.... organise a professional outdoor family shoot.
I have a couple of shoots arranged for people I don't know and I am charging (minimally) for. They would like some outdoor portraits of their young children and a couple of family shots that are not too 'posed' looking.
I'm very excited that people are giving me the opportunity to do this, but realise I need some kind of plan so I look professional and get the shots they want in a short dosage of time.
Does anyone have any tips on the best places to do such shoots and how to direct the clients? I'm frightened that I'll get it all wrong and end up with terrible forced smile images!
Hi Alice, having not followed your project yet I'm not familiar with your work - I had a quick look just now and see you've upgraded from your 350D :) Whereabouts are you? What lenses are you shooting with?
I've just started doing a some maternity shoots and have learnt a few things in the process although I'm not sure how to translate much of it into advice! Definitely figure out a location and scope it out beforehand, at the same time of day you plan to do the shoot so you can see how and where the light is falling, maybe even take a friend with you and get some practice shots.
Finding a spot can be hard, I've used a large park with a path around a large pond, a coastal area with mud flats and mangroves etc. Even a vacant lot with long grass and a big gum tree. I really had no idea about how to go about finding a location but I'm starting to see and think of more possibilities as I get experienced.
Re shooting kids ... again being unfamiliar with your work I'm not sure how experienced you are with this but they can be hard to catch, move fast and do everything other than what you want them to! So I guess be super prepared with your lens and settings so that once you find your spot you can fire off a bunch of shots before they get bored, cranky etc!! And keep your shutter reasonably fast :) Does any of this help?? :)
depending on the place make sure that you can take photos there. some places charge or don't allow photos and others may have public functions going on. check websites for calendars of events. direct them in clothing. make sure they somewhat match and stay away from greens and oranges and yellows by the faces. try to shoot on cement or a road or path to avoid green color cast from grass as well. light cement can act as a natural reflector. find out what makes them smile! that way you can reference it while talking and get them to smile naturally!
This is something I have quite a lot of experience in - I shoot outdoor school portraits and do a lot of family sessions (finally, something I can contribute to!) and the best advice I can give is don't plan too much.
Children will be children and that's part of the charm of a family shoot. Have some poses in mind, to either get things started or to pull things together if the kids get a little out of hand, but be ready to react to what the kids do and have fun with it.
Just talk to them, get them to pull funny faces at each other and be sure to shoot the funny face and the awesome natural smiles you'll get right after it!
Parks are good, usually plenty of open spaces and if you can take them in the early evening there's often awesome light with some shady options if the sun is still high in the sky.
@aliha Hi Alison! Thanks for your response, In in the UK and only have two lenses at the moment...the kit lens that came with my new 70D and a 50mm prime. What lens do you think is best for shooting children? I'm still very new to all of this, but children tend to be my main focus so I have experienced the quickness of them! Great idea re scoping out the site first - I think I might do a trial run with my own lot first :)
@jackies365 Jackie - great idea about the road/cement - I was planning on going to a local playing field - but there is a lovely country road running along side it - so will definitely try to incorporate that. I'd never thought about the green cast from grass before - maybe it's something i need to focus on correcting in processing if i do end up on grass (which is probably fairly likely!)
@jojackson I've had a look at your website and you are EXACTLY what I aspire to! Do you have a facebook page that I could follow? Can I ask what camera/lens you would usually use. This may seem a silly question - but how do you start things off when they first arrive??! I'm TOTALLY stealing some of your ideas (if you don't mind?!) Thank you for responding to me :)
I try to chat with the Mum (only because in my experience it's usually the Mum who organises these things) via email or FB before the shoot to try and find out about what she wants from the shoot - this is important and will help you plan . are formal pictures what she wants or is it more candids she's hoping for. And it also means you can find out a little about the family before you meet them - hobbies and things you can talk about.
I usually start off by just talking about the weather or their clothes, asking what they've been up to. They'll expect you to take the lead, you're the photographer after all, so before they arrive pick a place to take your first 'group' photo and take it pretty soon after you get started.
It'll help break the ice and give you a great chance to start interacting with them by commenting on what they just did (telling them that was great and then asking the kids who thinks they can give you the best smile or who thinks they can jump the highest...) Depending on the age of the children, your direction will either be minimal (toddlers will do what they want and look very adorable doing it) or more involved (older children can take direction, especially if you tell them how awesome they look doing it) ;)
I'm always happy to help, I still get nervous before a shoot but the best thing to remember is that they're probably going to be nervous too so don't worry too much.
And one other thing while I'm thinking about it. I don't really like giving children props - personally I think they look really cheesy - but if they're small and they have their teddy/favourite toy of choice, don't be afraid to use it in the photos. It'll help them relax and you can always crop it out later.
If there are flowers, have them pick some - suggest they give some to Mum (you'll get awesome pictures of her reactions in there too!). Throw stones into a river, throw leaves if it's autumn. Use what's around you.
Having looked through your photos on here I'm sure you're going to do brilliantly. :)
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I've just started doing a some maternity shoots and have learnt a few things in the process although I'm not sure how to translate much of it into advice! Definitely figure out a location and scope it out beforehand, at the same time of day you plan to do the shoot so you can see how and where the light is falling, maybe even take a friend with you and get some practice shots.
Finding a spot can be hard, I've used a large park with a path around a large pond, a coastal area with mud flats and mangroves etc. Even a vacant lot with long grass and a big gum tree. I really had no idea about how to go about finding a location but I'm starting to see and think of more possibilities as I get experienced.
Re shooting kids ... again being unfamiliar with your work I'm not sure how experienced you are with this but they can be hard to catch, move fast and do everything other than what you want them to! So I guess be super prepared with your lens and settings so that once you find your spot you can fire off a bunch of shots before they get bored, cranky etc!! And keep your shutter reasonably fast :) Does any of this help?? :)
Children will be children and that's part of the charm of a family shoot. Have some poses in mind, to either get things started or to pull things together if the kids get a little out of hand, but be ready to react to what the kids do and have fun with it.
Just talk to them, get them to pull funny faces at each other and be sure to shoot the funny face and the awesome natural smiles you'll get right after it!
Parks are good, usually plenty of open spaces and if you can take them in the early evening there's often awesome light with some shady options if the sun is still high in the sky.
Feel free to check out some of my family photos on my website for ideas too! ( http://jojacksonphotography.smugmug.com )
@jackies365 Jackie - great idea about the road/cement - I was planning on going to a local playing field - but there is a lovely country road running along side it - so will definitely try to incorporate that. I'd never thought about the green cast from grass before - maybe it's something i need to focus on correcting in processing if i do end up on grass (which is probably fairly likely!)
@jojackson I've had a look at your website and you are EXACTLY what I aspire to! Do you have a facebook page that I could follow? Can I ask what camera/lens you would usually use. This may seem a silly question - but how do you start things off when they first arrive??! I'm TOTALLY stealing some of your ideas (if you don't mind?!) Thank you for responding to me :)
I try to chat with the Mum (only because in my experience it's usually the Mum who organises these things) via email or FB before the shoot to try and find out about what she wants from the shoot - this is important and will help you plan . are formal pictures what she wants or is it more candids she's hoping for. And it also means you can find out a little about the family before you meet them - hobbies and things you can talk about.
I usually start off by just talking about the weather or their clothes, asking what they've been up to. They'll expect you to take the lead, you're the photographer after all, so before they arrive pick a place to take your first 'group' photo and take it pretty soon after you get started.
It'll help break the ice and give you a great chance to start interacting with them by commenting on what they just did (telling them that was great and then asking the kids who thinks they can give you the best smile or who thinks they can jump the highest...) Depending on the age of the children, your direction will either be minimal (toddlers will do what they want and look very adorable doing it) or more involved (older children can take direction, especially if you tell them how awesome they look doing it) ;)
I'm always happy to help, I still get nervous before a shoot but the best thing to remember is that they're probably going to be nervous too so don't worry too much.
And one other thing while I'm thinking about it. I don't really like giving children props - personally I think they look really cheesy - but if they're small and they have their teddy/favourite toy of choice, don't be afraid to use it in the photos. It'll help them relax and you can always crop it out later.
If there are flowers, have them pick some - suggest they give some to Mum (you'll get awesome pictures of her reactions in there too!). Throw stones into a river, throw leaves if it's autumn. Use what's around you.
Having looked through your photos on here I'm sure you're going to do brilliantly. :)