I did it! Pete Watson
Part-time pro Pete Watson has experience of how personal projects can help when shooting for paying clients.
“Along with doing shoots for clients, I like to do my own projects. With these I have a lot more freedom and can do anything I like. For example, I’m putting together a portrait project that involves using only one lens and having limited time to shoot. The challenge is interesting and useful, and being forced to find solutions within these limitations is a perfect grounding for shooting for clients.
Paid shoots often involve quite limited time to get the job done. Clients don’t always know what they are looking for so you have to think on your feet. You need to know your gear, environment and have an eye for what will work and what media it will be used for. My shoot with one man and his (hire) bike in Amsterdam went through several ideas before I decided that the best thing would be to use puddles on an elevated concourse that would dovetail with the river behind, creating a clean image. The clouds and off-camera flash worked well and I knew we had a good shot that would fit with what the company needed. The key is to use experience from jobs like these to build your confidence and shooting style to help on your next shoot.”
Find more examples of Pete’s work at www.petewatsonphoto.com