Plan and be patient

by Mark Treick
(Newberg, OR, USA)

Catch this Wave

I have 2 simple rules: plan and have patience.

The planning goes into who you are shooting, what you are shooting, where you are shooting, when you are shooting, and why you are shooting. I know this sounds like the 5 W's in journalism, but I find it makes sense in photography as well.

Being able to answer these simple questions may seem bothersome and impractical at first, but as you get used to doing them you develop confidence in your abilities. One of the problems I had at first in photo shoot was having "My game on." It's kind of like writing a grocery list down before shopping for the groceries. If you forget the list, and you try to wing it, will your significant other be happy or upset once they realize you forgot something? I never did well winging it. Make the list and stick to it.

And the patience comes in because you'll need it. That perfect photo is out there somewhere. Have fun with the time you have with the process. Don't make it a race to get to the finish line first. It's not a sport. Some of the most out of shape people I know are great photographers. If the perfect shot doesn't happen that shoot, there is always another day. Take the shots you can. See what shots you get and then move on. There is always another great photo right around the corner.

I find after doing these 2 things, I have much more confident shoots, and I enjoy myself much more during the shoot. And so do my clients.