Downtime can be tricky on set as a photographer, especially when the only meal we’re waiting on is in the oven for the next several hours and the set is prepped and ready for the hero.

I know, I know. Why did production let the day come to a halt for one meal? Ehhhhh let’s just say mistakes were made (rip prepped meal that fell on the floor).

BUT sometimes downtime can lead to playing around and getting a shot you weren’t anticipating. We had ample herbs from the previous shot so I decided to play around with some illustration. I made a mock globe via a google search/quick photoshop and set up an overlay on lightroom to shoot to. I started moving the herbs piece by piece to make the globe take shape. An hour and a sore back later and it was done!

When i first started studying photography in school i never thought how much joy I’d get out of moving tiny pieces of herb with tweezer or trying not to sneeze over a flatlay. But now I enjoy every minute of it. It feels like completing a puzzle of my own making. And when that last piece lands, that same sense of accomplishment lands heavy on me. 

I love being able to squeeze in a gorgeous shot even if it wasn’t mapped out as a deliverable as a bonus to the client or even as a just for me outtake from the shoot. In this case the client LOVED this image and jumped at the chance to use it in an earthday campaign.