It’s a fine balance when I am gathered with friends. I could hide behind my camera and gather memories, one click of a frame at a time, or I can set the camera aside and soak up  the conversation one syllable at time. I have found that it is a tightrope walk between the two. Knowing when to lift the camera, knowing when to keep it snugly tucked in my lap; it is something I think many of us photo lovers deal with.  I often leave a weekend of visiting thinking I captured more frames then I actually did. I want to use my camera to slow down the moments, but not miss them entirely. 
If you have been around me in a gathering you know I have at least one camera in close proximity. However, I am sometimes shy about asking someone to move into the light, or to bother anyone about making a portrait. Even if it is eating me up inside to not capture that perfect sun and shadow play happening in someones hair – it might not be the right time to hear the click of the shutter. I also fear that I will turn the images from authentic to photo shoot- and that’s not what I want at all.
I love documenting, not orchestrating.
So, what are a few things I do to make the documenting process unfold? First, I remind myself it is not always my subjects that are nervous when the camera comes out of its case, it’s the photographer as well and follow these few steps:
I wait.
I wait for my friends to be occupied with something other than my lens. Maybe with photographing one another, prepping dinner, mixing a drink, cracking each other up with a good story, or what I like to call “hammin’ and Instagramin’ “.
I warm up.
I might snap a few environmental images (the table, the glasses waiting to be filled) to get my camera out and my trigger finger warmed up. This also helps me to get a feel for the light and the mood of the gathering.
I ask.
I get brave and ask permission. I give warning and then start (or don’t). It’s important to know, “is this moment sacred, should I put my camera away”? I respect the response and allow some images to live forever in my mental photo album, not on my Instagram feed.
I love photographing my friends when we are all together, and the amazing places I get to explore with them helps too! I love being able to look back and have a story of the weekend unfold. Mymemory jogged of the laughter and the conversations as I flip through the images. Re-seeing the quiet walks or the noisy kitchen dance parties. I love being able to celebrate the beautiful woman in life with my camera. How about you? What are your tricks for capturing your friends with your camera?
Keep chasing that light, Vanessa