Behind the Shot: How Patience Turns a Moment into a Masterpiece.

In this blog post, I want to take you behind the scenes of some of my best photographs to share my thought process, setup, and timing that went into capturing the shot. I want to emphasize how patience is a major factor in achieving not only a really good photo, but one that tells a story and captures emotion. Whether it is waiting for the perfect lighting, expression, or the right background, I’ll show how slowing down and living in the moment can turn ordinary photos into extraordinary images.

Today, photography has been reduced to quick snapshots taken by our cell phones. Which is ok, but for those wanting to achieve better pictures, they must realize that they cannot be in such a hurry to snap and run. They must take the time to set up the photo, and in some cases, wait for the optimum situation. This topic is relevant because it takes the time to teach those wanting better photos the value of patience, planning, and perspective. It shows that you can even capture great photography using your cell phone because it is about timing.

Having patience in photography has not really been explored. Time has been spent on talking about different types of cameras, focus, perspective, settings used, and location. Patience is something that is seen as a personal trait and not something that is essential in capturing the perfect moment for a photo. It is not as though this topic has not been addressed by professional photographers, but they have not presented the connection between patience, creativity, and impact. This is especially true for those who rely on their cell phones to capture photos. The purpose of this blog is to provide personal, relatable, and ways to slow down and see beyond the lens to capture an ultimate photo.

Today, we are a society that is obsessed with the speed of getting things done. However, when it comes to photography, we need to slow down to capture the best shot. I have learned, as a photographer, patience is my best tool. It is what makes my shots stand apart and not be seen as ordinary. Great photography is not solely about the gear, lighting, or angles used. It is about slowing down to be present in the shot that you are trying to capture.  My best shots were the result of taking the time to wait for the right moment to click whether that was when the lighting changed to an optimum point or the best expression of the person was captured. That is when best photo reveals itself and the magic happens.

When taking a photo try the following:

• Pick a location, set up the shot.

• Observe the setup every 10 minutes by taking a photo.

• Wait a total of 30 minutes, and within the 30 minutes take a photo at 10-minute intervals. Only take 3 photos.

• Choose best out of the three images.

• Build a story, do not just post the photo. Share why you took the photo.

Patience teaches us to see beyond the lens to capture the best photo. What is the most memorable photo that you have taken because you waited for the perfect shot? Please drop it in the comments and share your thoughts, I would love to see it. I share tips and stories like this frequently, so follow along for more of Behind the Shot.