Facing the rust
It had been about four months in between client sessions for me. Back in April I was wrestling with a move and a new job, so client-focused photography was put on the back burner as I got my bearings. Then comes an email from Ariana S. (Ariana and her fiancé, Derick, are pictured above) in late August inquiring about engagement photos.
I was beyond excited that she had thought of me for her special moment however, another feeling crept up on me as we got closer to our session — I was feeling anxious. I often get the jitters or nervous before any session but since this was my first time back after a while, the pressure was prevalent and so was the anxiety. "Will I mess up?" "What if they don't like the photos?" "Am I even a good photographer?" These are all examples of the questions that flooded my mind as I put my car into park on the day of the shoot.
Photographers will often make it known that they try their best to make their clients feel comfortable in front of the camera, but what if the photographer needs to be comforted? Enter Ariana and Derick. You could just feel this couple's love for each other. Both cracked jokes with me and made me feel like a close friend, despite having met only once at a party in 2022.
I don't know if they knew I was nervous but that anxious feeling and self-doubt quickly melted away as I got more comfortable in our session. Not only was this my first photoshoot in a while but I was photographing the couple at the Pearl — and if you know me (or any San Antonian) you know that I (we) hate that you have to pay for parking in the evening. This session taught me that rustiness is part of the job, you'll fall out of it for a while, burn out, or whatnot, but the important thing is to shake it off and get back to doing what you love.
Special thanks to Ariana and Derick for trusting me with their special moment.
