Hey loves!
Well, I submitted my self shot set last night! Whew! What another crazy adventure. I feel like I was more stressed and more went wrong this time then the last time. Gosh where do I start lol.......
Well let's start off with the good stuff. I was super stoked to see that SG was doing another self shot contest! While it was a lot of work last year and there were minor issues with shooting and some technical difficulties (my barriers to keep the neighbors from peeking broke mid shoot), I did have fun getting to know and use the camera a bit more to shoot pictures and learned a lot with photo editing (forget to move the phone? Fixed!). It was also good because I could see how I looked in the shot and adjust my expressions and poses (though it is difficult remembering which way to move to get the shot you want lol).
Now here is where things got tricky......I found out about the contest a little later than I would have liked to. I work a lot of weekends at my job and this time of year we are super busy. I had an idea of where I wanted to shoot my set that would be perfect and would be great for a camp sort of theme. Only problem? It was only available 1 day and it was a day I had to work.....the rest of the time it was booked. I already felt rushed and I kept thinking, this is the best and closest place right now...so this is where it's gonna be, I'll just go into work a little later.
So self shot set day comes around aaaannnnnnddddd.....it's cloudy and rainy. I'm not giving up. I'm doing this. Oh and it was one of the chillier days and I'm in shorts and a tshirt (luckily I was indoors for some of it so I wasn't completely naked and cold). Moving forward with the set I figure, I'll deal with it...I'll adjust.
Now I prefer shooting sets outdoors but figured I would use a cabin for this one (makes sense right?). Well, you have to make adjustments when shooting inside and outside, which I did however, the camera did not like it. When I got home, I started working on editing and going through pictures right away so I could get cracking and get the set submitted in time (I know pending review takes a few days and I thought, I want to get it in earlier rather than later just in case). As I look through my photos......a lot a blurry and dark....and adjusting them can distort them big time. I started to become disheartened, but still not giving up.
I had to go into work after using some comp hours to shoot the set and edit some photos. The next morning I was back at it and using some more time to go into work later so I could do more editing. Last night I finally got done editing after I got home at night and uploaded the set (forgetting the photographer release in the process so that was submitted today). I didn't go to bed until close to midnight and had to get up at 5am today (needless to say I am ready for a nap lol).
Am I happy to have done another self shot set for the contest? Yes! Without any doubt. I think it is a great idea and I hope it continues! However, I will have to say that I am a little disheartened that my set did not come out how I had hoped. I am not a quitter, even though I debated on even submitting it because how some of the pictures turned out despite me trying to edit them (I'm not a pro at all so I did the best I could!). I would like to say I feel confident that this one will be chosen for the contest but I'm not even sure it will make it through the initial review....which does make me very sad.
I keep telling myself that I did my best....with short timing and the issues with the photos that were taken...I can at least say I tried. I thought I will at least submit it and give it a shot....but I don't think it will do as well as I would like....in the contest or not. So please give it a look if it makes it in whatever capacity if you like....be it June 1st or October/November if at all. Here is a picture from my self shot set that (if it makes it) will be called "Camp Give a Hoot."
I have another set coming out in October that was shot by Zen in Las Vegas...and that one I hope will help me feel a lot better because it is so beautiful!
Sorry for the long read guys, I am actually pretty down about things not going right with this self shot set....I know I gave it my best given the all the circumstances that worked against me...but it's hard to remember that sometimes. Stay tuned for what happens with the self shot set and even if it doesn't get past the initial review or make it into the contest, remember to support the girls who did make it into the contest! Many will be hopefuls with one lucky hopeful who will be pinked!
