I’ve been Struck Down with a Very Nasty Cold Since my last Post.I Cancelled aDinner Date on Friday and a NewBorn Family Shoot on Saturday. Very Disappointing. Dinner is rescheduled but it doesn’t take long for a newborn to become an infant and the moment is lost. Nevertheless it was the right thing to do.
It would have been a longish period with the Family in their home. Easily a couple of hours.Maybe more.
I’ve only done a little newborn stuff. You might have guessed that I don’t do the beautiful highly stylised stuff with the child wrapped in a basket and shot in a studio.
Mine are in the home and I’m trying to include and connect Mother and Child and if Possible Father and Siblings. It can be a lot of variables to work with not all of which can be easily controlled.
Babies get tired quickly, get mardy, need changing, feeding,winding and changing again.Calls come in for Dad and Siblings are easily distracted. Mum wants to look her best. Hair washed, make up on. Bright eyed and full of joy. That isn’t essential for me and I quite like the slightly more realistic approach. But the golden rule is that my subject has to be as comfortable as possible.
Whatever we are trying to achieve I’m always sensitive to what is happening, what is needed and Mum is always in charge. Always.
Plus I’m either moving furniture around so that I can use window light, while trying not to destroy their home. Or building a Flash Set up that is not going to nuke them and create hard shadows.
Before I know it I have been there 2 hours and all I have is half a dozen test shots and the sound of a crying child ringing in my ears.
None of which is a complaint. I’m happy in this arena. But if I’m carrying a nasty cold the risks of bringing it into a household and passing it on get higher with every minute that passes.
And then there the fact I’m not sure I would have given my best. I was pretty off song for a couple of days but no-one is going to know that when they see the shots.
We haven’t been able to reschedule yet. Christmas Diary is packed. I think I’ve lost this one now which I’m really sad about. I love being tested by these type of shoots and doing my very best to deliver something special. Something that the client couldn’t have done for themselves which is what really adds the value.
I’ve already passed the cold on elsewhere so l’ve got my head down battling through my day job. And I’m working on my website. In the spare room.