I love tight shots of people because, as a viewer, you get a sense that you’re sharing in a private moment.
In every shoot, I also like to step back once in awhile to get an environmental shot because these images give context to a story.
Some locations, however, provide movement limitations, like a small room, a crowded location, or a sailboat in the middle of the San Francisco Bay!
So during my September boat shoot, Rachad carefully coordinated with a good friend to meet us in the middle of the bay. His rescue boat was small and fast, so we could maneuver around my clients’ large sailboat. It was thrilling FO SHO because — and I’m only spelling this out because I didn’t know this myself — the boat engines can’t be turned off on the water; the boats are always moving.
All this excitement brought me back to the days I jumped out of airplanes, dove into pitch-black caves underwater, backpacked in remote areas of Southeast Asia, and trekked through rainforests at night to find noctural wildlife.
Behind-the-Scenes #1
Getting on the rescue boat and back on the sailboat while both boats were moving was the most daring part of the whole shoot because there was nothing stable to hold onto, no area to step in the rescue boat, and the boats were at different heights.
We zipped in front of my client’s moving sailboat, along side it, and all around it. Salt water, wind, and my hair whipped against my face while I tried not to fall out of the boat whenever we hit a wave. All the while, I was scrunched in the front of the boat and had to twist my body to get the angles I needed.
Think: human pretzel!
What I Shot #1
Behind-the-Scenes #2
Here we were along side the sailboat while Rachad’s family was getting into position. We had to maintain the same speed and race around to get the perspective I needed.
You can see the waves we generated from zipping around, and also the smiles!
What I Shot #2
Rachad tilted his boat intentionally to show off the sleek lines of his new boat.
This is what it looked like on-board!
Behind-the-Scenes #3
Returning to the sailboat meant I was dryer and warmer. Ahhhhh!
I stayed low to the boat — either sitting or squatting — as to not fall out when there was turbulence. Here I am with little Maya, whom I’ve known since she was a baby.
What I Shot #3
Being at the boat’s nose, I could capture multiple layers of imagery when facing backwards.
I also walked towards the middle to get closer shots, making sure to shoot through things in order to get cool foreground bokeh.
[If you want to see more Behind-The-Scenes (BTS) action, check out: BTS of a Maternity Shoot, BTS of a Senior Shoot – Jalin, BTS of a Styled Shoot – Crystal, BTS of a Children’s Shoot – Little Princess.]
That’s all the Behind-the-Scenes I have for now! Wishing you all a great week. xo ~annie
