 Teri Soares |
Typical Portrait Session questions... What is the usual duration and number of images taken during a portrait session? Specifically, I've been asked to do a location session with a mom and two daughters, ages 9 and 4. She is a friend and I am an amateur, but I've taken candid shots of one of her daughters that she really loved. So, I'm not sure where to start as far as keeping this reasonable and fair, since she does want to pay me. To make it more interesting, while out "just shooting" this weekend, a woman I met asked me to do portraits of her and her horse. I just need some guidance. I bought a bunch of books on posing, lighting and even pricing, but I think your advice would be more useful! Thanks, Teri
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x |
I shoot for anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 1/2 hours. I provide about 60 to 100 proofs from the shoot. I really try to cut it down. When delivering proofs less is way, way more.
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Bret Tate |
Teri & Jackie: I would shoot for an hour or less with the mother and daughters. The longer the session, the less good images you will get of the 4 year old. I would shoot 1-11/2 hours for the person and horse. You can take as many shots as you want, however, remember that you will be the one editing all of the proofs. Make sure you take enough to get a good one of each pose that you use. When providing the clients with proofs, I try to limit the number to 16-32. Never more than 32. The ideal is for the client to have a few obvious selections rather than trying to narrow many to the reprints that they want to order. Your sales will be better with one great photo rather than several pretty good photos.
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Teri Soares |
Thanks, Jerry. What would you suggest for pricing one these? How do you present your proofs? Is it on your computer or by email or do you actually print them? Thanks again! Teri
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anonymous |
I do the same as Jerry. I provide my proofs on CD, I explain to people the proofs aren't the "final" quality, but maybe fix up about 5 of my favourites so they know what to expect. I let them choose 20 to be printed as 6x4's and 1 8x12 for $160. I also have other packages to, but that is my cheapest.
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Teri Soares |
Bret and Natalie, Thanks for the info. Does anyone have a website sample of a proof package (if that's what it's called)? Natalie, on your proof CD, are there just images or do you put together some sort of slideshow for them? Does everyone use a lab for printing? Sorry for so many questions, but I know it's important to give the clients something great, even if it is my first effort. Thanks again, again! Teri
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anonymous |
Teri No, no slide show, as the images are only "proofs" they are only small, and if I put a slide show together for them, most people would want to watch it on their DVD's and it would be all pixelated as it would be stretched to the size of the TV screen. I give my proofs at 6x4 at 50dpi. Big enough to see the photo but not good enough to print a decent photo. I usually only give the really good shots, I might take about 100 shots and I will cut it down to about 80 (since I have gone digital and with studio lights my hit rate is a lot higher so I don't need to throw out many photos). Out of those 80 I usually do a quick batch levels correction, sharpen and then I will choose my favourite 5-10 and fix them up totally with also a B&W copy of those photos so they can see which photos I fixed up and what they also look like in B&W. I explain to people that all the other photos will turn out just as good if they chose them. People love the proof CD's and the good thing is that they only cost 50c to produce and a bit of time, as opposed to 8x10 sheets etc. I print at a Fuji Frontier machine which is at our local furniture store (I know it sounds dodgy) but the quality is amazing, they are getting a lot more pros printing with them, and the good thing is they don't correct the photos at all, so what I do in PS is what I get. Plus it is CHEAP a 6x8 is only $2 and a 12x18 is only $20. Even my Tafe (collage) teacher was amazed with the quality. OH By the way got my Tafe results back!! I GOT A DISTINCTION!!!!
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Teri Soares |
Natalie, I'm sorry, I'm new to this. What is Tafe? Congratulations on your Distinction! I know it must be good, tell me about that also. Wow, to get 80% great shots is amazing. I am definitely not there yet. I use digital, too and just got a new camera. I'm still learing it's controls, so I don't think I'll get so many hits. Thanks for the workflow and pricing info. I'll have to work out something that's fair since I'm not a pro - yet. Teri
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anonymous |
Teri Tafe is like University/Collage but not as high, in between High School and Uni. Well when I first started I was charging $160 and I haven't changed the price yet. Out of the $160 I am making $140 so I feel I don't need to put the price up, what I have done though, is offer more expensive packages as well to entice people to spend more (ie if they buy the $350 package they get a free CD with 10 High Resolution images on it etc) Just don't undersell yourself. There is a fine line between Amature and Pro. I still considerer myself an Amature, even though I have my own business, probably cause it isn't my main source of income yet. But what was very flattering was on Sat I photographed a wedding and I had someone come up to me and said that they were going to do a few photos as well, but they weren't "professional" like me. That was when it hit me, I am professional. You'll get there, I can see you have an eye for it.
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Mark Feldstein |
How much? Since she's a friend and you're not into doing this commercially yet, charge her expenses and that's it. Otherwise, if you go really low, you may get a reputation for being that cheap on every job and people will go elsewhere when you start charging professional fees. Seewhatimean? How many shots? From the responses you've received here, it sounds like people shoot until the odds favor that they think they've gotten a couple of good ones. So, for what it's worth, here's what I do when it's location portraits. First, unless they've got a particular kind of scene in mind, you need to exercise some client control. I usually know where we're going ahead of time and at what time of day, so I pretty much have the scene in my mind before I set up. Control wardrobe changes. Maybe one change of clothes for the kids and that's it. I shoot a couple of polaroids for light and problem checks and load a blank magazine first. When I can see that everyone is sufficiently loosened up, I put on a 12 exposure mag and make portraits. I will only continue to shoot until I feel I've gotten one or two "mantle-piece shots" and that's it. If for some reason it requires two rolls of film, or 24 exposures, I go through the proof prints and cull all the shots that I don't feel represent my best work, e.g., take out all the eyes closed, not looking in the right direction, slouching, etc., distracted or disconnected at the last second; essentially all the shots that you don't feel really represents your clients in the most favorable light, preferably showing they're connected to each other and interacting. So, they get about 3 or 4 proofs and that's it. "Proof packages" Why go to the time and expense? To try to sell them multiple views of the same views? It's not a wedding or bar-mitzvah. My proofs include one or maybe two great ones, so-to-speak, and a few variations on that theme. Any more will usually confuse people. What for? Don't innundate them with images. Show them what YOU think is your best work. They won't buy crummy, and if you show them mediocre work and they actually buy it, then you get known for mediocre work. Why do that. In terms of time, it usually requires about an hour or less of shoot time, a little travel time, lab travel, review time and delivery. All in all, about 3 hours. I charge $175 bucks an hour with a 3 hour minimum, and that includes shoot time, local travel, my expenses, film, processing, and proofs. (Those things are pretty cheap if you keep your quantities down). OK, if I use a view camera, 4 hours total. (gotta load holders). That's my story and I'm sticking to it. :>))
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x |
Mark, I don't pose people very often. So, it doesn't work that way for me. Cheers to differences,
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Teri Soares |
Hi Everyone, You have given me some great answers and a lot to think about. This weekend we were out just taking pictures and met a lady and her horse. I (Teri) took a few of her and the horse together and some of the horse running in the ring. I emailed one of them to her (low res) and now she wants to buy more. How fun! Thank you once more. Teri
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