Convention season is in full swing, and so my geek photos are on the rise. Which is great fun, of course! Me and my camera, we’re inseparable. It’s my baby. I love taking photos. Sometimes though, it feels awkward to snap pictures at conventions. To snag someone in the hall to ask for a picture.
This might surprise some people, but I’m really very shy. I don’t like to interrupt people if they are doing something. So I just try to stay quiet and not bother people. Or I try to sneak a picture from the background, unnoticed.
If you ask me to work for you, I find myself lost in nervousness. Will I get the picture you want? How can I best please you? I ponder what I know about you, your likes and dislikes. What kind of dynamics you and your family or the current situation holds.
Sometimes I wonder if I over-think things. If I worry too much about pleasing others. I really want to please people, find ways to make them happy. I love the thought of bringing joy to those around me. Photography is something I can sometimes offer to do this.
I try to help people out, documenting events. Currently, I take pictures of church events for the women’s organization. I took pictures at Ravencon of the Masquerade. And tonight? Tonight I got a phone call asking me to be the staff photographer at Shore Leave.
To work a convention as official photographer? To have a badge that proclaims me boss of pictures? That’s kind of daunting. Kind of exciting. Am I worthy? Will I have the strength to take charge and fill this roll?
On the bright note, maybe I can get the pictures that I want and don’t always take. Hopefully I will have some fun ones to post to my Flickr. Most of the pictures will go to the convention, but I will make sure to get some for posting. Of course, I think I still have a few from Balticon to post. I’m such a slacker.
So am I your choice for a geek photo ho? Do you think I have what it takes to be a staff photographer? If you see me coming at the convention…
Strike a pose.
There’s nothing to it.
Vogue.
-Lady O
Originally posted on ladyozma.vox.com
Lady Ozma's Journey 
loadhan said:
Convention season in full swing – and yet you still need to pay a return visit to Marcon again. 😉
Yeah, I know how you feel about photography at cons – I’m shy and I always have to not think “They’re having fun and enjoying themselves and on their way somewhere – it’s not my place to interrupt them” and to think “They made this costume or at least wore it and want to show it off cause it’s fun”. This year I took a friend and she really wanted to take pictures – and it was easier for us to take pictures in a group than alone. We had more confidence and I took more this year than ever before.
Plus… Well, it really helps if you are female or go with one to take pictures. I always worry that when I’m taking pictures of a girl in a chainmail bikini or corset or something, she’ll wonder if it’s only because I think she’s sexy. Now, that might have some appeal – but I just like to take pictures of people in costumes – any costume. Going with Sue, I felt it was more open that if she there asking someone to pose, I wouldn’t be misunderstood with taking a photograph too.
(On a side note, I was taking pictures of the beaches in Hawai’i because they’re pretty and they have waves and my girlfriend Sue asked me for some beach and ocean pictures. Of course, people got into the shots – beaches are popular in Hawai’i in the summer. I was always afraid someone would comment about my taking pictures of bikini clad women and think I’m a voyeour or such – which was not the intention. I noticed how many girls were also taking pictures so I had this argument set up: “I’m taking pictures of the beach which happen to also have people in swimsuits in them – and you think I’m sexist because I’m male. That sounds like you’re being sexist against men!” Heh)
As for you – you take good photographs; you like doing it. As I said, I’m shy about picture taking too – but not if I have a legit reason. You’ll be the *staff* photographer – so it’s your responsibility to go up to people and take their picture. And if you do tell them you’re the staff photographer, they might feel more comfortable (they’d probably feel fine if you were just a regular person taking pics) and maybe even pose more since they think this will go onto something official (though be careful if you want natural shots). You can pass it off (even if just to your shy mindset) that it’s not you interrupting them – but the organization. I became the unofficial “official” photographer for Rocky Horror at CWRU which allowed me to take as many pictures as I want of pretty much whatever I want and people pose without concern; they pose for most people but they always knew I was taking the authoratative set.
So good luck! 🙂
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Lady Ozma said:
I feel that way too
I’m really shy about approaching people I don’t know and asking for photos. The only reason I get so many is as a costumer I love it when people ask if they can photograph me. So I know it’s generally ok, but I still get nervous. ROFL. I’m taking that official badge and running with it. I hope. I talk big… but we’ll see what happens. Whenever i do a real photo shoot I get so tongue tied and nervous!!!
I can understand how you feel about the whole thing with taking pictures of girls… I feel weird sometimes taking pictures of guys for just that reason!!! ROFL
Thanks for saying I take nice photographs. I try…. I hope… I wish…
I can’t wait to see what is going to happen next weekend! I have some issues with their demands, but we’ll see how it pans out.
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