What do photographing eggs and keynotes have in common?
What do photographing eggs and keynotes have in common?
Hint: it’s less about the subject of the photo and more about the photographer shooting it :)
Recently, I had the pleasure of capturing photos of a soft open of a bakery owned by some of my family members.
When they reached out to let me know about it, I was excited to lend a hand in the best way I could.
And since cooking and me aren’t exactly besties, that means we’re strictly talking about photos.
So, 5 hours and over 1300 photos later, I accomplished what I set out to do.
While photographing a bakery isn’t usually part of my normal client work, it is something that I immensely enjoy capturing.
For example, any time that I would see my cousin reaching for an egg, I would immediately run over to him and prepare myself to capture the egg crack onto the grill as if my life depended on it.
Why?
Call me crazy but I think eggs and yolks spilling out of the shell look AWESOME.
While I’m not a foodie, I do believe these photos can and should be classified as #foodporn for those who are :)
While the experience of capturing candid images of all the goings on in the bakery - prep work in the back kitchen, laying out all the treats in the display case, all the food being cooked on the grill, the customers in the shop, the food plated in containers, etc. - offers my family members image content to help promote online, it also helps me in another way.
It helps sharpen my skill set for the work I do with speakers presenting on stage.
How so?
Well, much like getting in position for the eggs to be cracked onto the grill, shooting high-quality, stage photos requires awareness to be in the right place at the right time, an eye for a compelling composition of the activity in front of the camera, and having the patience for the right moment to hit the shutter button.
And, the similarities don’t end there.
Much in the same way that I’m always on the hunt for a speaker to exhibit compelling body language and a demonstrative expression as they deliver their keynote, I’m looking for similar expressions and body language from customers as well as the bakery staff to truly capture the flavor of the moment.
See what I did there? :)
At the end of the day, the way I shoot one thing is the way that I shoot everything.
I’m always on the lookout for non-client work opportunities to help enhance my sensibilities behind the camera.
It’s all about getting in your reps wherever you can find them.
And speaking of reps, how can you leverage different activities in your life to help sharpen your skill set that serves those who need your help most?
Please share them below.