I’m doing a thing! I am putting my money where my mouth is…
I’m not very good at taking my own advice when it comes to my personal photography, which, often (ok, all the time) takes a back-seat. While I am always full of good intentions, my camera has gone along for the ride on more occasions than I care to admit. In fact, as someone who is co-owner of a photographic business, I’m actually quite ashamed!
ESPECIALLY when I do this!
Every week I spend quite a bit of time putting together our weekly Welshot e-Newsletter titled ‘Your Weekly Dose of Motivation from Welshot’ and, each week, it covers a different genre of photography. You get seven hints and tips to motivate and inspire you in your photography, you get a weekly challenge to help you if you’re stuck in a bit of a creative rut and you get four ideas in our gear checklist (non-branded and we try to keep it affordable) – all focusing on that week’s chosen photographic genre.
So, I’ve decided it’s time for a change.
No more road trips for my camera…
Photo Project 60/60 – The Explanation
For me, January, September and August (my birthday month) all have one thing in common – All three months either make me feel renewed (I’m looking at you January and September) or, like life is whizzing along (August, that’s your fault) and I always seem to want a bit of a personal challenge/project to do something I’ve always wanted to learn and keep me focused. This August, as it’s only another 12 months until a rather BIG birthday is on the cards, I wanted to make sure I chose a project that would provide that focus for a longer period of time.
One that would take me into, and throughout, my 60th and I soon came up with the idea of doing 60 things, 60 different things over the course of 24 months. I even knew what I wanted to shoot first on the photo project list!
Since my initial thought, and chatting with Eif, Jen, and Erica I’ve decided to be a bit more focused with my project. Rather than 60 different things I want to try and do – I want this project to be purely photographic based.
So, I will be recording my 60 @ 60 adventure which will take place between August 2025 and August 2027 (that’s 2.5 new photographic projects a month) here on the Welshot blog and I will, warts and all, document my progress as I go – the good, the bad and the ugly. Hopefully it will show, progress – not just as a result of each photo project, but over the next 24 months.
I’m also hoping that this will inspire someone else to pick up a camera if that’s what they’ve always wanted to do and to just start – because, if I can, anyone can!
This project is to help me come to terms with my recent ADHD / Autistic diagnosis and prove to myself (and others who are struggling) that as long as you put the work in, stay focussed, ask for help, and be kind to yourself if it doesn’t work first time round, or it’s not quite right – it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
Photo Project #1/60 – A Vogue Inspired Photo-Shoot On-Location with Erica Mulkern.
My idea for my first photo project was to do a ‘Vogue Inspired’ photo-shoot on location in Chester. and I knew who I wanted to be my model – Erica Mulkern
I don’t mind admitting, it was a day of pushing myself, both physically and mentally. It was discombobulating, it meant keeping focussed (my brain and my camera) and it meant not reverting to type (using my phone or hiding behind my laptop/desk) – it meant I had to listen (to Eif) it meant having to take my time, it meant patience, it meant me giving direction in a completely different way to what I am used to doing and it meant not giving up (and reverting to type) and just do my best.
I found picking up my camera for the first time in years hard. I was learning all over again, and, of course, in true Lee style, I’d picked a genre of photography that doesn’t come easy to me and I’ve got way more ‘to the bin’ shots than keepers.
BUT – I DID IT!
How it started!
If he’s said it once, he’s said it a 100 times since we launched Welshot in 2009. Slow down, take your time, there’s no need to rush. Be patient!
They are words you will hear Eifion say all the time, no matter the genre of photography. He will also tell you to make sure your camera is on the right settings for what you are photographing, to check your lighting equipment and triggers, making sure you get everything working together properly before you even start to think about pressing that shutter button.
As you can see, I didn’t slow down, take my time or check my settings! Sorry Erica, you looked absolutely stunning just sitting there and in my excitement I forgot to prepare first – you were not ready, the camera wasn’t ready and the lighting hadn’t even been set up.
Hopefully, I’ve learnt my lesson and next time I will make sure I’m all set up first and there’ll be no dodgy photos of Erica posted on future photo project blogs…
I sometimes think now we tend to shoot in digital, patience goes out the window. I know I was a slower shooter when I was using film, having only 36 exposures and needing to pay for the developing.
How it finished!
By the end of the day I felt like my camera had never been out of my hand. My head was buzzing with ideas (some worked, some didn’t and some the blustery breeze put paid too) and I felt my confidence building. Having Erica as my model made it so much easier, she was enthusiastic, encouraging and excited to get the shots just as much as I was. Eifion actually took over my role as ‘bag lady’ and looked after the kit and Jen was capturing copious amounts of ‘Behind the Scenes’ content to be used in various ways, including this blog.
I am so grateful to Erica who agreed to be a part of this day, kicking off my ‘Birthday’ week in an informal ‘non-work’ environment and now, along with Eifion and Jen (who is the bees knees at capturing the ‘Behind the Scenes’ content), we have an exciting future adventure which will help take care of some of those 60 shoots I need to do!
There are an awful lot more images from this photo-shoot, more keepers than I’d originally thought, all I need to do now is edit them. Maybe I should make that one of my monthly 60/60 projects!
This is one of the last photos I shot on the last set from the day and I love it – in fact, I am really rather proud of it. Thank you Erica for all your understanding, patience, hard work, and professionalism.
For the rest of August 2025, it’s a still-life with some of my favourite flowers and a studio shoot, practising my studio mains flash – all I have to do is remember to slow down, take my time and enjoy the process.
Lee x
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