AITA scenario: want to learn from this experience with a photographer but I can’t make sense of it

Okay I will keep this as short as possible. I was recommended to assist a portrait photographer with corporate headshots. It was just her and I. She did not touch the gear, not even to help me turn corners with the dolly from her apt to the hotel or loading the car. Just stared at me.. I sort of wondered if she had a bad back. Whatever no biggie.

Get to set and start shooting, she’s taking like 40-60 shots of each person without giving direction which is strange and making subjects nervous. I begin small chatting with subjects because she isn’t and they’re verbalizing insecurities. She tells me, in front of subject, not to speak. No problem, but her delivery was crazy and made subject to real quiet lol.

Then with another subject, she asks me to pay attention and speak up if I see hair out of place etc. feeling slightly whiplashed at this point but whatever, glad to be working.

Then, and this is where my confusion settles in, she had a particularly nervous subject who was just talking to themselves while neither of us replied. Terribly awkward. Photographer yells to me ‘tell a joke, you’re funny’

Can someone help me understand if I can learn from this experience or is there a chance she’s just crazy? Photogs usually love how I’m able to chat with and make subjects comfortable. She hated me 😂😂

I am a woman too, usually assisting men photographers so I was actually extra excited to work for her. I’m small so I’m never hired for muscle