Behind the Scenes: Beg, Borrow, Balance.

Behind every photo shoot there are funny stories.  This one for Utterly Engaged Magazine issue #5 was one of those days that was comical.

This cute two seater bike was not planned at all for our shoot.  We wanted an old beat up bike but Anne Millett and I sort of gave up trying to find the bicycle because we were both in the middle of our busy season and we were running low on time and energy.  To turn this photo shoot around, we had enough on our plate.

As the afternoon went on, I kept saying to Anne that something was missing from this "Strawberry Shortcake" photo shoot.  We needed a getaway "vehicle" to make this story complete.   We both eyed this bike available at Wheel Fun Rentals at Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park.  This one with the red stripe awning was just perfect for our shoot so we begged and pleaded with the owner(more like I begged and Anne stood by my side) to let us use it for 30 minutes.  The clerk wasn't very keen on loaning it to us and wanted us to "rent" it at a cost we just weren't comfortable spending.

Luckily we had food from our photoshoot so we promised to bring him some grab(Food will get you everywhere).

Once we got the bike we knew what to do and we tied these fabulous ribbons that were leftover from our shoot and placed two centerpieces on the back of the bikes.  However, Chin Chin my dog who was at the shoot was not cooperating at all.  He insisted on coming over to see what all the excitement was about.  Finally, my husband, Kevin Chin(the amazing photographer) said that Chin Chin would actually look good with the bike so he shot it with Chin Chin lounging under the bike.

Chin Chin managed to be the star of the shoot and even got himself in the magazine.  Yup, he is sort of famous now.

After the photo, Anne and I had to return the bike so we decided to just ride it back to Stow Lake.  Not aware of the mechanisms of this bike and possibly taking for granted that we didn't really check to see if my foot could reach the brakes(I'm barely 5 ft), we road it down a sharp incline and lost control of the bike for a moment.  You could say that our Balance was off.  Anne with her strong legs used them to help slow our rapid speed but we were not able to stop it as we approached the road.  In mere seconds, we went from peacefully riding the bike to two screaming women, rolling to a stop, nearly colliding with a car, making for what is a memorable behind the scenes!  Perhaps that's why I haven't been able to stomach another photo shoot.  My balance is just a little off from that scary ride.

Till the next behind the scenes, expect the unexpected.