 Heather Thrash |
Help, group with kids, dogs, beach-need pointers HELP!!! First off, I am an amateur photographer shooting with a Canon Digital Rebel 350D. I love capturing images that can tell a story and that express emotion to evoke feeling. I took up photography to get my mind off of an episode of chronic back pain. I don't know much about the technical aspects, but have tried to learn a little as I go. My husband has displayed some of the photos that I have taken in his office at work just because he enjoys looking at it. People that have seen some of my art have asked me to do sessions with them. I've only thought of myself as a hobbyist, but recently the work is coming faster than I feel prepared for. My art is more a photojournalistic style. I love faces and focusing in on the expression of the eyes, but most of my requests have been family photos on location with traditional poses and also creating photo collage cards. The latest one is a group of 2 adults, 3 children, and 2 labs on the beach. Please help me. What technical criteria should I focus on, any examples of poses or other ways to gather the group naturally, what tricks are there with dogs and kids together, and any other pointers that you can give me? Also, is there a series of questions that you ask clients so that you can figure out exacly what they are wanting in the outcome. Thanks, this is quite the challenge, and want it to turn out great.
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Jerry Frazier |
Ask them what they want the photo for. Most people have no idea. Because the work is coming at you so fast, and because people are asking you to do things, it sounds like you either aren't charging any money, or you are not charging very much. Always stick to what you do. So, when you ask people what they want, and they say what your current clients are saying, simply say, you don't do that. If you are trying to build a business, the best thing you can do for yourself, your art, and your business, is turn work away. You cannot let people tell you how you do things. You define it and do it. So, when someone calls you with interest, you have to come up with a way to describe what you do. Also ask them what they want out of the session. Most people don't know. So, if you are cheap, or are not charging, they don't care. They just want some pictures taken. No sweat off their nose, right? Try to help them envision what you do. You have to have examples. If you go take their picture, and then just offer those photos in big frames to hang on their wall, you are instilling the traditional thought about photos. Offer alternative products that are as different as your style. Doing things like everyone else does will just make you a mediocre artist, no matter your talent. Also, emphasize, that you don't have people stand and say cheese. You don't pose them or ask them to do anything specific. You capture them naturally. This is what you do, and what people need to understand.
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Debby A. Tabb |
Heather, I do understand what you do at this time, I want to suggest how ever that you learn about posing as well. Learning the rules of posing will give you a eye for what you need to get out of a Portrait. Though people think they want a candid style they choose a professional to get a bit of both. Right now I am visiting studios to help with "lifestyle" posing, a direction a Large company has gone and found they have a problem. when they stopped teaching the rules of Posing and Portraiture, they lost thier sales. Clients and the market shows, though they wanted candid, they want body angles ( so as to help them look thiner, or more attractive) they want eye direction and hand placement. So the rules of posing, do apply to that "photojournalistic style" because truly when they hire a professional for family Portraits what they want is "I want us to look natual, but we want to look good to" photojournalisum, catches who you ARE. Not so much who you want to look like. They want POSED Candids,lol,lol. It has been very intresting to see this in such large scale. * posing animals is a lot like kids. * also, the Studio thread may help you a bit, some of the older ones (there are 21 threads, have some pet photography and posing ideas)
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Debby A. Tabb |
Heather, Going in and looking at you gallery, I want to tell you your work is very good, you framing is awsome for someone so new to this. I would move forward if I were you, you have a very good eye. The on one I would correct right off the bat would be " come on in and get out of the heat" If going for a full body sht do not cut off legs, feet, arms and hands. if this is nessisary then choose a 3/4 or 1/2 body shot or different angle. But that's it I really enjoyed your gallery of work, and hope to see this new session soon. Greta Job!
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