The Photography Fiend: Bank On Spontaneity!

We all have those moments: your friends know you are a photographer and by default you are the token camera girl for all occasions great and small. You love photography, so you don't mind...until that awkward moment when you realize:

A) My camera is not small enough to conspicuously carry with me and look good doing so, marking me as either pretentious or just having no social life of my own while I snap away photos of everyone else having fun
B) My camera is damn expensive..plus Murphy's Law states it won't stay usable if I DO chance it
C) I won't be in any of the photos! Good side: I won't be made fun of for my clothing like I currently do to my own parents. Bad side: No one will ever witness that I DO know how to have a good time!
D) All of the above...and MORE.

Naturally all of these thoughts were racing through my mind as I walked up to the door of a Kentucky Derby party this weekend. However, there was one thought trumped all others: I am obsessed with photography and could surprise myself with some kickass shots for my portfolio! I tucked my camera away in my bag, wondering how in the HELL I was going to pull this off. Sneaking in through the crowd, I snagged my girlfriend and her amazing new man. He had thrown a few back, leaving him totally relaxed and up for spontaneity. Light bulbs went off in my head: alcohol makes anyone up for anything!!! I grabbed the adorable couple and asked them to come outside with me. Once they entered my evil lair (mwuahahahahhaha), I casually said..."I am working on my portfolio,...can I take some shots of you? Two seconds..I swear!"

Cue 'annoying friend' stereotype! Yeah, that is me, waving wildly that -I- am the annoying friend. Truth of the matter is, I knew my girlfriend wanted nothing more than some awesome shots of her and her man to start off their new relationship. Admittedly, I took one for the team. And you know what!? IT PAID OFF. Not only did I get some great shots, but the boyfriend was having a BLAST at this impromptu shoot. How was that possible? Play director with them, let them have fun, and get him going with the idea of the shoot as a role play type situation rather than an awkward posing session. By the end of the shoot (one hour later, mind you), he was ripping and roaring with brilliant ideas of scenarios and poses for the camera. We had a lot of laughs, got great shots for the two of them to enjoy, and I got to add to my portfolio.