Toree · Heatwave
Toree · Heatwave Backstage
The weather brought a heatwave to our villa. Toree seemed to take that as a challenge.
That’s the fun fact behind Heatwave: the heat was real, but the title was never only about the weather. When Toree started walking around, I could feel her presence everywhere. I’m a photographer, so I should probably say I was studying the possibilities for the shoot. There was some of that. I was also trying not to forget the camera in my hands. :)
Then Toree showed me a corner of the villa. She wanted me to start photographing her there.
“Yes, ma’am.”
What else was I going to say? She had picked her spot, she knew where she wanted to begin, and I was the man holding the camera. I do like to contribute to a shoot, but I also know a good suggestion when it’s standing right in front of me.
Usually, I’m the one looking around for a place to start. This time Toree saved me the search. She didn’t ask me to guess what she had in mind; she showed me. If there were a prize for the quickest change of plan, I think my “Yes, ma’am” would be a strong contender.
So we began in her corner. The weather was doing its best to justify the title, while Toree was making an even stronger case for it. At that point I could have asked the temperature to try a little harder, but I don’t think it would have stood a chance.
I enjoy photographing a model who takes an interest in the shoot itself. Toree wasn’t just waiting for me to point somewhere and ask her to stand there. She noticed a place she liked and brought me into her idea. My job was to pay attention to what she’d chosen and make photographs that felt like her.
That doesn’t mean she did all my work for me, unfortunately. I still had to decide what I wanted to capture and keep up with her. But it gave us a beginning that felt natural. Toree had already made one decision with confidence, and I was happy to follow her lead.
It also gave me a useful answer to a question photographers don’t often say out loud: who’s directing this shoot, exactly? I brought the camera. Toree brought the corner. On that particular question, I think she won. :)
When I think about Heatwave, I remember how simple that exchange was. She showed me where she wanted to start. I said yes. And all around us, the heat was making sure nobody forgot the name of the set.
I’m glad I listened to Toree. She knew what she wanted, and following her into that corner was a lovely way to begin photographing her.
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