Synchronized Lawnmowers Commercial Photography Job

I recently shot a commercial job with a fleet for a landscaping company. I expected to line them up in order of size, in rows, but it didn't really work that way. It turned out to be like a symphony of music. Every time we moved one we had to move the others to put them in the right place. If you move one car you have to move one in front or behind it.

Imagine moving a bunch of box trucks, pick up trucks, and riding lawn mowers in front. All the while, you are watching the sun, as sun light is very important in photography. You have a limited amount of space to move a bunch of trucks around. People have all the engines running like they're starting a grand pre. They all go forward, then they all go backwards again.

What should have been a ten minute shoot turned into a three hour gig. We stood around waiting for them to wash each truck, although no one could see the dust. Meanwhile, the sun keeps moving, and a lovely early morning light turned into a side light.

I'm standing on top of a 30' ladder directing 15 box trucks and 30 lawn mowers. This job required trial and error the get the angles and the lighting correct. The owner would come around and say, "Can you see that little yellow tractor in the back?" I'd say, "No. I can't see it". He wanted you to see every piece of equipment he had. So, guess what.

Move the tractor. Okay, let's get the pick up trucks out of the way. Let's get the lawn mowers out of the way. Lets put the tractor back. it finally ended. Once we got everything in place. We put the owner in the front, everyone smiling, and that was the shot. It took 3 hours of moving equipment, attention to the sunlight, and attention to the shadows, as well as communication to the numerous drivers.

Every commercial job I shoot is different. Every commercial job I shoot is interesting. I need to problem solve each job. Not every job is as it seems, and not everything works as you expect it to. At the end of the day, it always works out.

Whysall Photography has a studio in Northern Virginia near the Bluemont Vineyard. Steve photographs commercial photography, portraits, real estate, and travel photography.

Steve Whysall was trained by National Geographic and is a graduate of The Corcoran Gallery of Art.