In amongst the December madness of over-eating and over-spending, I have been otherwise focused. Mainly on getting some more real-life photography experience under my belt this month. Here is a blog on this, my first musician Headshots Session.
MUSICIAN HEADSHOTS BOOKING
An old school chum of mine got in touch with me on Facebook. I did my usual shameless self-plug and Shazam! I got a Headshots Booking!
THE BACK STORY
Edd has played the guitar for as far back as I can remember him in my school memories. I think I can even recall him strumming out some complex Spanish piece. Aged about 6, when we were in First school. It must have been scheduled around a Christmas assembly for the parents to weep to. The rest of the kids around him were weirdly dressed up as playing cards. WTF?!
MIDDLE SCHOOL
When I took up the saxophone in Middle School, some 5 years later, I became better friends with Edd. We would be shuffled to the back of a very cold and frosty mobile when the school “orchestra” rehearsals would occur. I was put there because the saxophone was very loud, and I’d likely frighten the more delicate Flute players up front. Edd was there because he was so talented the teacher let him hang away from the rest of the strings.
I can specifically recall on one occasion during the poor teacher going around trying to get us all in tune, Edd explaining to me the wonder of humans lighting up their own farts. Naturally, I was shocked and dismayed that this was even possible. Edd told me all about how this was done, and what foods you should eat for the best results.
(cue and Edd blush about now).
I assure you he is a true Gent these days.
HIGH SCHOOL
Moving on up into High School I sort of lost touch with Edd. He went off to be much too cool compared to where I stayed in the school “band” (as it had been re-branded by then). I can recall he was more involved in the more honest and “angsty” teen bands at that time. The sort who got the headliner spot after the school band’s rendition of the Corrie Theme Tune (“For the Mam’s) or Sleigh Ride (At Christmas). During which I only ever had about four or five notes to play for the duration to keep the tempo going. I guess I was far too pre-occupied with teen vanity issues like “Is my hair straight enough?” or “Is my Rimmel lipstick smudging right now?”.
THECATCH UP
So to catch up we decided it best to head on out to the Pub.
I think its always a good sign and positive reflection of a person when both parties are happy to reveal how they have changed and think differently about things since time has passed by in a catch up conversation. There is truly nothing worse for me than when you have to revert to pulling out the “Do you remember when” card a lot. Arguably a clear sign you no longer have much to talk about in the here and now.
So fully caught up, we made plans to set up a shoot. It transpires that Edd is in a few bands now and still performs solo. On this occasion, he needed some promotional shots of himself. So we scheduled in time to make this happen.
MUSICIAN SCHEDULES
3 months later, and 3-4 cancelled shoots later, we made the shoot happen. Using the flat above a Guitar shop, where Edd carries out some of his private tuition, we had a good backdrop to shoot in.
THE MUSICIAN HEADSHOTS SHOOT
Edd was set with many different guitars and outfits and I had fashioned my limited flashgun onto my home broom with trusty gaffer tape, to make a boom. We referred to this throughout the session as the “Broom Boom”.
Here is more of a selection of the work of the day.
As you will see, we had a really chilled out shoot. I loved the easy pace of this kind of work, especially in comparison to the high-intensity compressed sessions I do with the clients at my part timer. It was really important to Edd that we keep things real and honest. So there was no call for me to put Edd into any contrived poses. Nor did we have to think over any particular subliminal narrative for the kind of musician he is or wants to be perceived as.
Edd simply played me a rang of his music and songs we both like and we had a chat. I took photos whilst this was happening. I swore at my boom broom a fair bit and the dodgy sync cable for letting me down at times and Edd laughed at me.
Edd is now playing guitar around the world, sometimes aboard a wild variety of Cruise liners.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Let’s talk about your next set of headshots!
MORE INSPIRATION
I know… seeing IS believing. So follow this beautiful button to shortcut to my Gallery. You can get some ideas, check that I’m legit, and see just how many other people I have impressed with on-brand headshots before taking any sudden action for yourself.
DOWNLOAD THE LATEST BROCHURE
Get a copy of my latest collection of services delivered straight to your inbox by filling in this form.