250705 Dress Rehearsal - Arts, War and Other Catastrophes

After the last shoot, Ella and I had a quick phone chat. She mentioned the photos were great, but also that it was a bit disappointing some of the cast weren’t in costume. Fair enough. She let me know they had a dress rehearsal coming up at The Butterfly Club that Friday, and I said I’d try to make it. I figured if I could grab just half an hour with everyone fully costumed and in some proper lighting, we could really nail the shots they needed.

That didn’t end up happening. I was running a little late and got there around 10:30am. Not a disaster, but by then, things were already in full swing. A bit of controlled chaos, as these things often are. I thought there might still be a pocket of time to pull a few people aside. But then the full rehearsal started, and I wasn’t about to interrupt. It’s a privilege to even be allowed in the room, let alone document the work mid-process.

After the run, a few people had to leave quickly, and the rest needed to go over notes. It wasn’t the right moment to ask for anything more.

I still got some strong shots during the rehearsal. This cast is full of big characters and big moments, and the energy comes through. But I left feeling a bit defeated. I didn't feel that I had got what Ella wanted. Part of that’s on timing, but I think I could have communicated more clearly what I needed to make it happen. Next time, I’ll try to be bolder.

Reflection

• What worked: Captured some strong in-costume moments during the dress rehearsal, despite the chaos.

• What didn’t: Missed the chance for posed shots due to timing and not clearly communicating what I needed.

• What’s next: Be clearer upfront about shoot expectations on both sides, and try to be earlier to shoots.