Desert Twister

Take a path less travelled: a dusty desert model shoot

David Beckstead

When I was invited to photograph a wedding model couple in front of 500 DWF convention attendees, it sounded right up my alley! I have learned to enjoy speaking, but I love shooting even more! Mix them both together and I am ‘in my element’. The models were in wedding outfits, and a sexy, red, 1966 Thunderbird was brought in to give the shoot some color. A dry lake-bed in the desert outside of Las Vegas was the backdrop to this fun shoot. Spinning funnels of dust and gusts of cool wind added a little drama to the scene.

Now coming up with a concept to shoot models in front of 500 wedding photographers is no easy task. Being in my place, most photographers would shoot the models to the best of their ability, hoping they would pull off enough great shots to at least make everyone happy. I was hoping for that also! Yet I spend a lot of time writing – on forums, in articles and telling photographers in person, by email and phone that to be different is to set yourself apart from the growing list of photographers at every level of pricing and skill.

To be different! What does that mean?

have spent my life trying to chase down what it means to be different. I will stand with a group of people and literally pull back and analyse what this group stands for. Often a group will pick a path and charge down en mass. This is not always a bad thing. But, a compass navigational error steers me 180 degrees the other way. Every time! Do I fix the compass? Not on your life! It points in a different direction…a different road: one less travelled and pointing directly to me.

This is what I have found: when you are different, the vast majority will not understand it and will not follow down your path. But…there are a few who will. Those who follow or walk alongside you, will ‘get’ what you are about. A great relationship can happen when you both have something in common. Take this to a business level – some brides will pay more for photographers willing to be different. They will place a higher value on photographers who take their photography and customer service to higher levels. Or if not higher…further away from the norm in a horizontal direction.

What is a ‘higher level’?

It is about ‘drive’ and ‘passion’ for me. I don’t relax when I am working. I am always thinking of new ways to push myself. Challenge myself. I don’t let a second go by at a wedding shoot without considering my next shot. I am proactive by seeking imagery if it does not appear in front of me. I actively chase new directions in my business and imagery. I see this business and my own ideas in levels. I shoot for new levels that are above me, daily. Going to a higher level is as much a mindset as it is a set of physical actions.

Believing you can attain higher levels is the foundational beginning to really making it happen!

Let’s head back to the lake-bed: I wanted to show everyone that I would try to accomplish something different. When I teach, I tell photographers to be/see differently, so I wanted to teach by example.

“Today I have decided to really push myself! To take a risk! To think outside the box! I am going to jump off the cliff! I may totally fail. But still I think you would learn something: taking risks means that you will fail and more than once. How can you learn if you never fail? My mind is made up! If I fail, I will turn it into a success! With every failure I pick myself off the ‘dusty dry lake-bed floor’ and try again. Now I know, in my mind, that I will turn every failure to a success…100% of the time! I do not plan to fail! I plan whole-heartedly to succeed today!”

This was it! I had committed myself to try something different with these models, even if most of them may not like the outcome. I would shoot for myself. I would shoot for no one but me. I would be true to myself. (I will take this concept to my weddings. I will shoot weddings to please myself and in turn, please the bride with higher-level creativity. It will come from the heart!)

"Everything I shoot this evening can be applied to weddings.” I wanted all 500 photographers to know this. “This is not just a set-up model shoot. This is a practice for the real thing!”

“I am going to shoot every shot in motion! I am going to drag the shutter on every shot. You will hear the long shutter drags on my wireless mic. I will not take one ‘safe-shot’. I will risk everything for possible stronger gains. I will not use a tripod because I don’t bring one to weddings. Yet, this is a model shoot: at weddings I shoot the safe-shots, and then I allow myself to ‘play’. I will not ‘risk everything’ at weddings! But I do love to use motion at weddings!”

At that point I am not sure what everyone was thinking. Did I make an impression? Not sure because I was off and running!

I played it loose and in motion. I would prompt the models where to go and a few things to do and let them take off and do it. I would follow or lead taking motion-style imagery with every shot. I would explain the style of motion I was after – dragging the shutter, panning from a still position, walkpanning, intentional camera shake, using my body as a tripod and slowing down the shutter to allow for model movement. I let the wind work for me. Her veil was flying and I made it appear like running water with my chosen shutter speed. I would yell out my settings once in a while: 1/10 second, 1/5 of a second, f22, f8. I would use the car as an anchor point having the models walk away giving the feel of motion.

After an hour, it was done. I wanted so badly to continue for hours. I was pumped! But the group had to get back on the bus to head back to Vegas as planned. The shoot felt strong and I knew I had not failed. I was in the zone!

The next night, as I showed my imagery to everyone who attended the shoot, I could tell by the oohs and ahhs that I was successful. The risk was worth it! I tried something different and it worked!

I think there is much stronger satisfaction knowing you took the jump and landed, than if you never left the ground.

Epilogue: After the shoot I questioned three of my close photographer friends about my shoot and also about my evolution in imagery style from the last seven years. I was surprised at what they told me! One said, “The desert shoot and imagery was pure Beckstead!” One said that I have stayed true to my style and they loved the shots. One said that stylistically I have not changed very much but my imagery has improved dramatically. All photographers stated that one thing they loved about my work was the consistent artistry. That was good news and possibly bad news at the same time. Looking at myself, I see tons of change and risk in my compositions. Yet others see a ‘Beckstead signature’ with my imagery. Many say they can pick a Beckstead shot out of a line-up every time. That is hard for me to believe! So it is possible that I did not take as big a risk as I said I was going to take at the lake-bed. I have tried to master motion for seven years. I have had seven years of practice. I think the risk was still worth the rewards! I am going to hold onto a phrase that I think may guide me in the future: Consistent Artistry. I learned from that desert shoot! I learned many things!

To sum up: Be different.

Take a path less travelled.

Take risks. Develop your own style.

Learn from everything and everyone.

Create consistent artistry.

Keep shooting. Never stop!

Photo Quote: Anything more than 500 yds from the car just isn't photogenic. - Edward Weston