For the Job Shadow Assignment, I worked with Jake May of the Flint Journal. Originally supposed to accompany him to a restaurant feature and a Friday night high school football game, the weather had other plans which unfortunately canceled the restaurant feature. I was still able to go to the football game with him, meeting at Grand Blanc High School to capture their game against Davison.
This game was to determine the Saginaw Valley League Champions, so the game day atmosphere (besides the pouring rain) was very energetic. I was excited that I would capture one of the best games of the year.
I met May at the gate to get in, and after introductions, we immediately got our cameras out and were taking pictures while talking. He talked to Davison’s coach and was able to get us into the locker room to hear their pre-game talks. Something funny I remember is him and another coach apologizing for the language that will be used and saying that they don’t do that a lot… which I doubt. I just found it funny.
As a 21-year-old woman, I was very out of my comfort zone when I was in the locker room. Not only being the only girl in the room, but with 60 guys as I was holding a camera and expected to get up close, was tough for me. May saw me hesitating and come grabbed me and told me he was going to get me out of my comfort zone. He took me to the middle of the room, where I remained until the huddle. Safe to say it worked (ish).
Then we left the locker room to see Grand Blanc ready to rush the field. Those were really cool shots, as they ran through smoke, but my camera was on a weird setting and made most of the photos too blurry to use. I got one of their mascot, though.
May and I talked about a lot. I took a lot of notes on my phone at any free moment I had when we were taking pictures or in the middle of a conversation. Or when it wasn’t pouring rain, since that was messing with my phone. I was introduced to people, I shook the hands of them, had conversations about the industry, etc.
I listened intently to May. I really enjoyed learning from and talking to him. He had so much to share and teach, and I was just glad to have been there to hear it all. He also let me use his expensive camera and lens at one point, which was insane; to use it and the quality of the photos. I’ve never seen anything so clear.
Some of my favorite things May shared with me:
put your camera down and get to know people. you will see a vibrant community if you get the opportunity to live in it more than photograph it.
they end up in a lot of hard situations and see the worst and best of people’s lives. treat everyone the same, it may open more sources.
be real with people. look at their life. don’t make their issue the story; find out who they are. choose love.
the more genuine you are, the more genuine others will be to you.
fail forward
there are different difficulties with photography with different things. meet people where they are. ask them all the good questions first. tell them what you’ll be doing, but never leave them worse off.
be ready to pivot. change you stories around their story and what works with that.
everyone has a unique eye on the world. be patient. get up early, stay out late.
building relationships is the most important thing you’re gonna do for the rest of your life. having those unique and real interactions with people go a long way.
May gave me a lot of advice that stuck with me. Above just scratched the surface. Of course he gave me advice on the little things, like keeping batterie charged, etc. But what really stuck with me was how much he cared about the work he does and the people he works with. I could tell how passionate he was, and that was an amazing thing to be able to see in person and in real time during his job.
Some of the photos I took and chose to include:
Still working on getting his photos from the game. I will add as soon as I can.
Paige Hassen: JRN 
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