It’s my first day of “practice shooting” for Hear My Story, and I’ve called some trusted friends I haven’t seen in a year—not since the start of Covid. I’m kind of freaking out because it’s been so long and it’s such a weird way to meet up again, and yet I’m also really touched that they agreed to do this shoot with me. When I take photographs, I’m hoping to learn more about my subjects, even my closest friends, and what their faces reveal about their stories. There’s more to people than just their physical appearance, and I want to reveal that truth to the viewer.
We’re setting up outside the Calabasas Library, trying to find somewhere private and shady, but the buildings are all blazing white and will likely be reflecting light everywhere. This is a problem—shadows bring people’s faces to life, so it’s super important to find the right lighting. But part of being a photographer is learning to adapt to unforeseen challenges like broken equipment and faulty lighting, and sometimes the photos that are produced are even better than my original vision. Oh, well—we will just have to make it work!