The-Person-Behind-the-Person-Behind the Camera
The person-behind-the-person-behind the camera. That’s not an error. Read it again. The person behind the camera is the photographer or videographer. The super talented, creative, and artistic individuals I adore working with. I’m not that. I’m the person behind them. Hence, the person-behind-person-behind. Get it? Here’s what’s fun and funny about this role, that I so love.
Having managers from the start of my marketing career that tossed me into projects with little to no experience (e.g., Cardinal Health pharmaceutical product video shoot the second week of my internship), I’ve had the opportunity to lead and learn through dozens of video and photo projects. Over the years, I’ve had many preferred (read: favorite) photographers and videographers. One thing they had in common, was they allowed me to regularly overstep my client role and play director/creative director. In turn, I always obliged the need to help stage a shot. This means I take the spot of the intended subject so we can get lighting, angles, all things right. This stage-setting process saves time for everyone in the end. This allows a “ready” spot and set for the subject(s) with minimal adjustments.
As a behind-the-person-behind-the-person (it’s still right, I read it many times) manning the camera, I don’t typically get “camera ready” before photo shoots. So when I sit in, I do everything in my power to make sure the test shots are unusable so they don’t accidentally end up anywhere. (Except of course, when they are good blog fodder.) I’ve always done this, but have never been called out on it! I guess I am used to them just hitting the cutting room floor. Following a recent photo shoot for all things lifestyle in education, I received a set of outtakes. I now know what the person behind the camera is seeing when I am working hard to make a shot unusable.
Model material, I am not. A photographer/videographer, I am not. A person-behind-the-person-behind-the-camera trying to sabotage photos seems to be the best place for me. Gonna stay right there.
Photos courtesy Jen Brown Photography
