I love seeing people’s face light up after I show them their picture moments after I capture it. After finishing a photo shoot at South Pointe Park I walked around Ocean Drive, Washington and Collins Avenue and Lincoln Road meeting and talking to people who were out on vacation here in Miami. Some people were even visiting Miami to attend the Ultra Music Festival so it was a win/win vacation for them.

     My first encounter was a group of guys from Atlanta. As I walked towards them, my camera bouncing on my torso and my business card shuffling through my fingers, one of the guys asked me what kind of camera I was using and another asked me if I was a photographer from out of town. Right on cue I explained my business and shortly after they were interested in an impromptu shoot right then and there. Who was I to say no? They would have pictures from their vacation in Miami and I would have my second photo shoot of the day. After taking a couple of pictures, I got their emails and left them my business cards and was on my way to another location.

     After passing Muscle Beach, tourist buying extra large Miami Beach shirts from vendors, and restaurant hostesses pelting me with 2-for-1 drink specials, I came across a group of friends who were taking pictures on their iPhones. Shortly after observing the pictures they captured, one of them asked if I could take some pictures for them so no one would be left out. I offered them something better and I asked them if they would like professional pictures. After three consecutive yeses, I got their emails and we quickly began to use the palm trees, the grass, and even the public playground to our advantage. After taking candid pictures of them swinging, I said my good-byes and shortly after I came across LA models Taylor Stevens and Courtney Mitchell. After finding out they were visiting for vacation we used the random encounter as a networking opportunity for both parties. I captured some awesome poses of them both and we were also able to capture a couple of fun candid shots as well. 

     Ironically, someone was blasting Ice Cube’s famous track “Today Was a Good Day” from their car as I walked down Ocean Drive shortly after the mini photo shoot. Due to the hectic traffic and the fact that the driver was going in the same direction as I was, I ended up listening to the whole song. I couldn’t help but to rap along as I reflected on the busy day I had; As Ice Cube rapped about dropping a Triple-Double in a pickup basketball game, I thought about the impromptu photo shoots I directed. Likewise as Ice Cube expressed the fact that he didn’t get harassed throughout the day, I was thankful I didn’t come across any rude tourists or locals. And like the last line in Ice Cube’s third verse, “I got to say it was a good day.” I hope you had an awesome weekend and that your spring break was (or will be) filled with awesome memories! Thank you once again for reading my blog. Till next time, be happy, be healthy, be blessed.