When I was in university at SMU I was looking for part time jobs in the summer months and one of them was at a recycling center over in Spryfield. I saw an ad in the paper, called them up and the guys said, “yeah come on over for an interview”.
So I roll up to so and so recycling in khaki pants and a long sleeve baby blue shirt. The fact that I actually wore khaki pants and baby blue together is probably enough to stop this story right there…but no. I show up and in 5 minutes I’ve got my head in a garbage can sifting paper and cardboard and tossing cans and bottles around like I’d been there for 10 years. I worked my ass off for 5 hours, left smelling like an old sock and never went back.
Why am I telling you this?
I’m very happy to tell you that I have the most excellent new assistant. Miss Stephanie Camp has been with me for 2 days now and she’s already been subjected to a wedding show and a trash the dress session that ended in a hair raising exit from the deep dark woods as the sound of owls (coyotes?) echoed all around us. Part of her first lighting gig was to pull a little green wagon of loaded gear 2 km into the woods, perch herself on a 6 inch cement ledge that dropped off 20 feet on one side and on the other, a certain watery death fall. Not only did she not die…she dropped a perfect spot of light on Sarah while simultaneously trying to save her own life…and was smart enough to bring extra batteries. Steph came highly recommended from pretty much everyone I spoke to and I fully expect her to learn, surpass and run me out of business in no time.
Sarah and Ryan opted for a Trash the Dress session instead of an engagement shoot. These are the guys who went shopping cart downhilling on their wedding day so I knew the TTD session had to be somewhere ‘very different’. While they expected a quick one hour shoot w a little mud and some lights…they ended up w a 6 hour TTD experience. Danger, wild beasts, Schooner, ‘homemade’ cookies and more danger.
Alicia Melanson did Sarah’s hair and makeup and when Sarah showed up at Alicia’s studio I told Alicia to do ‘anything she wanted’. I loved the glammed up retro look she went with and I hope the photos did it justice. (thanks Alicia).
This story is getting too long…here’s some photos.
