sofia
Sofia was a shoot where I actually worked with a stylist and makeup artist to shoot a theme. If you haven’t guessed, it was western. I wasn’t; too bothered by whatever the theme was, I never am. I just want to take fun pictures so as long as I can do that, I’m usually happy.
With that in mind my main memory of this shoot was taking the time to drive north of London to a horse stables, where they would sell me a bale of hay for $20. It took half a day but I honestly really helped Sofia have something to do other than just stand on a white background. The ones where she’s sitting on it still make me smile.
The reason I got the straw, and the limitation of this shoot is still the fact at the heart of it, its just someone standing in jeans on a white background. She may look great but I want there to be more. I’d love to do this shoot again on location at the stables I got the stars from. I think this shoot cemented my preference for shooting in real places, rather than studios.
We got the last shot where she was laying on the ground. I had finally decided to break the bale up and make a bed for her on the floor. Outfits changed, lets go. But 10 minutes into this set up I start noticing that my lightings all off, and then I see through the lens that Sofia is squinting and scrunching her face up. I pull back to see whats up and that’s when I see it. My Profoto head on fire, with smoke pouting out of the top. Turn out tiny straw particles don’t play nicely inside flash lighting.
Shoot over. Lesson learnt.
