I recently bought a set of studio lights to get into family portraits during the winter. As this is a new venture for me I have asked people that want me to photograph them to come and I'll just charge them for prints if they like them. I am setting up in a church hall for the afternoon and I'm paying for the hall.
I have three families this saturday, and I am really looking forward to it. They are all 2 parents and 2 children around the age of 5 and 3.
Could you help me out and post me some of your favourite shots of these. I have a couple of space hoppers for props so should be quite a fun time.
Anything High Key I can filter to make this go smoothly. I know if it goes right, that this will lead to more business as I have had a lot of interest in it.
Please post what you can even if its not high key, just fun family portraits..
I also have 2 family photoshoots in the next week that I was planning to do with a white backdrop- high key. So I would be interested to see what ideas anyone might have and could also post my results when I'm finished. Thus far, I have only done children and babies in this type of setting.
bellissimogirl wrote:
I also have 2 family photoshoots in the next week that I was planning to do with a white backdrop- high key. So I would be interested to see what ideas anyone might have and could also post my results when I'm finished. Thus far, I have only done children and babies in this type of setting.
White backdrop = high key??
What is the OP talking about when he mentions "high key"?
There isn't a debate. A WHITE BACKGROUND IS NOT HIGH KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even better is the OP is excited for this great opportunity to shoot three families that he has already booked; yet he doesn't know how to go about doing the shoot?
Is your question on posing? Lighting a white background? Both?
j.curtis wrote:
There isn't a debate. A WHITE BACKGROUND IS NOT HIGH KEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Even better is the OP is excited for this great opportunity to shoot three families that he has already booked; yet he doesn't know how to go about doing the shoot?
Is your question on posing? Lighting a white background? Both?
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAA! Rein in the sarcasim man. He is shooting three families Pro Bono who are already aware that this is a learning session for him. Their payment for his growing pains are a free portrait session - Jeez.
Some people must be born with a camera in their hands.
As for the original post- I dont really have anything to tell you ^^ I dont own a single studio light!!
Ian Bower wrote:
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAA! Rein in the sarcasim man. He is shooting three families Pro Bono who are already aware that this is a learning session for him. Their payment for his growing pains are a free portrait session - Jeez.
Some people must be born with a camera in their hands.
As for the original post- I dont really have anything to tell you ^^ I dont own a single studio light!!
Don't get on me. He is the one that wants these to go well to get more business.
He bought lights and lined up people. Then he is trying to figure out how to shoot them. I would have learned how to shoot them. Bought what equipment I needed. Then shot.
Nothing is worse then doing a crappy job. If he screws this up he can forget about getting other people. I'm just saying he's put the cart in front of the horse.
j.curtis wrote:
Don't get on me. He is the one that wants these to go well to get more business.
He bought lights and lined up people. Then he is trying to figure out how to shoot them. I would have learned how to shoot them. Bought what equipment I needed. Then shot.
Nothing is worse then doing a crappy job. If he screws this up he can forget about getting other people. I'm just saying he's put the cart in front of the horse.
Maybe if you read my post before jumping on the smack waggon you would have read it was simply examples of different idea's for posing. Nothing on meter reading the background and subject. Nothing on light placement, and nothing on how to shoot them. I have idea's but I also like inspiration. I have used the lights but not in this setting and not with so many different families on the same day.
Quite frankly if you cant offer inspiration then dont bother posting trashy comments. its not helpful to anyone, as you can see from the post its not something that is just going to help me.
j.curtis wrote:
Don't get on me. He is the one that wants these to go well to get more business.
He bought lights and lined up people. Then he is trying to figure out how to shoot them. I would have learned how to shoot them. Bought what equipment I needed. Then shot.
Nothing is worse then doing a crappy job. If he screws this up he can forget about getting other people. I'm just saying he's put the cart in front of the horse.
Mind if I ask how you learn studio photography without studio equipment or people to shoot?
Ian Bower wrote:
Mind if I ask how you learn studio photography without studio equipment or people to shoot?
Take a class? Work with a professional photographer. Those are two ideas I would have thought of.
OP... If you are looking for posing ideas, go to google images, type in "family portraits". You will get a lot of images to look at. Skip over those that you don't like and remember those that you do like. Your mentioning that this shoot could lead to more "businesss" is what I think raised the eyebrows. What you are doing is not business. It is experimenting and trying to learn with live subjects.
This type of question comes up enough that we should just create a # for each type of response. That way people could just reply back with the # and not create the same stir over and over again. Most of the replys given have sound advice in them. Sometimes the advice is missed when the shields come up.
jwp721 wrote:
Take a class? Work with a professional photographer. Those are two ideas I would have thought of.
OP... If you are looking for posing ideas, go to google images, type in "family portraits". You will get a lot of images to look at. Skip over those that you don't like and remember those that you do like. Your mentioning that this shoot could lead to more "businesss" is what I think raised the eyebrows. What you are doing is not business. It is experimenting and trying to learn with live subjects.
This type of question comes up enough that we should just create a # for each type of response. That way people could just reply back with the # and not create the same stir over and over again. Most of the replys given have sound advice in them. Sometimes the advice is missed when the shields come up.
On the google front I think I have been through 50 pages quite often the photo's I see on here are just something in a different class which is kinda what I was aiming at.
I have paid for and sat in on several workshops with models but no children / family portraits. I do not have a studio therefore this would be my first branch out into booking somewhere and producing images that people would be prepared to pay for in this way, as this is my goal.
I'm not sure how friendly you guys are over there to your local uncle bog tog wannabe's but in my neck of there woods there is not a local "Pro" that will reply to emails and letters let alone let me work as a second shooter. I even went to another county and did the same but nothing. I did a second shoot for a photographer for free and the bride chose some of my images over the guy that was taking them. Few weeks later he said he didnt need a second shooter anymore.
I understand why everyone is saying what they are saying, I honestly do and leading to more business is what it is. Take it for what it is but there are a whole bunch of people out there that want great pictures like the rich guys have but don't have the money. One of the comments I had from one of the families (all of which are friends) was "To be honest its not worth your while if this is likely to cost us a fortune as we just dont have the money for £100 ($150) prints." My aim is to take some great shots, get them on these peoples walls and get some referrals. My overheads are minimal and all the people are willing. Portraits are not going to pay for my new Porsche but weddings might and I figure that a photo is better advertising than any business card handed out at a party.
Anyway I didnt want this to be a Barrier up - post so maybe I should of left out the business part of it to stop the prickly pears getting all spikey..
I guess I should clarify- I do a lot of photography and I am quite capable of shooting on my white background as well as shooting families. I just usually do my family sessions outdoors or on location and I don't want these upcoming studio shots to be boring. I was looking for imaginative posing or prop ideas. I'm always trying to keep my sessions fun and provide something a little different so my clients will have a reason to choose me over the 100 other photographers in my area.
Maximus- I think this will be a great learning experience for you and I'm sure you will be able to get some great shots for your portfolio and I agree that prints on a wall are better advertising than business cards. Nearly all of my business comes from word of mouth.
