Jay Sean Photoshoot

So, I have great relations with AVS TV Network, and every time the director, Mr. Raju Sethi, does a high profile interview, he calls me and says "hey dude, I'm doing a pretty big interview with this guy and I'd like you to take some photos of behind the scenes and some portraits for my blog"...This time, that "guy" happened to be international pop sensation Jay Sean.  Was I nervous? Kinda....Because I was meeting Jay Sean?...no, because I knew I would have maybe 10 flashes off my camera to get the shot I need.  That's one thing you realize quickly when dealing with major celebrities, is that when a photographer is taking pictures for a magazine/network blog, they rush you....and by "rush"...I mean, like 5 minutes, TOPS!  To get a great photo in 5 minutes is extremely difficult, I sometimes do 3 hour long photoshoots and only get 1 or 2 great pictures...so to cut that down to 5 minutes is....hasty.

Anyway, I was instructed to head to Universal Music Group in NYC for the shoot.  I arrived about a half hour early, because the last time I did a shoot with a major celebrity, I arrived a half hour late...Somehow, if I made up in time for this one, I'd forgive myself for the last one....I don't know.  Moving on...

I get there and they give me one of these cool Universal Music Group Visitor Passes.  That right there was the icing on the cake for me...I mean...I could've left after getting that pass and I would've been pretty good.  Look at it!! It even says the word TUES on the paper! Talk about DETAIL!  Had it not said "TUES"...I probably would've been disappointed.

One of the interns who works there took us up to a waiting room and had us hang out there till Jay Sean was ready to do the interview.  I don't have pictures of the waiting room, but man, that place was amazing.  Finally after about 20 minutes of waiting, we get called in and on my way in the room, I eavesdrop on a conversation between Jay Sean and Raju Sethi, overhearing the most dreaded words for a photographer "We'll send you a press photo for your article".  That pretty much means "I'm not feeling photos today, let's just do the interview".  I couldn't let that happen, I figured, I was gonna take his damn portrait whether he posed or not. 

SO I get in the interview room during prep time (each crew is given about 10-15 minutes to set up, and then about 20 minutes to do the interview) and I immediately find this cool little spot for a portrait.  While one of the crew members from AVS was setting up their video lighting, I utilized his position and started testing my lighting and framing of the shot.












I was pretty happy with the framing and lighting of the shot, so I just sat back and eagerly awaited the arrival of Jay Sean in the interview room.  He came in, in about 5 or so minutes and took a seat.  I started snapping, trying to get that perfect candid shot that could also double as a portrait, and here's what I get.

For some reason, I just wasn't feeling any of these, I would've had to be shooting for a lot longer than 5 minutes to get the "money shot", especially while doing candids, but he was pretty adamant about not posing and only doing candids.  Within a minute of me starting to shoot, the interview cameras were ready to roll...So I had to put my camera down during the interview because for some reason, the damn shutter on the Canon 7D is pretty loud and would screw up the audio of the interview.  So that went from 5 minutes to like 3.  At this point, I thought all hope was lost, because usually when the interview's done, they leave, especially when they've already said they're going to send a press photo.  Luckily for me, we made him understand that we need this image for the blog, it was necessary, and a generic press photo just wouldn't do.  The readers have to feel a sense of "connectedness" through a photo just for them.  He happily agreed, and BOOM!  The money shot!

I then did what I told myself I would NEVER EVER DO!  I asked for a picture with him.  Why?  I don't know.  He was totally awesome about it and said "Sure man"...So I walk up to him, and then I whisper "it's not for me you know...it's for my mom, she wants to send a picture of me and you to family and shit" and he said "Psh...Indian mom's...what are you gonna do?" and I said "I KNOW!"  I dragged my little brother, Shawn, in the shot, who also assists me on all my shoots, and we got our money shot as well:

And that pretty much concludes this entry.  Stay tuned!