What happens when things don’t go according to plan

I recently had a scheduled publicity photoshoot at a theatre that didn’t go as planned, and I believe the challenges I faced are worth sharing. How do you handle situations when shoots don’t go according to plan?

Let me set the stage. I arrived at the theatre an hour and a half before the shoot to allow ample time for a COVID test, gear setup, and light tests to ensure everything looked good. However, I wasn’t aware that the stage I planned to use was occupied by the cast for their “designer run” until just 10 minutes before the shoot was supposed to start. This was less than ideal, especially given the complexities of the shoot and my intention to test for about 40 minutes. Additionally, I had initially planned to photograph only three actors, but the costume designer had created outfits for the entire cast of six. Did I mention that the photoshoot was only supposed to last an hour? I started to feel the pressure.

To make the most of the waiting time while the stage was still in use, I set up all the stands and modifiers in the lobby and then waited. Since I was working solo, I had to hustle to move everything to the stage as soon as it was free. We had four scenarios lined up for the three original actors, but nothing prepared for the full cast of six. So, I quickly set up a seamless backdrop and a two-light setup to photograph each actor individually and the group before releasing three of them.

For the remaining three actors, we moved to a staged area that had been dressed with props and set pieces. Those setups required three to four lights, but time was running out, so I couldn’t afford to spend too much time finessing everything. This was when I truly appreciated my experience with lighting. I not only trusted my gear but also relied on my knowledge. In the end, while the lighting wasn’t perfect, the actors were committed, and we managed to capture everything we needed.

The show is called Daisy, based on the DAISY ad created for the 1964 election that only ran once, but once was enough. Here are the images.