To start the challenge, I scanned through my law school textbooks and carefully selected Constitutional Law. I plowed through my jewelry box and found the silver toggle necklace from Tiffany & Co. that everyone owned a few years ago. Then I woke up my dog, Wasabi, from an afternoon nap, and he happily climbed into the pet purse I used to carry around Manhattan with him hanging out the front. I rarely wear anything pink, so the day before the shoot, I went to the mall and got some cheesy pink stuff. I look like a Mary Kay reject.

I wanted a wide spread of light, so I set up a medium softbox behind my camera and tripod. For kicks, I placed a gridded light behind me to highlight the pink flower on my headband. I missed, but that is part of the charm with an unassisted self-portrait. Not only that, but I had to work on Wasabi’s limited attention span, so I only got in eight shots before he wanted a reward for his modeling. I am grateful for this experience because I got to bond with Wasabi, and it took me back in time where I used to tote around law school books with a happy little dog in my purse. Unlike Elle Woods, however, I had to ditch the pink.

Houston, Texas 2009

Gear: Canon 5D Mark II
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8 L USM Lens
Lighting: AB 1600 medium softbox behind camera/tripod, gridded 10° kicker light (wish I used two and a bigger spread like 30°)

© Amy Dunn
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