 Elizabeth Donley |
How to shoot senior photos. I am considering taking my daughters senior photos to save some money. I am a pretty decent photographer and just would like to ask for any hints and tips people could give me. I have a Fuji Finepix S5000. Thanks again for any information :) Also any good ideas for places to shoot :)
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Shauna Linde |
Just out of curiousity, have you ever done any kind of "portrait" pictures before? I ask that because it's fairly easy to say, "I'll do your pictures", and then find out maybe you should have paid someone. My perfect example: When my husband and I got engaged, I wanted to get some engagement photos taken, but didn't want to spend a lot of money, so I figured I'd ask a family member to take a few photos of us together. Now, maybe my mom is just not good with cameras, but almost every picture was bad. And I'm not being overly critical because I am a photographer, but they were *really* bad (sorry Mom!!). They turned out blurry, or our heads were below the middle (big white wall above us in the background), or she didn't crop...and she's never been one to have problems taking pictures! In any case... practice practice practice before you fully decide this is what you want to do. Since you say you are a pretty decent photographer, I don't think you will have the same problems my mom did, but I just wanted to share that scenario! You never know!! With that said, here are some suggestions: P.S. If I had a scanner I'd show you some I did, but we don't have one yet...maybe someone else can respond and share some good poses! :)
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Elizabeth Donley |
I am going to try and get it done this weekend or in the next few days so if they don't look acceptable we can find a professional. We already had the idea to take ideas from yearbooks and looked at them last night trying to find poses and colors that stand out the best. Thank you for all the advice, I really appreciate it :) I think we will take some yearbooks with us to refresh our memory the day we take the photos :) Thanks again Elizabeth
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Tony Sweet |
Dear Elizabeth: A common misconception is that one can do a job as well as a professional if they have good equipment. How many times have to started to do some landscaping, fix your car, put in a recepticle, patch your driveway, etc., etc., etc., then decide to hire a professional to do it for you? Your daughter's senior picture will be a memory forever. After you take the digital picture, how will you print it to preserve the archivality, so it doesn't fade in 6 years or less. How much do you know about printing papers, inks, scanning, sharpening, backgrounds, how to control light with reflectors especially during an outside situation? How about resolution of your digital file? Not to mention composition. One of the things that I've learned in life is that just because something looks easy doesn't mean that it is easy. It means that the person is very good at their job. It's a good idea to shoot some "serious" grad pics for yourself, but save yourself a huge headache and use a professional senior portrait service. Two things will happen: 1. It will cost you some money, and Good luck!
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
I just took a bunch of portraits of my kids with the exact camera you have. We've chatted in email. I can give you lots of tips. Mine turned out as good or at least close to as good as pro photos in my opinion. Here's my advice for senior shots. 1. Use your portrait setting. It works fairly well and helps with DOF. 2. Get back and zoom in on her. That will help with DOF too. 3. Use a tripod for super clear photos. (I didn't, but I think it would have improved them). 4. Take them on the RAW setting. You'll want to preserve every MP for enlargements. 5. Choose an overcast day for your photos and take them early morn/late evening. This will give you the most flattering light. Some poses you might want to consider are 1. Leaning against a tree--always pretty in my opinion. 2. Sitting on a swing in a pretty park. 3. Sitting on a rustic bench. 4. Framed in the windowsill of an old rustic barn or shed. 5. Sitting on the grass in front of nice green bushes hugging her knees. 6. Smelling flowers. Contrast her clothes with the background and keep her in muted colors. You can apply soft portraiter filters in software after the pictures are taken for an even more professional opinion. I've uploaded a photo to show you what I mean by the filter.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
I just took a bunch of portraits of my kids with the exact camera you have. We've chatted in email. I can give you lots of tips. Mine turned out as good or at least close to as good as pro photos in my opinion. Here's my advice for senior shots. 1. Use your portrait setting. It works fairly well and helps with DOF. 2. Get back and zoom in on her. That will help with DOF too. 3. Use a tripod for super clear photos. (I didn't, but I think it would have improved them). 4. Take them on the RAW setting. You'll want to preserve every MP for enlargements. 5. Choose an overcast day for your photos and take them early morn/late evening. This will give you the most flattering light. Some poses you might want to consider are 1. Leaning against a tree--always pretty in my opinion. 2. Sitting on a swing in a pretty park. 3. Sitting on a rustic bench. 4. Framed in the windowsill of an old rustic barn or shed. 5. Sitting on the grass in front of nice green bushes hugging her knees. 6. Smelling flowers. Contrast her clothes with the background and keep her in muted colors. You can apply soft portraiter filters in software after the pictures are taken for an even more professional opinion. I've uploaded a photo to show you what I mean by the filter. Good luck! Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
I didn't mean to post my text twice! Sorry. I do have ONE more tip--order your prints online--they will be printed as an actual photo would with no fading or other problems. You can order any size and get a custom package mailed right to your home. Winkflash is supposed to be the best. I don't think you should listen to the naysayers (no offence to them). The photos will be more special if you take them and they turn out well. Mine are, and they're certianly better in both my husband and my opinion than the "pro" pictures we've had taken. Much better in fact. And I'll order prints online that will last as long. Remember to download your photos to PS and put in nice caligraphic text on the bottom corner telling her graduation information for cards and invitations. Take DOZENS and DOZENS of pictures. I've seen your pictures. You have the talent to do this. Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Tony Sweet |
No offense to you, Karma, but cautioning someone in regards to photographing a milestone event is not "nay-saying." It's making someone aware that what appears to be easy and great in the moment, may not wind up that way in years to come. I'm a published professional nature and fine art photographer, but still use a professional portrait photographer or interior photographer to do work for me. I really applaud your encouragement in regards to Elizabeth's questions, but if she goes ahead, and I do wish her the best in getting great senior images for her daughter, and they come out less than outstanding, and fade in the years to come, she will be the only one to lose. Again, with all due respect, cautiously advising someone with options is prudent, not "nay-saying."
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
Tony, there is nothing for Elizabeth to fear except fear itself. If she doesn't like the photos she has time to get a professional. If she goes through a print establishment her photos will not fade because they will be printed on pro paper (she can even specify higher quality paper in her order). These places have guarantees against fading. I hired a "pro" for my senior photos and ended up having to pay for lots of shots that were less than stunning. I had about 3 shots I thought were okay. I payed a lot and I didn't have a lot to pay at that point. I'm much more confident in my ability to get good photos of my children than pro photographers. The one family photo we paid a pro for was a huge disapointment, and it was a reputable name! I wasn't trying to offend you Tony, I just think Eliabteth has nothing to lose by trying. And think if she succeeds? Are the photos you look back on taken by pro photographers the "special" memories? Not for me and my family. Think for the future of this girl. When she's 50 looking back on her photos and her Mom's photos look beautiful and she can remember when she had her big "photo shoot" with Mom and they turned out so good and everybody asked, "Oooo where did you get those done?" is that going to be less special than her pro photographer session? I think not. And if they don't turn out so great they can at least say they tried! But what if she doesn't try, goes to a pro and they don't do such a great job? They'll have to pay hundreds of dollars and they still won't have good photos. So I'm sorry, I don't see the danger of trying and I do see many benefits. My best, Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Tony Sweet |
I'm not offended, Karma. As stated in my first response, I suggested that Elizabeth go ahead and photograph herself, in addition to using a professional. One needs to be prudent in giving advice regarding important events to people that they don't know personally. I'm sorry to hear of your negative experience with a professional, but there are also incompetent doctors and lawyers. One needs to do research and rely on "word of mouth" in regards to hiring any professional. In regards to fading, I still have high school pictures from 1967 that have not faded whatsoever. Who does one contact, with the guarantee in hand, in 30-40 years when the image has vanished from the paper. I guess my point is that there are many more things to consider than saving a few bucks. Anyway, I really like the picture of your daughter that you uploaded. It's extremely well done!
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
Thank you for the compliment Tony. And your gallery is certainly one of the best for flora on this site. Lovely! I was blown away. I see your point about fading, but I've read articles and reviews about these establishments because as somebody who is taking my family photos in the same process I'm telling Elizabeth about I have a very vested interest in making sure my cherished memories will last forever. I researched this before I bought my camera so I'm giving Elizabeth sound advice. The funny pictures of my daugther showing me the teeth she's lost are as important, or even more important than senior photos. It's the same as a regular acid free archival quality photo paper so fading shouldn't be a concern for Elizabeth. When you buy a digital camera you are warned to order your pictures this way for just this reason and save printing for less important shots. I tell everybody I know who is going digital this as well. Funny enough I got the pro for my senior pictures from word of mouth and I thought I should get good photos, but she took a bunch with my hair blowing in my face, didn't put on a softening filter, and in general didn't live up. Even pros have bad days. Take care, Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
One more point--with these photos fading isn't an issue anyway because Elizabeth can make several CDs and there will always be a digital quality perfectly preserved backup. Elizabeth, you can also buy a box of 50 CD's for 20 bucks at Costco, put the senior pictures to your daughter's favorite song and add milestone pictures of her whole childhood, and send these CD's as a graduate commemoration to all your relatives and friends. Print labels with the best picture of your daugther on the front! It's a fantastic way to share this monumental event with your loved ones. Take care, Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Tony Sweet |
I agree in the short term, Karma, but a topic of discussion among photographers is the archivality of CD's; if hardware will be around in 30 years to read them; if they will have failed by then. I have CD's that have failed, as have other pro's I know. Their answer is to make more backup CD's. I mean after all, floppy disks were the preferred medium for transferring data and they are pretty much ancient history now. What's it been, like 5 years? It's common knowledge among digital and film shooters that transparencies are the most stable and archival means of storage. I don't know what the point of all of this is, but I felt compelled to pass it on. Thanks for the kind words in regards to my web site.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Elizabeth Donley |
Oh my gosh Karma in regards to the photo cd what a great idea. I am going to do that. Most of my photos are not uploaded onto the computer so I will have to scan them ALL eek. They were all taken with a regular 35mm. I am going to make the cd and put from baby to now to show how she is grown for grandparents (THEY WILL LOVE YOU)! Please stay in contact I love all you ideas and love looking at all your new uploads :) Will send you a few of my daughters pics after I am done :) Elizabeth
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
Tony, The same questions plagued video tapes. I can almost guarantee anybody that the technology will be around to transfer the photos to the new media. Backup CD's are a good idea...but so is getting the prints on good quality paper to begin with which is possible. There is no real guarantee in life I guess. But I'm pretty confident that photo processors aren't lying and the prints are archival quality. If they aren't then there will be millions of lawsuits coming and I doubt they want to go that route. These are multi-million dollar companies, not fly by night cars salesmen. That's my two cents and the last I'm giving! I've babbled on enough. Elizabeth is intelligent enough to take the advice she is comfortable with. Take care, Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
Elizabeth is in luck too. She can get her digital transferred to transperencies for $2.50 each. She'll still spend far less and she'll be doubly protected. Take care all. Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Steven Chaitoff |
This is a little off the path, but concerning CD reliability: Has anyone here heard about CD rot? Apparently there have been numerous cases of CD's made in the 80's beginning to "rot" lately. That is, the aluminum oxidizes or something of that nature and the CD will actually crumble along the surface after 20, 30 years! Another thing we're up against in the future. But those are old CDs and the tech. has improved. On a semi-related note, I think CDs have a number of years left on them. Afterall, the latest DVD drives are back-compatible and use roughly the same recording method.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Elizabeth Donley |
I'd also like to know if there is a cd-r format that is better than others. Best brand for long time storage?
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
Karma Wilson |
I don't know about CD's with better quality. I use CDs that are specified good for photos. But I have put photos on music CD's in a pinch and it worked! I do know that's it's a good idea to reburn your CD's every couple of years just for added security. Also, have any very special photos backed up as transperencies, order your prints from guaranteed reputable processors, and you'll be protected on all fronts. Digital is a marvelous invention and it's no secret that many, many pros are using all these same techniques and have gone digital too. The pro we got our family portrait from basically had a huge digital camera set up to take his portraits. Karma
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
- Gregory LaGrange Contact Gregory LaGrange Gregory LaGrange's Gallery |
Senior pictures are usually so static, why not try them yourself. You can make them more personal, do them anywhere, and do as many as you want. Dosen't have to be one picture that sums up a senior.
|
|||||||
|
|
||||||||
|
This old forum is now archived. Use improved Forum here
Report this Thread |
||||||||