Summer Snaps: Fun Bonus Photoshoots

It’s not all weddings and family photo shoots here on Grand Cayman (though mostly it is). Still, my summer of photography interning involved a few fun extras.

Radio Personality Portraits

This was a really fun and unusual shoot. Z99 is one of Cayman’s most active radio stations, showing up at community events all across the island with a very visible presence. So when they asked Heather if she would do some publicity shots for them in exchange for website and radio advertising, she knew it would be great exposure.

I love the idea of working for trade and think its a great way for new businesses to get their name out there and forge relationships in the community. It’s interesting to shoot people with these very big personalities who are usually used to being heard but not seen. We chose Camana Bay for our setting and it was a technically challenging shoot for me because it was extremely bright and there were tons of harsh shadows, but I think I managed a few good shots.

Prom Portraits

Oh, how I loved school dances! Prom Attending was one of my favorite activities in high school and this shoot was almost as much fun. It was a windy day, which made things a bit harder but this girl’s dress was doing beautiful things when it was blowing all over so in the end I loved the weather! We shot at Camana Bay which is now one of my favorite shooting locations, full of tons of great textures and colors.

I love the texture of this wall

Those shoes! Be still my heart

Headshots for Friends and Fam

Last December, as Mark and I were taking on the task of applying to every dive resort in the entire Caribbean, one of the hardest parts was finding an acceptable photo of Mark in which he didn’t have a beer in his hand. Side note — doesn’t it seem weird that you are required to send a photo along with your application? I’m pretty sure that’s ten kinds of illegal in the US, but I guess the dive industry makes its own rules. Anyway, this summer we both made it a goal to take some decent shots for next time we break the CV out. It just so happened my Mom, who visited for a week on the island, was in need of a headshot for her new blog, Project Hope. And what do you know, Cathy needed some updates photos as well. So we took a trip down to Smith’s Cove to take headshots for everyone!

My own flash-less camera was just not going to cut it for this, so Heather generously lent me her two cameras, lenses, and flashes. Unfortunately I had never used a Nikon before in my life and kept overheating the flashes so it was a little frustrating for me, but I think there’s a good shot of everyone in there. Also unfortunately,  I left the session with some aching camera envy over the picture quality and range of Heather’s lenses. It was a fun preview though to the happy days of shooting I have ahead of me when the budget allows for some upgraded lenses. Someday!

Even Mark got a few — with fins instead of beer in hand.

Happy snapping!