I had an incredibly important photoshoot recently, and I made a rookie mistake that could have spelled disaster.

Thankfully, everything not only turned out fine, but the portraits I captured are some of my favorites to date, and my subject, legendary bassist Maestro Ron Carter, was thrilled with the results.

In the accompanying YouTube video, I detail the experience from start to finish, including how I showed up to the shoot missing some key gear. Rookie move, I know. But it was a perfect storm of shifting schedules and changed expectations for the shoot, which caught me off guard. This is to be expected when working with in-demand clients who are constantly on the move. Things can change at the drop of a hat, and we need to adapt quickly.

It’s a story with ups and downs, but in the end, everything turns out great! A classic come-from-behind win. I hope you enjoy it and that you enjoy these images from the shoot, which took place in New York, backstage at Jazz at Lincoln Center. There are several more images in the video as well.