When my editor assigned me to photograph Usher, Justin Bieber and Bill Clinton for tonight — well, I thought that was a pretty interesting combination of people to group together and cause the Internet to explode.
© 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Click on the image above to view the full photo gallery on ajc.com.) Usher.
Turns out, though, that press photographers could photograph only the red carpet and the finale number. And that Bill Clinton would not be walking the red carpet (and, in fact, would be photographed only by the house photographer).
So my editor told me just to do the red carpet. So I did.
© 2010 by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (Click on the image above to view the full photo gallery at ajc.com.)
Some notes:
- Usher is shorter than I expected him to be.
- Justin Bieber is about as short as I expected him to be.
- Some of the other photographers seemed to really enjoy shooting the red carpet. I’m glad they were having a good time.
If you ever do a red-carpet assignment, make sure you bring comfortable shoes and a small step-ladder. And make sure your flash has fresh batteries. And format your memory card before shooting.
Fortunately, I did all of those things. And I survived my first red-carpet photographer experience.
Words and Light 
Oh, I hate those! I never know who anyone is and I have to ask, “Who’s that?” Then scramble to make deadline. You are organized and poised. and quick!
I was afraid I wouldn’t know who anyone was, but the guy was really helpful about that. We each got a “photo sheet” with mugs and names/titles of the more important people, and he’d give us names before each person or group of people walked the red carpet.
Pretty ideal, for a first-time red-carpet experience, I think.
That’s awesome! Good photos!
BIEBS. Oh my goodness. This post just made me smile.
Thanks Chris for the great pic you took of my daughter Nia Imani, on the red carpet tonight. You made some history with her first picture on AJC tonight, because it’s the first of many to come!
Very neat! Nice shots 🙂