happy anniversary to me: one year in the news biz

It was one year ago today that I strolled into the Akron office in an outfit changed again and again at precisely 9 a.m., only to be handed a pen and a notebook and told I was going out to do an interview.

The more entertaining things I've learned have to do with semi-professional/news photography.

• "I need to run take a picture of the staff at the tanning salon. I'll be back in five minutes," I naively told my co-worker several months ago. Even then, it was easy to forget one of the basic principles of news photography: It will always take longer than you think it possibly could (that time, an entire hour). In most cases time is eaten up by waiting for all group members to arrive or become available to photograph.
• Windows are a no good, very bad thing. Lamps can be almost as terrible. Mirrors -- no.
• The bane of every bottom-of-the-totem-pole news photographer's existence: auditorium stage curtains. The darn things suck up light like a black hole. And if the curtains actually are black to begin with, forget it. You might as well go home right away and not strain your finger because 10 to 1 you won't be able to shoot anything that will be of decent newsprint quality.
• A definite advantage to being the designated photographer: Many events don't start until you've arrived. With some minor events, you are the reason they are happening at all. They cater to your schedule.
• Advantage 2: Being able to get up and move around during virtually any type of event or program (even eventually slipping out before the end) in order to get a better angle.
• Disadvantage: Sometimes feeling dumb because you're hiding behind the piano at the front of the auditorium to get a better shot at the stage. Or you're sitting on the floor of the gym during graduation.
• Disadvantage: Travelling light. At an event, you are always on the move. Don't bother to even find a permanent seat if you don't know exactly what shot you need and when it's available. You will be on all sides of the room and in everyone's way and need to have hands free to pick up the camera at any second. Pants with pockets are a must for storing notebook and pen. If you have ever, at any time, noticed your battery was low after just one day's use, the other pocket had better darn well contain backups.
• Useful trick my boss taught me: Group shots for teams are a common encounter. Instead of making the players wait forever while you take their names, bring a notebook and have the coach start writing them out while you are taking the pictures.
• Next time I have a team photo, I'm going to try tweaking that a bit: There is an awkward period of time when the coach is still writing and you are done shooting and the team has to sit there. This is prime time for headshots! One by one, players can stand up and you shoot them then and there. You know their names because the coach is writing them down in order.
• Even quicker: Get the group leader's e-mail address, send them the photo, and let them ID the members on their own time.
• Tip: Get a camera with a quick shutter response, tell the group, "Ready? 1, 2, 3," and snap on Ready, 1, 2 and 3 and throw in your own silent 4. If it's really important, even tell them you're going to take the picture three times for security and you'll end up with 9 to 12 shots. You'll have to count three times, though, if your flash will be really obvious.