Ellen

She marched through the door and right over into the lighting set while the rest of the group filtered in for their head and shoulder pictures. There were 24 people and she was going first.
“Hi.” “Hi.”
“You don’t want to do this do you?”
“No.”
“You want it over with.”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m going to take good care of you.”
The people I work with are not of the red carpet, Hollywood set. They’re not likely to have personal trainers and managers. If they need something, they go get it themselves. Many of them have physical employment or own their own businesses or both. Having a picture taken is the last thing in the world they’d normally do. And yet, here she was, Ellen, for a head and shoulders picture as part of an association she belongs to. The picture was required of all board members.
At the top of my mind in these situations is the notion that people have something sweet and positive about themselves that I need to try to find and pull out. Ellen is a very nice person who gives generously of her time and talents so other people can have opportunities. So with limited time and a small set the challenge is to create the chance for Ellen to put her best foot forward and for me to capture it in the camera.
From my side of the camera, when all is said and done, I always feel like I let Ellen down. If I’d worked a little longer, harder, smarter perhaps I’d get closer to the goal. I feel strongly about not creating a new and unknown person with technique and software. But I do feel strongly about using the tools to help bring the person I see in Ellen up to the surface to share with everyone.

Follow