I had what I feel was my first 'professional' photo shoot over the weekend (even though I didn't make any money.)

I have only worked with friends before; heck, mostly I have worked with coral/floral 'still'-life. But I have also done some amazing professional-quality work with some patient friends (thank you, Flask), which prepared me to try my wings with people I don't know.

This was the first time I've worked in a serious artistic way with someone I didn't know; an amateur model, eager to work with an amateur photographer to help build each other's portfolio's. And we're both so happy with the results we're eager to work together again.

But perhaps even more than the photos, I'm delighted by the process... part of the intent of this was to work through the stress of building a rapport and giving direction with someone I didn't know... and it came more naturally than I expected. And managed to stay professionally distant in what was an inherently intimate photo shoot.

But more than that, it was the first time that I felt that the technical aspects of photography were second-nature enough that they weren't all-consuming... was first time I really felt like I spent most of my attention looking through the lens instead of at it, and got much better compositions for it.

I'm a photographer!