The Great Shoot Saga (Part Two of Two)

When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Unfortunately, there was nowhere for me to go. Plus, it would’ve looked bad for the others at the shoot to look out the window and see me scooting down the highway. “Hey, where’s Marcus? And where’s that last model? And where's my wallet?” Anyway, I’d have to show up eventually, to pick up my paycheck, and what would I say then? And all the morning flights to Brazil were booked.

Seriously though, I needed to change that expression to “When the going gets tough, the smart get networking.” That’s what I did. In my years of developing these shoots, I’ve developed a small—but growing—network of models who are local, reliable, and know other people also interested in modeling. Word of mouth at how interesting and fun we make these shoots have been our best asset. And I’d need every bit of that asset as, looking at my watch, and the storyboard planned for the shoot, I realized we’d need to get someone there in the next hour and a half, or the morning shoot would be shot. By moving some individual shoot elements forward, and the core of the shoot to the end (typically we do it the other way), I could buy that hour and a half. But I’d need to find someone fast.

A lot of our models are non-professionals, which translates as “have a day job.” Finding a model that could walk out of work in the middle of the morning, who was close enough to West Springfield, Massachusetts (where the photographer’s studio is located) to get there in under and hour. I called several connections. Then I called several more. With every phone that didn’t connect to a person, I left a voicemail hoping someone could get back to me, but knowing that every delay made getting a model onsite that fast that much less plausible. But I refused to say die—there’d be time for that later, from my bosses. One of those I called was my most reliable source I’d worked with in the past— a woman who had come through many times—and who came through yet again. An hour later, she was there with a model, perfect for the need and the look, and utterly professional in composure. As the fire cooled under my fanny, and I silently jogged my elbow sharply down, I figured I must be doing something right with somebody. It all came together.

All day photo shoots are an exhausting affair. Models are there from 9 to 4, but the setup and wrap keep some of the team there from 8:30 through 5. For most of that, we’re on our feet, moving models through props and costume changes, checking hair and makeup, entertaining any children to get the right expression and keep their energy up. The cost is high on our own energy levels. By the end of the day, we’re all pretty wiped. But at the end of that day, I couldn’t help but feel a little jazzed at how the impossible had been achieved through teamwork, network and hard work. Which was why I needed to blog it. And also why I couldn’t do it all in one sitting.

Tomorrow, I hope to have some glimpses of our tree-in-progress. Right now I’ve got to run out to CVS for more lights. Merry Chriskawanchuka. And to all a good night.