What I Learned Photographing a Real Producers Event at 16

By Teagan, Casa Bay Photography Intern

Hey! I’m Teagan, I’m 16, and I’m one of the high school interns at Casa Bay Photography. I’ve always loved photography—there’s something powerful about being able to freeze a real moment in time. Unlike other visual arts, photography lets you relive something. Not just look at it—feel it again.

When I got the chance to join the Casa Bay internship program, I jumped on it. I mean, how often do you get a chance at 16 to learn hands-on from professionals, shoot real clients, and understand how a creative business actually works? It felt like a golden ticket. And then… we were invited to photograph the 2025 Real Producers event. Me. A huge networking event. Dozens of professional realtors. Fancy dresses. Loud suits. Cameras everywhere. Gulp.

Pre-Event Jitters

Let me just say—I was nervous. Not just “I hope I don’t forget my camera battery” nervous, but full-on, “what if I trip and take down the whole red carpet with me” kind of nervous. This wasn’t a school project. It was a real event, for real clients, with real expectations. So there was little room for error. And one of our four interns couldn’t make it last minute, which definitely didn’t help my nerves.

But I reminded myself: life happens. And I wasn’t doing this alone. Peyton, Abdulhaq, and I made a great team. We planned to look out for one another, bounce ideas off each other, and keep the vibe positive no matter what. And we did.

And of course—Maria, the owner of Casa Bay Photography and our internship leader, was there with us. She had trained us, practiced with us, and now she let us run with it. She checked in with us throughout the night, made sure we were doing alright, but she trusted that we could handle it—and that made a huge difference. Knowing she was there if we needed her, but also believing we were ready, helped me feel more capable than ever.

During the Event: Welcome to the Deep End

Once we arrived and set up, the nerves didn’t exactly vanish—but something kicked in. The “you got this” mode.

My role started at the photo booth—basically, hyping people up while they waited in line, helping them know what to expect, and making sure everyone was ready when it was their turn. This included making conversation with adults. A lot of them. Most of the time while they were holding coats, drinks, purses - you name it. People were already a little antsy from the wait, so part of my job was to keep it light and fun.

One guy in a bright pink suit (which deserves a shoutout on its own) joked about me guarding his drink with my life. I joked back. That moment broke the ice for me—I realized I could do this. I didn’t have to be anyone else. I just had to be me, but confident. I wasn’t viewed as a child, I was seen as an adult - an equal.

Later, a man came up to me saying he had lost access to the QR code we were using to share the gallery. I didn’t have the QR code on me—it was on the laptop… so I quickly pulled the link up on my phone and helped him get it. He was so grateful, and I felt so proud. It was one of those small wins that felt huge. That moment—me problem-solving and actually helping someone—was one of my highlights.

Technical Challenges & Growing Pains

One thing I didn’t expect was just how much mental energy event photography takes. You’re constantly thinking, moving, scanning, adjusting. It’s go-go-go all the time. After working the photo booth, we were peopled out—but there was still more to do. We scarfed down dinner (note: the food was amazing), it wasn’t until we had already gotten our food that Maria informed us that photographers never wait in line (bonus tip for next time!) Then it was time for “grab and grins”—quick candids of people at their tables.

That’s when I hit a wall.

I struggled with my flash settings. I didn’t want to be “in the way,” so I hovered on the edges, afraid to step in. The tables were close together, and I didn’t want to block anyone’s view or interrupt conversations. I just didn’t feel like I belonged in the middle of everything. But the truth is—I was there to do a job. I had permission to take up space. I wasn’t “in the way”—I was exactly where I needed to be to get the shot.

I’ve carried that lesson with me ever since. Confidence isn’t just about speaking up; it’s about showing up and believing you have the right to be there.

The Awards & the Aha Moment

Photographing the awards was hard. I didn’t know who anyone was, so I wasn’t sure where to stand or who to focus on. I stayed toward the back, which limited the reactions I captured—but I did get some great shots of people in the audience cheering and clapping. They were real, emotional moments, and honestly? Some of those ended up being my favorite photos from the whole event.

Meanwhile, Maria was working her magic with her camera and flashes. She gave us interns the responsibility of capturing the key shots, while she roamed freely to create her signature images. She trusted us with the big job, and she only stepped in when she needed to. It was so cool to watch her float around the room—heels on, camera in hand, totally calm and collected, and occasionally photobombing the intern’s photos. She stayed for hours after we left, and somehow looked human the next day. While we all showed up looking like zombies. Superwoman, basically.

Post-Event Reflection: The Confidence Boost I Didn’t Know I Needed

After the event, we cleaned up, packed gear, and reflected. The three of us—me, Peyton, and Abdulhaq—had gotten closer through the chaos, and I honestly think having one less intern made us tighter as a team. 

Then came the review process. I was so critical of my work. I kept thinking, “I missed that shot,” or “This could’ve been better,” or “Dang, why do my photos just not look like Peyton and Abdulhaq’s?”  But Maria surprised me—she sent a few of my photos to clients she knew from the event, and they loved them. They all thought Maria had taken the photo herself. What. A. Compliment.

That was the moment I realized I might be better at this than I think.

Sure, my knowledge and equipment are still growing. But my ability to learn and adapt? That’s already strong. Maria reminds me of that a lot—sometimes louder than I want her to, haha. But she’s right.

And when the magazine came out and I saw that several of my photos had been published, I was shocked. I even got a copy of the magazine. Talk about a confidence boost.

What I Learned (About Photography… and Me)

Here’s the real talk:

Lessons in Photography

• You are not in the way—you are the photographer. Get the shot.
  

• Be smart, polite, and quick, but don’t shrink.
  

• Vary your shots: portrait, landscape, close-ups, candids, posed, wide shots.
  

• Event photography isn’t about taking a million photos. It’s about taking the right ones.
  

• Equipment will limit you, but creativity and problem-solving are your biggest tools.
  

• Working as a team gives you flexibility and strength. You don’t have to be everywhere at once.
  
  

Lessons About Me

• I lean toward portraits—I need to work on variety.
  

• I have a good eye for moments, but I rush. I need to pause and shoot a scene a few times before moving on.
  

• I am way more capable than I give myself credit for.
  

• I love event photography.
  

• I thrive when I step outside my comfort zone (even if it’s uncomfortable at first).
  

• Candid moments are my favorite. I like real over posed.
  

• “Event hangover” is a real thing. Like… for real. But I still showed up to training the next morning, early–like 30 minutes before we were required to be there early. Tired, yes. But proud.
  
  

Final Thoughts

If you’re thinking about joining the Casa Bay Photography internship program—do it. Even if you are not a photographer but have a niche for art, there’s something for everyone. It’s not just about taking pretty pictures (although you’ll definitely do that). It’s about learning how to handle pressure, think on your toes, collaborate, grow through real experience, and find confidence in places you didn’t know existed. 

Maria is there to support you, train you, challenge you, and give you room to figure things out—because she believes in you. If you mess up, she helps you fix it. If you succeed, she’ll cheer the loudest. You’ll be part of a team that actually works together, has fun—laughs hard, and delivers real results.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to show up, be open to learning, and believe in your potential—even when it feels scary. Especially when it feels scary.

I started this internship thinking I’d just “learn more about photography.” I had no idea I’d also learn so much about myself. Or that I’d have so many people to support me along the way.

Hope to see you out there—camera in hand.

— Teagan 📸
Casa Bay Intern & Aspiring Sharp Shooter 💥