Lights, camera, action!

This month's Tech Tip is by Nancy Loderick, Dish Editor and VP, Network Partnerships, at DowntownWomensClub.com.  This article originally ran in the Downtown Women's Club January Dish e-newsletter. (click here to register for free).

As the final phase in my online makeover, it's finally time for the big photo shoot. We’ll be doing this in Downtown Boston, one of my favorite places in Massachusetts.  I am working with a wonderful photographer, Melissa Forman, of Forman Photography.

What have I gotten myself into?

At least it’s sunny and warm and there aren’t too many people out and about, so I won’t feel completely self-conscious as Melissa Forman is taking my picture. Melissa tells me to relax, act naturally and don’t blink. Immediately I find myself doing the exact opposite; being tense, doing odd poses and blinking. Melissa is wonderful at putting me at ease; she is so genuine and nice, I can’t help but smile and relax. She also explains the photo-taking process to me; she’ll be taking hundreds of pictures.

It’s fun for me to watch Melissa at work as she surveys our surroundings, looking for interesting places to take the pictures. Who would have thought that standing next to an oddly patterned light pole would create such an interesting and unusual picture? Melissa showed me interesting little corners of Boston that I never knew existed. And, did you know that everyone has a good side and a not-so good side? Melissa takes pictures from both sides and wow, you can really see the difference.

Well, maybe this isn’t so bad after all.

We’ve found, or should I say, Melissa has identified “my look.” It’s a side-ways shot, with my arms loosely crossed and me smiling at the camera. If I stop thinking so much about acting naturally and just enjoy the day, I start to relax.

Melissa was right when she said that modeling is hard work. I can’t imagine being a real model and having to pose for 10 hours a day. Well, maybe I could if I got paid like a super-model, or even looked like a super-model. Oh well, dream on, I’m only 5’3”, so I don’t think I’ll be on the cover of Vogue anytime soon.

Okay, now I’m tired.

We’ve now moved from the Boston waterfront to Faneuil Hall and it’s time for the casual shots. As a photographer, Melissa is a pro at reading facial expressions. She asks me to jump up on a wall and pose and the (unintentional) look I gave her must have spoken volumes. She quickly said, “Well, actually you can just walk around this wall and step up on to it.” Thank goodness, since I’m having visions of jumping up on the wall and falling off the other side. Definitely not something I want captured on film.

Melissa is showing me some of the good pictures throughout this and they don’t look half-bad. I was pleasantly surprised thinking that the outside light would be very harsh and I would look like a ghost.

Five lessons learned from my professional photography experience.

1. A professional look and polished online presence is critical for every businessperson.  It's key whether you’re in the corporate world, or in business for yourself.
2. Ask for advice. If you’re not sure where to start, ask! I asked Diane for photographer recommendations and I went to a makeup expert.
3. Be yourself. I’m not one to wear a lot of makeup or jewelry, so I didn’t want my pictures to show otherwise.
4. Enjoy the process and laugh at yourself. My makeup and clothing experiences could have been real downers, but instead I chose to see the humor and to write about them.
5. Have an open mind. I had so much fun with Melissa and I would highly recommend her to anyone needing a professional picture. New experiences can be exhilarating!

Nancy Loderick

My bad side--ugh!

My good side--not too bad!                           

Comments

[Enna]

That's a great description of the work we photographers (and our subjects) put into a shoot. So let's see the final image you chose! :)

[Li-Ess Baptiste]

I enjoy the photo within the email and the photo at the end of this blog. Which picture did you choose ultimately?

[Nancy Loderick]

Enna and Li-Ess, thanks for your comments. I actually chose several photos to use, including the one in the Dish, the one at the end of the post, and my DWC Plus Profile photo. I even have a less formal, but still professional, one for my Facebook profile. Ah, the beauty of technology!