You never know when I may do a shout out for a second shooter on my FB page! Be sure to Like It, so you have a chance at coming, no matter what city you live in!  Below is what happened to Natalia Dotto when she responded to a last minute shout out! (be sure to check out her BEAUTIFUL website!) And Early Bird Special starts tomorrow with the announcement of our Winter CONFIDENCE Cities! xo, m

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A Behind-the-Scenes look from Natalia Dotto, Seattle Photographer (all photos by Natalia)

Last Friday afternoon was supposed to be routine: picking up a 5 year old from Kindergarten, collecting my 14-year old from JV soccer practice and going to my 17 year old’s Varsity soccer game. But sometimes plans change and chances have to be grabbed.

Me Ra Koh had put out a spontaneous call for a second shooter on her FB page, someone to go on a funky photo journey with her. I jumped at the chance and an hour and a half later, I was in Tacoma outside an antique store with THE Me Ra Koh!

She greeted me with a big hug and that smile that just draws you in. We chatted a bit and she immediately put me at ease. Did I mention I was really nervous?! Then she started to tell me about her vision for this family session; A vintage sofa placed in the middle of the street. A parking garage peppered with graffiti.

And the family was bringing some serious props … a deer head, a stuffed fish, also skateboards, hockey sticks, helmets, a homemade sword, shield and quiver, a surfboard. My mind was racing at the possibilities.

Me Ra handed me one of her SONY cameras, popped on a 70-200 lens, gave me a quick run through of the Sony … seemed simple enough. The family arrived with matching blue blazers, and we were off.

Over the next 90 minutes I watched.  I shot.  And I absorbed it all.  There was a ton of laughing and some shooting and some learning and quite a bit more laughter, but here are my four biggest “aha’s” that I took away  from that afternoon:

1. You don’t have to get every shot. This was big for me since after every session I walk away with the same thought — why didn’t I get this or why didn’t I do that, or say this or ask that?  When we talked before the session Me Ra said think about a session this way: if you only had 3 rolls of film, 36 exposures, 108 images which ones would you get. Be thoughtful about when you push that shutter-release. Pause … breathe … think.

 

2. Don’t be afraid of the opportunity.  Me Ra found a vintage/antique store in Tacoma that was willing to let her use their orange sofa in the session. Better yet the shop owners were willing to let her put it in the middle of the street. Even better … two burly guys spent a few minutes with us moving it in and out of the street when the cars came by.

My takeaway: See something you like … ask. What’s the worst that can happen?

3. Collaboration can be key. This was a seriously fun, good-looking family. How often do you get clients wanting a stuffed fish in their family portraits? This family was anything but stuffy.  And while Me Ra had a definite idea of how she wanted this session to go, when the boys had an idea she went with it. If she wasn’t feeling it she told them and started over.  Here’s Me Ra showing one of the boys how she wants him to pose with his mum. This one just wasn’t working (think mum’s head squashed between her lovely high-spirited boys).

No problem, Me Ra moved them in front of a vintage doorway.

I saw a melding of ideas between photographer and the clients. Granted not every client is going to be like this. But asking for feedback, for what the client wants to do, can go a long way.  The boys were totally engaged in the photographic process and likely more comfortable in front of the camera because of it all.

4. Perhaps my biggest takeaway was this: Start from where you are. Me Ra’s words of advice she picked up in the loo. I’m serious. If you ever meet her ask her about this one. But anyway … I worked for years as a television news producer; I still pick up a freelance job now and then. Over the last few months I have been wondering why I’ve not embraced that side of me more when it comes to my photography. The couple of hours I spent with Me Ra reinforced that this is how I need to approach my craft, starting from where I am and what I know.

Oh and make sure you laugh … a lot!

As I got in my car for the drive back to Seattle, Me Ra jumped into her grandpa’s old jeep truck, honked, and waved as she drove away. My mind was swirling. It actually still is. Were there images I wished I had taken, questions I wish I had asked? Of course. But the couple of hours on Friday afternoon were a thrill for me. I’m grateful for the opportunity to meet and shoot with the photographer who helped get me started on my own photography journey.

Thank you Me Ra!

Oh and a huge thank you to my husband who jumped in and took care of the kid-wrangling for me.

-Natalia Dotto

P.S. Part of this journey for me was making a video for Me Ra’s SOAR scholarship. (Yes, I actually got in front of the lens). I had taken a few tentative steps towards starting a photography business when I heard about SOAR. Through the SOAR scholarship three women receive mentoring and coaching from Me Ra and several other sponsors and partners in all aspects of starting their own photography business. But it’s so much bigger than that.  Anyone and everyone who wants to can participate. While I didn’t win the scholarship I made some amazing BPF’s (Best Photography Friends) who I likely would never have met if it weren’t for SOAR. The SOAR community is spread across the country. And these women support and encourage each other as they build their businesses.  And for those who want to enter in 2012 the contest is going to gear up again! Get those videos ready, I’ll be watching!   For more info on the SOAR! Scholarship, CLICK HERE!