Photography for the Socially Awkward Photographer.

I'm an anxious person....everyone in my personal life knows this about me. Whether it's meeting new people, going to new places, or just trying my hand at a new hobby, I work myself up to the point of saying "Oh never mind I can't do it.".

When I discovered photography this was a major hurdle I had to conquer (and frankly am still learning to overcome to this day). I always wondered how others would perceive me for my personality, my voice, my looks, my artistic outlook, pretty much anything.

Photography has opened the door for me as a creative outlet to express myself through the images I take and the edits I complete, but being semi-socially awkward ended up not being as big of a deal as I had expected it to be.

My photography journey began with the click of a button on a random major at a college I had been attending for a few years already at the time. Little did I know this random click of a button would change the course of my career entirely, I went from 3 years into a Nursing Degree to now starting fresh as an Art Major. As I began trying my hand at photography and learning camera basics I could feel that this was something I wanted to run with. I shot various different subjects from all different angles and multiple editing techniques until finally I landed on portraiture. Thanks to my instructor at SUNY Adirondack, I was then able to focus all of my efforts into really polishing my style as a photographer.

In 2019 when I started photographing people as subjects I chose my close friend group. Brittney and Kacie can be seen frequently through a majority of my portfolio and to this day come along to assist me on photoshoots. I expanded to photographing relatives, then classmates but I started to realize how repetitive my portfolio had gotten. The same 2-5 individuals in similar settings, and similar styles. I knew I had to expand my horizons and decided to step out of my comfort zone and made a post on my private Facebook account for a model call. Something along the lines of "Hi everyone, I am currently enrolled in a Media Arts Program focusing on photography. I am offering free photoshoots for the month of July. It can be individuals, couples, events, you name it. Please send me a message if you're interested."

This post changed a lot for me as a budding photographer. July filled within an hour (That being 3-4 photoshoots per week on top of my full time enrollment in college and my 30 hours as a waitress.) and the comments just kept coming. I then fully booked August, and then September of all free photoshoots. I photographed multiple couples, senior photo sessions, fashion shoots, individual models, head shots, engagements, maternity shoots, food advertising (including 99 Restaurants), graduation parties, and family sessions. Come October I hit a lull, so for November and December I created a Business page on Facebook and Instagram under MiddleKidPhotography (A name I created so I originally couldn't be tracked back to me personally) and I made a public post which I then shared to my private profile offering "Donation Based Photoshoots for November and December" and I immediately filled up once again. Some just enjoyed their free holiday gifted photoshoots while many donated whatever amounts they would like directly to me. Others donated to my charity of choice, Hope Hollow, in honor of my grandfather.

Opening up to let people in regardless of circumstance or amount of money in their pockets was an amazing way for me to learn the ins and outs of socializing with clients. I did not have the pressure of a beginner being nervous to "ruin someone's photoshoot" I was new and the images were free if a mistake were to happen (luckily I never had a major issue). I was able to speak to clients from all different wave lengths on what they would like to see from their photographer's style, and personality. I was able to learn to pick up on body languages and how to make individuals feel more comfortable in front of a camera, which is what ended up being the base of my freelance business.

I am not going to say that my techniques are fool proof on how to read a person or situation but as a word of advice to any other beginners out there, I know the socialization pool is large and scary at first but just remember that your clients are now your friends and some are even family. If you are able to form bonds with your clients you will get to watch them grow as they watch you. My end all be all goal for CassidyVPhotography is for each and every client to feel completely comfortable in their own skin in front of or out of the lens of a camera. I want to capture the smiling, the laughing, the funny faces and the impractical moments that are candid and un-posed. Each client should be able to look back at their session and smile remembering the funny thing I said that made them laugh or the sincere comment that made then smile in that moment.

We are more than just photographers and clients.