John and I really wanted to get some shooting in this weekend. The weather here in Durham was beautiful and we were due for a great sunset on Sunday afternoon. We planned to just go get some cityscapes, but my wedding dress seemed a little lonely so I brought it along and spent part of the afternoon on the other side of the camera. I think these pictures prove that (a) John is a very talented photographer and (b) I am, sadly, not going to make it to the next cycle of America’s Next Top Model.

A key takeaway from this afternoon’s session has to do with putting myself in my subjects’ shoes. I kept thinking about what to do with my hands, where to look, how to place my feet, etc. Some people (NOT ME) are natural models, but the rest of the world usually appreciates some direction from their photographer. When you’re always behind the camera, it’s easy to forget how nerve-wracking it can be to have your picture taken. I think it’s important for photographers to be on the other side of the lens every once in a while. It certainly helped me think about posing and direction in a new way.