Morning Everyone!

I’m so excited because my twin sister and her family are headed to visit from Arkansas today!  Look out DFW the sisters are back together 🙂

If you have been following me on Instagram or Instastories you may have some idea of how fabulous this week has been….NOT.  A pipe leaked in our kitchen, so half of our kitchen has been torn out.  Our garage broke the day after that.   I had the WORST stomach virus over the weekend as well….so it’s just one of those times in life that you think “Is this all really happening?”  I’m sure one day we’ll look back and laugh….right?

Anyway, back to the topic of this blog post.  Last year around Christmas time I was asked to photograph the Red Carpet at the Jingle Ball here in Dallas.  I got notice literally the night before and I pretty much told Terence “Hey tomorrow night I have a shoot and I won’t be here!”  Because let’s face it, how many opportunities to photograph events like this will I have in my lifetime?

I arrived early and went through a ton of security.  They check all your gear and backpacks etc.  You are then escorted to a waiting room with a small red carpet and a handful of other photographers from other agencies working from laptops and some even have two or three photographers with them.  You have to be escorted everywhere, because you can’t run around with a camera unattended.  Even if you have to use the bathroom.  Gulp.

They did provide water and a few snacks, but here are a few things I wish I would have known before shooting a red carpet event.

• You are there to serve the agency you work for and nobody else.  You represent them and you are not there to mingle with other photographers.
• Bring a laptop. The sooner you upload your photos, the sooner they are likely to get published and sell.
• Bring ear plugs!  This is a big one….nobody told me this and I wish I would have known.  We got to shoot the celebrities on the red carpet and also the very first song of each performance.  Photographers stand RIGHT NEXT TO the stage equipment and speakers…..so I was basically deaf.  Lol!  After the first song you are escorted back to the waiting area for the next celebrity appearance.
• The waiting gets old.  You may be on a schedule, but the celebrities don’t show up one after the other.  There was at least a 30-45 min gap in between appearances.
• Everyone- including body guards, family members, and acquaintances of each celebrity bombard at once.   The room gets full really quick and it goes by fast, so be ready to shoot and click the minute they walk in.
• Be prepared to YELL!  “Hey Charlie look this way!”  “To the Left” “To the Right” (They are used to this and posing so ASK for their attention or you won’t get it).
• Bring a Red Bull or Caffeine because the night is long and nobody is going to deliver you a Starbucks.

I had the best time and so many of the celebrities were very nice.  Kesha….well…she was quite the diva and didn’t want her live performance photographed either.  To each their own I guess, it was still disappointing.

Here are a few photos I got from that night, I hope you enjoy!  I have hundreds…but you know…gotta whittle it down 🙂

Camilla Cabello

Hailee Steinfeld – Loved her in all the Pitch Perfect movies

Forgot this guy’s name…he was on the Bachelor?

Liam Payne- Former One Direction 

My absolute favorite of the night was Charlie Puth.  His personality was so cute and he was great with everyone.

Hailee’s first song on stage

Kesha

Niall Horan- Former One Direction 

My other favorite was The Chainsmokers.  These two were SO nice and down to earth.

Up and coming boy band- Why Don’t We

I hope you enjoyed these pics and a little behind the scenes info!  I look forward to shooting many more red carpets and having fun.  That’s what life is all about.

xo – Becky with the good coffee