Shooting Snoop Dogg
I’ve been lucky enough in my career to not only shoot Snoop once, but twice. When people see the photos they tend to ask, what’s he like? Well, he is exactly how you think he would be, dope AF.
The first time I shot Snoop was for Tanqueray Gin. He had gathered a handful of emerging talent from musicians to chefs who were featured as the Tanqueray 10. There were a few different sets going on with a few other photographers, but my job was to shoot portraits of Snoop and the Tang 10.
There were a few hiccups on set (that I won’t go into) but you could tell it was getting to Snoop. Once he made his way to my set, he turned it on like a true professional.
I’ll never forget, he had a blunt in one hand and a Gin and Juice in the other (for photo purposes of course). I was like DAMN is this shit really happening? He was SERVING it up, couldn’t get a bad shot if I tried. Dancing, laughing, welcoming and respectful all rolled up in one. Of course my hands were shaking because I was shooting my fucking fucking Snoop Dogg. Had to pull my shit together, couldn’t send in blurry images to the client lol.
At the end of the shoot, it looked like he was handing me his blunt, but I think he was doing it for photo purposes. Naturally I reached out and took the blunt to hit it. You can’t refuse Snoop Dogg?! As I replayed that moment later on, I’m pretty sure he was indeed NOT handing it to me, but i’ll let you be the judge.
Second time I shot Snoop, him and Adidas teamed up to create an event called Adidas Prosper. Essentially it’s a workshop for a few lucky football players who had just gotten drafted. He had a panel of educators who would teach them how to stay focused on their career as well as manage their finances. Adidas dropped a cleat that Snoop had helped design. This event was shot at Snoop’s compound and i’m pretty sure I signed an NDA, so I won’t go into too much detail, but I will leave you with this…. a gold Versace emblem that had Snoops face on it hung above the entrance as you walked in.
I like to think Snoop had remembered me, but he could have just been nice when I asked, “Do you remember me”, and he answered “yes”. At the end of the shoot, he had walked into his compound after we said our goodbyes. A moment later his security guard came up to me and said “ Snoop wanted me to give this to you”, and handed me a pack of Snoops personal blunts….. I DIED and played it off like it was nothing. Once I drove back home to San Diego, I rallied the besties to come over so we could sit in a circle and smoke it together. Didn’t feel right smoking it alone.
Hopefully our paths will cross again in the future, until then I am forever grateful for the experience. I owe it to my assistant for helping me emotionally as well as physically that day!
Thanks Sean!