Not the hired help

I’m getting better.

Not too long ago, I would lug my fully ensemble of photographic equipment to parties and gatherings. It marked me: bull’s eye, she’s the one expected to document this for all the rest of us.

Countless times I fell victim to this obligatory task – “Rachelle! Make sure you get this picture.” Or, “Rachelle, where are you! They need a photo of such-and-such.” It seemed some people only shot me an invite for the potential photos I was certain to take.

Believe me when I say I love taking photos. I’m excited to hold my camera, to capture a moment and make it last. It’s always awesome to flip through my pictures and reminisce on the second the shutter clicked.

But I’ve never liked demands. I’ve never appreciated being put to work at a soiree I was supposed to be a guest at. It hardly seems fair to want me to be on high alert at a social gathering. The pressure stifles my interest – - my desire to document. As a guest, what I chose to remember – what I shoot – is what is important to me. Unless, of course, someone is paying me as a photographer.

And so now, when I go to a family event, I bring my phone for capturing the majority of the memories. It has great picture taking capability. It is portable. It preserves memories and shares them instantly. I don’t feel the pressure to polish my pictures, either.

Then, I’m not the one called for photo ops (especially not mid-bite, or mid-celebration). I take what I want, capture what I want, and share freely what I get.

Yes, Cam tags along. He sometimes sits atop the table or under my chair. I even bring Bad Mama Jama (my 70-200mm super lens) and she hangs out inconspicuously in her case. And I get to savor the experience in real time as a participant instead of being the observer.

Oh, and as a plus, Hubs brings his camera along and clicks with a different perspective.