Photographers Tip Of The Week - Week 8 - Shoot with a Buddy

Shoot with a buddy! Sometimes I head out by myself in search of a particular image I have in mind to create, but almost always I'm with a friend or even allow my husband to come along. Thinking about ordering him a shirt that says "Lost Canyon Photography - Staff", but thought that might be going a little too far! Whoever goes with you, be sure they understand that photographers are a little bit of a different breed and will see the surroundings differently. There are those of us who are willing to sit in our vehicle or a blind for hours at a time hoping something will happen. Others are impatient and will cruise the same trails and roadways multiple times in one day thinking that that perfect shot is probably happening a couple of miles down the road, because it sure isn't happening where they are :) Most of the time those once in a lifetime shots present themselves to us like a gift.

Expectations: If your friend or significant other is driving the vehicle and you spot something that requires you to bail out quickly, you might want to have a plan ahead of time. They need to understand that you don't care whether you've closed the truck door, put down the back hatch after retrieving your tripod and taking off at a dead run, or that the vehicle was still moving when you got out. If you're shooting wildlife you may only have seconds to capture the shot. Another very important thing, STOP MEANS STOP!!!! That doesn't mean 2 feet later, 20 feet later......... it means NOW!

Speaking from experience, it's so much more fun to share the moment with someone. My friend Heather and I still talk about taking off hiking boots and wool socks to wade through near frozen creek water to get to a band of wild mustangs we wanted to photograph. That story and many others like it will be what we talk about 20 years from now when we're way too old for those kinds of adventures.

Find a buddy, and go out there and have some fun!