photo gear. So an offer to help with my gear usually takes me by surprise and I take note of the thoughtfulness. This young woman is one of the 10%.

I don’t think the other 90% are selfish and inconsiderate. I think they get so intently focused on “it’s my job to be a good model” that the thought of helping never crosses their minds. On a photo shoot, even when they aren’t in front of the camera, the really good models are thinking about lighting and poses and facial expressions that will work best on that particular shoot. Plus, some photographers don’t want anyone to touch any of their gear (a few get a bit growly about that), and some models have learned that.

Text Message

Incidentally, on the way to our photo shoot last Saturday morning, Kristin stopped at Tim Hortons and sent me a text message asking if I would like something for breakfast. This is a very thoughtful young woman.

Try to ignore blurriness of this iPhone photo, that the composition is bad, that a city park trash barrel is on the left side of the photo, that I chopped her off just below the knees, and that there are glaring hotspots in the background that distract from the primary subject of the photo. This is almost a lesson in how not to do a portrait. Then again, if we call this a snapshot, the portrait rules don’t apply.  🙂