Before Clicks: Sonysideup Photos' First Birthday Coverage

Elvin Hale Birthday Celebration March 28, 2024

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April 3, 2024, was the day I published photos from my very first paid photo coverage with my own camera. The shoot took place on March 28, 2024, when I was booked to cover the birthday celebration of Elvin Hale at Jollibee Naic, Cavite, starting at 5:30 p.m. I didn’t have proper rates or even a booking form at the time, but I was certain of one thing: this first gig would teach me a lot.

To prepare, I looked up different inspirations, sample outputs, and editing techniques. I made sure my camera and SD cards were clean and ready. When I arrived, I felt at ease and quickly connected with the client. As a communication student, I had experience presenting myself professionally, which helped me carry myself with confidence and dressed the part as a photographer.

During the screen test, I faced my first real challenge. The indoor lighting was limited, and since it was evening, I had to rely on my DSLR’s built-in flash. Knowing this would affect photo quality, I adjusted my camera settings as best I could and planned to fine-tune the images during editing.

A nice surprise was being included on the list for food, which made me really happy, as fast food like Jollibee was a treat. I decided to save it to enjoy at home later, as a reward for my hard work that night.

After the event, my client was incredibly kind and paid me right away. When I edited the photos, I realized that increasing exposure made some images grainy, so I had to denoise them. Although some photos were still grainy, I compensated by creating a slideshow, as requested by the client. I was thrilled when Ma'am Theresa responded, "Wow, bawing-bawi po ah," appreciating the final output.

This first gig taught me invaluable lessons and motivated me to improve. I later invested in an external flash to better handle indoor events and ensure higher quality. I'm grateful to Ma'am Theresa, Mrs. Miloren, and Elvin Hale for letting me be part of their special day, as this experience truly set me on the path to becoming a better photographer.