School Pictures...I need help! - DPChallenge Forums

09/05/2005 09:58:30 PM · #1

Okay, so my homeschool group (yes, I'm homeschooled--weird, I know :P) was going to have "real" school pictures done by this photographer in our area. Unfortunately (*cough*), it's not looking like everyone will be able to make it to the time he could fit us in, so one of the ladies who is kinda at the head of our group asked me if I'd like to do it for them.

Of course, I said, heck yeah! : ) But I have no idea what to charge, or even really what people want in a standard school picture. I have a grey background and a couple softobxes, so I figured I'd set them up, sit the kidz on a stool, tell them to smile and hit the shutter.

Isn't that how it's usually done?

Well, anyways. I have a couple ???s...like, the big one is how much to charge, since they would like to know soon so that they can contact the rest of the group with info. And also, my other question is how I should pose/seat/whatever these kids...Just sit them on a stool and shoot? I have never had my pictures taken "professionally" so I dunno how the "real" guys do it. : )

So that pretty much sums it up. Any other tips would be, as always, greatly appreciated. : ) Thanks everyone!

Cristin

annah

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/05/2005 10:02:47 PM · #2

Hey christi,
hehe, I'm homeschooled too...well I was, not long ago, atleast ;-P

Either way, my dad happens to be a professional school photographer, so I'll be back in a little while with oodles of information :-)

Message edited by author 2005-09-05 22:03:10.

09/05/2005 10:04:38 PM · #3

Awesome! Thanks tons, Anna. I'll be waiting... : )

art-inept

Olympus C-5060WZ

Canon EF 35mm f/2.0

09/05/2005 10:30:58 PM · #4

i'm not homeschooled. but anyways, i found this good website full of video tutorials on many types of photography (half of them are on different types of portraiture) and i think you will find this very helpful. //www.zuga.net/ oh look ur on aim. i'll just talk to you there. i found the ones by Tim Kelly are pretty good.

Message edited by author 2005-09-05 22:33:11.

annah

Canon EOS-350D Rebel XT

Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM

09/05/2005 10:38:38 PM · #5

Okay, so I don't really have oodles, considering there's a significent difference between a pro, shooting a school of like 100-1000, and your situation, but I think I got the jist of it.
For pricing: We charge around $4.00- $5.00 for an 8 by 10", about $1.00-$1.50 for a wallet size (2 by 3"), and around $2.50 for a 5 by 7". And also, they charge about $ 1.00 extra for minor touch-ups (removal of warts, zits, blemishes, yellow teeth etc.

Pricing is very individual however, and depends on how you want to print your pics (yourself or with a printing company) and that depends on how much kids you have to photograph, because if there aren't that many, you should do it yourself.But, basically you can configure your price by how much you invest.This includes materials (mostly paper and ink), after all, you don't want to spend more on materials than you're charging :-P

Now, about posing. It depends on the age of the kids. My dad mostly photographs little kids (6-12) and uses a standard grayish bg, puts them on a stool and puts some kind of prop in their hands, and tells them to smile. (he is a little behind the times though).In the public school I now go to, we've had our pictures taken by 'Reed and Jay' a very well known school photography company, and a trend that I've noticed is, that they put up a photo backdrop to simulate the outdoors, and have you lean on a wooden table replica or something, but I imagine that requires a higher budget. Unless.....you can do the pics outside in a nice area. It really gives the pics a unique look. We did this at my old homeshool. However, this is only recomended if the lighting is nice (cloudy, overcast) to diffuse the sun, then you don't have to hassle with a backdrop, and lighting yourself :-)

Well that's all I have for now. I'll update if I find anything else. Hope I could help, and good luck!
:-)

Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM

09/05/2005 10:46:58 PM · #6

Thank you so much Anna, that was really helpful!

Yeah, wow, thanks again for all the info. You're so cool! lol : )

Joey Lawrence

PhaseOne P45

09/05/2005 10:47:07 PM · #7

Just don't let me edit the pictures, then the parents will be happy.

09/05/2005 10:49:17 PM · #8

Originally posted by art-inept:

Thanks Justin, you are awesome too. : ) I will totally look at those, thankies!!