Cameras VS Strangers

    GEESH! Year and a half since I've written here? Time fly's when your busy makin pictures! 

Years ago, before I started pointing my cameras at people for money...well let's just say I was scared. Scared of being yelled at? Scared of being arrested? Scared of being punched? Yes. Your invading, your intruding, rude/interrupting possibly comes to mind? I'm a pretty strong/ outgoing guy, heck I even acted in several high school plays. However this concept of photographing people tied my stomach in knots more than waiting off-stage for my turn! This is not a tutorial on "how to". Duh, if your NOT getting paid you 'ask first', this is more of how I got comfortable, or at least better at it. The odds are with you in the fact that people like photographs. Or liking GOOD shots of them at least. Each session I did I had to remember, I was the dude with the camera, I had control and people actually liked it when I took it. To be honest it wasn't me remembering that, it was my beautiful, supportive wife telling me...time and time again. When I started shooting bands for fun you could see how different the musicians acted when you raised your camera...anyone does for that matter. I've walked into many places/events that I shouldn't have, because after a while I knew I would make a stranger a friend. Because of confidence? Maybe. Because my beard scares people? Maybe. Because I had a camera or two? Definitely. 

Below is an example of me making friends...with my camera...eh the little flower helped too :-)