So the shoot in Connecticut went great with Taylor and her band.. Great people to work with, full of energy. The driver picked me up on time at the Rhode Island airport and took me to the casino resort. Got a great room on the 27th floor overlooking miles of woods in all directions. The fall colors are amazing, all shades of reds, oranges, yellows and browns...just beautiful. I make a mental note to do a shoot outside with Taylor before I go back, the foliage is too good to miss.

Spend the next two days shooting backstage reportage, sound check and of course live. The first night it's Halloween so the guys in the band decide they're going to dress up in costume. Paul and Grant have authentic Kiss outfits and do a great job pulling off the act. Spend most of the show up front and out in the audience of teenage girls. Man! I felt old that first night!! Got some great shots, one I really love is one of Taylor spot lit from above and cell phone lights in the audience just glowing everywhere...

Day two and Taylor is in the hotel suite next to me. Head next door and shoot some casual portraits of Taylor alone, backlit by the huge window and then as the band arrive we do a group shot. We all head on out into the frigid outdoors to do some portraits with the fall colors. Uncle Al who is Taylors most accommodating drummer assists me in my duties by holding the reflectors.... The pics end up being stunning and Taylor and her Mom seem quite pleased. To be perfectly honest, it's hard to not make her look good. Later at the venue I set up lights backstage and shoot Taylor who's wearing a sparkly blue dress. Get some great shots of here with her guitar and then holding a bright yellow flower. I wish it was this easy making everyone else I shoot look this good.......HA! Get a couple of shots of her with Mom and then it's time for the show. Decide this time to shoot most of the show from the safety of the stage.... The young girls in the audience shove too much... yeah, I know I'm a wimp.. Hehehe.. Get some great shots from the stage perspective, especially during Picture to Burn where Taylor and Caitlin attack the trash cans with drumsticks...

Overall a great trip and some of the best pics I've done. The trip back was a bit of a pain in the posterior due to the connections I had to make but it was all minimal fuss really in the bigger scheme of things. Now the wonderful selection and editing process begins. Hours on end of numb bum syndrome. Break out the hot tea and chocolate Hob Nobs, it's gonna be a long one.

ASH