BEHIND THE LENS Episode 1

As most of you know me, I am a Virtual Assistant, but I also have a deep passion for Photography. What started out as an interest, turned into a hobby, which turned into a passion that pays.

I love the saying, "If you love what you do you never have to work a day in your life!" This so rings true with me and my photography. I absolutely love it. I could do it all day every day without batting an eyelash. I often get asked,"What type of photography is your favourite?" Now, how do I, a Sommerville, answer that? There are so many genres to choose from! Macro, Sports, Journalism, Nature, Models, Food, Objects, Families, Weddings.....etc. Ag what the heck, I just LOVE them all! So this past weekend I was hired as the Photographer for a small wedding at a bush resort. What fun! I literally have so many stories, I am going to have to write a book about them all.

Just to let you see a little of what happens behind the lens, after the main ceremony the couple went to mingle a bit with their guests before we headed off for the couple photos. They had been running around all morning with last minute arrangements and then started 1½ hours late. So you can imagine how sore their feet must have been. To top it all, they each had brand new shoes for the wedding and they had not been walked in yet. OUCH! Then I called them to go for their private shoot as we were losing daylight. We had to walk a small distance to the side road which goes through the bush. Stunning for Photos. This poor lady, was already so exhausted by the time we got to the road (a distance of about 50 metres). I had to stop there and take a few unplanned, think-on-your-feet photos until she caught her breathe again. Ok, and we're off again. So we walked like 20 steps, stopped by a sign to take some more shots, walked a little again. I was just trying to get her to the looong dirt road as it makes for beautiful photos. OOOOHHHHH, MMMMYYYY, 40metres down the road, and, yup you guessed it. We had to stop again! So I told her to stop and pose, and I will work the groom around her. She just needs to stand still and smile :) So you can understand my patience was running a little low by now.... I told her to just carry on until we got to the dirt road. "Really Sommerville?! Do you know how sore my feet are?" - Huff n puff - huff n puff - All this while I am carrying her train 20-30 metres down the road. "Come on Sommerville, my shoes are hurting me so much!!" She is paying for these photos, so if I don't deliver, it will be my reputation down the tubes. Nope! Off you go! "Okay Sommerville!"

Finally I got her to her position on the dirt road, and we took some stunning shots while she stood still and we (the groom and I) moved around her. This is just a small snippet of what happens with a photographer when behind the lens. I would love to hear about your "episodes" with your clients. I'm sure you all have some cute/funny stories to tell........

*Copyright of Sommerville Photography - Model Amoré (nope she was not the bride but it is the dirt road)