"Don't Bug me When I'm Working" ...is the title of the last track on one of my, many, Ry Cooder albums.
I sometimes think of it when I'm shooting! & I must confess it usually pops into my head in situations like this;
I'm at a wedding, I have seen, or rather I am anticipating, an image and so am waiting for the right moment before I press my shutter when behind me I hear a voice, and it's almost always an adult voice, commanding little "Jack" or "Jill" to smile & look at the camera. Bang! That's it, the moment is gone, as is the image:)
So the message, plea, or prayer for today is simply this;
If or when you see me, or any other professional photographer, kneeling or sitting on the floor, with a camera raised and ready understand that I am not resting nor am I looking for words, commands really, to be directed towards the child. If the image is there, it will happen and I, or any other photographer worth his or her salt, will capture it! That's what we, we being photojournalists, do, we find images as they happen.
For this shot I waited outside the hotel room and watched for maybe two minutes or so. Thankfully nobody urged the child to look my way.
The image below was captured shortly after reminding, gently I might add :), aunt's and grannies to trust me, that it was ok, I will get the images.
A few remarks on photographing children;
"Get down" to their level, there's little worse in my mind than an image of a child, or anyone for that matter, shot without regard to perspective and don't bother giving me any balony about your knees :)
But if the knees are a problem, then maybe that's the time to sit on your rear end!
As I mentioned earlier, the best moments happen all by themselves, and decent images can be captured without contrivance if we just let them happen.
So, if you are a family member or a guest, let the photographer see & shoot the images and relax.
