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|| SportsShooter.com: Member Message Board
Family & Baby Portraits - Can it be done by ONE?
Eric Jones, Photographer
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Greenville | NC | USA | Posted: 9:29 PM on 04.13.09 |
->> I've started looking into going more into family and baby portraits as that is where there seems to be a big hit around my area. I've noticed from a few photographers around here that have produced some wonderful pictures that each of them has a team that goes out with them, most are husband and wife. I've only photographed two families by myself, they turned out pretty good but still missing that flare from the sites I've looked at. My question is...is it possible to do this by yourself without running around with your lights vs. having someone else doing that for you? There is one site in particular that has some great pictures on her first page of her blog that I've included. I have not done a a lot of natural light setups but was wondering if you think the majority of these images outside were done with natural light or with any extra lighting or reflectors? It seems like it would be impossible do this all by yourself with any help.
http://lifeslittlegraces.squarespace.com/
If you notice on all the kids faces they are evenly highlighted with no shadows where as my images I'm having a little shadow issues or is that corrected in photoshop? I don't have a lot of experience with the natural outside shots so that is why I'm asking. I know it's going to take and practice but just looking for a little advice from other outdoor portrait photographers to help me get me started in this new adventure. I've emailed several local photographers and praised their work and asked a few simple questions and the only response is, "thanks for kind words but I'm so busy I don't have time right now." In this town there is a small group of photographers that meets once a month to talk shop and one of the ladies is a part of that group and got nothing but the same reply. So much for helping each other out, but I understand that they are not going to give out their tips to help me so that is cool. I was invited to the group for next month's meeting and one of the photographers I asked will probably be there as I'm sure that will be a little uncomfortable. But anyway, I'm going on and on. Feel free to chime in with any helpful hints or tips.
Thanks
Eric |
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Louis Lopez, Photographer
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Darrell Miho, Photographer
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Los Angeles : SFO : HNL | CA | usa | Posted: 6:45 AM on 04.14.09 |
->> anytime you are shooting, whether it be a family or portrait or anything else that requires lighting, it is always a good idea to have an assistant. the extra pair of hands are nice to carry and make lighting adjustment, but all the light fiddling should be done already before the subject arrives.
what is really invaluable is the extra set of eyes. you can't see everything. while you're focused on the eyes, the expression and a smile to determine when to press the shutter, what about the hair? the clothes? the back ground?
a gust of wind blows the hair in the wrong direction or poofs the clothes and someone looks fat. little johnny is picking his nose and uncle george's glasses slipped down just enough so that the frames cover his eyes and sister lisa has one leg bent so it looks like she only has one leg.
details, details, details. the difference between a good photo and a great photo is in the details.
sure you can fix things in photoshop, but that's not your job. your job is to get it right in the camera. you're a photographer, not a photo retoucher. 'good enough' is not good enough.
your assistant is a billable expense and if your client doesn't want to pay for an assistant, then you don't shoot the client. at least that is my philosophy. a good assistant is just as important as your lights and gear. i would go so far as to say that a good assistant is more important than the gear.
if you think a client is not going to approve an assistant, then you include it in your fee. either way, if you don't have an assistant, the final product will suffer and more importantly, your reputation will suffer. |
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Wayne Short, Photographer
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Kingsville | TX | USA | Posted: 7:59 AM on 04.14.09 |
->> Looks very similar to what Ron Kramer teaches at PortraNet. Usually a one reflector setup. Check out the link below and watch the video titled "TLC - Discovery Channel Documentary about half way down the page. A great example of what can be done with a single reflector. Of course, wrangling kids and shooting with one reflector is another story.
http://www.headshot-photography.com/media.htm |
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Eric Canha, Photographer
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Brockton | MA | United States | Posted: 12:01 PM on 04.14.09 |
->> I'll agree with most of what Darrell has already written. On the subject of BILLING for the assistant...... Don't bill for an assistant on a separate line item, at least not for your regular retail portrait clients. These people aren't accustomed to the 3 page commercial invoice that lists out every little detail and will (IMO) react negatively to it.
Roll the cost of the assistant into your sitting fee/creative fee. By all means recover the fee but don't go adding a line onto the invoice for it.
As for the subject of assistants. Yes they are EXTREMELY important. Someone that will keep the attention (read that to mean EYES) of a child or children while you are concentrating on the photo as a whole. Someone who will see that a light stand that is starting to tip while you look through the viewfinder, they're just indispensable. Given a choice I will work with my wife 99% of the time. When that isn't possible or the subject matter is something that isn't up her alley I use the services of one of the p/t shooters who work for me at events. |
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Nick Doan, Photographer
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Scottsdale | AZ | USA | Posted: 3:43 PM on 04.14.09 |
->> An assistant is always great to have, but know why you want one, and what you are expecting to produce.
As for asking why everybody's faces look evenly lit ...I looked at the blog. Every image on the first page was either taken backlit, or in the shade (artificial or otherwise), so the lighting is going to be even. Add some light and you can create any effect you want. |
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Landon Finch, Photographer
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Colorado Springs | CO | USA | Posted: 4:52 PM on 04.14.09 |
->> An assistant is, in my mind, necessary if you're doing formal/posed images of families/kids and/or with artificial lighting. You'll spend too much time trying to keep track of everything and adjusting/moving gear. If you're just doing candid/lifestyle work without any more gear than a camera or two, one person can make it work.
While laws vary from state to state, know that an assistant will *probably* qualify as an employee and all the necessary things that go along with that will need to be taken care of to do things legally (payroll/withholding, unemployment insurance, workers comp insurance, etc. as they apply to your local laws). |
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Carlos Delgado, Photographer
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Long Beach | CA | USA | Posted: 3:00 AM on 04.15.09 |
| ->> If you pay any particular assistant less than $500/year, you don't have to file a 1099 for them... at least in California. |
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