Lessons from Las Vegas

Sometimes the best lessons come from being on the business end of another photographer’s lens

- Paul Wikinson

We were in the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas as part of a week-long trip to celebrate my 50th birthday. My wife Sarah and I had been here before for our honeymoon, and I’d always wanted to return with the kids. On this evening we were looking forward to Love, the Cirquedu Soleil show based on the Beatles’ music. First though, we were fuelling up with a hot meal, and were midway through the main course when the hotel photographer drew up to the table next to ours.

I’ve never been a fan of this approach. When I photograph weddings, I actively recommend to clients that the photography pauses during the main meal. That’s partly because I don’t want to interrupt the food, but mainly it’s because I don’t find it results in particularly good images.

But I’m a sucker for photos of my family. Like most people, I don’t like having my photo taken, but still, the result is worth it: to me, family photos are the most valuable thing I have.