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06/18/2006 09:25:32 AM · #1 |
So a long time ago my kid had baseball pics taken - individual and group. I finally (no idea why it took until the end of the season) get them back and to say they are bad is an understatement - even by my photography skills.
The group had the kids on the right and left 1/2 cut off - although taking it out of the paper folder, makes them only 1/3 cut off (to make it worse, guess whos kids is cut off). The individual shot has heavy flash shadow under the cap, chin, ears e.t.c. because the fill flash was heavy enough to light up downtown and since the shot was taken from above (why bend down) it makes it worse. The bat used as a prop has the end bit falling off the edge of the picture (not enough to look intended, but just the last inch or so so it just looks wrong). At least the group shot does not have heavy flash - it's backlight with dark faces on everybody :-/
*%^+*%$ I guess if you sponser a team, you get to be the offical photog even if you cannot take a picture. I know what local studio NOT to go near and I will buy the minimium I need to get a team shot from here on.
Pathetic.....
Message edited by author 2006-06-18 09:26:40. |
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06/18/2006 09:53:12 AM · #2 |
Yeah, I used to see that ALL the time when my kids were youth-leaguing it and I was a working pro. At first I would go down and try to give the photographer some "advice" when I saw bad lighting setups and a too-high camera angle, but this was NOT appreciated.
Some of these "league photographers" are truly pathetic... But most of the parents don't know any better, so...
R.
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06/18/2006 09:53:28 AM · #3 |
Best thing to do...
go to the league offer to do the pics for next season. Show them a couple samples of your work, and Tell them you will give the league X% back from the sales you make.
That... will make everyone happy.
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06/18/2006 09:56:10 AM · #4 |
Originally posted by littlegett:
Best thing to do...
go to the league offer to do the pics for next season. Show them a couple samples of your work, and Tell them you will give the league X% back from the sales you make.
That... will make everyone happy. |
The trouble with this is they have a contract out where one studio shoots ALL the teams, and that's a mind-numbingly frustrating job. You really need to be set up for this sort of stuff, and I, personally, would not have been willing to do it... Order fulfillment on that large of a scale is immensely frustrating, not to mention the problems of shooting that many kids in a single day...
R.
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06/18/2006 10:12:34 AM · #5 |
Originally posted by Bear_Music:
The trouble with this is they have a contract out where one studio shoots ALL the teams, and that's a mind-numbingly frustrating job. You really need to be set up for this sort of stuff, and I, personally, would not have been willing to do it... Order fulfillment on that large of a scale is immensely frustrating, not to mention the problems of shooting that many kids in a single day...
R. |
Yeah - It would be a pain and I have no interest in that sort of stuff. They had 3 people there shooting and this is the same "studio" that sponsors a couple of the kids teams, so it's not likely to be an open type thing anyway.
I just am fustrated by what - even to me - are just plain crappy shots. I can understand the time pressure and I was not expecting all the shots to be studio wonders with painstaking setups.
I do however, kinda expect that at least all the kid will be in the *%#$$ picture!! I would hope also that they have some ability to avoid heavy flash shadows - at least around the face and use some fill rather than having backlit group shots :-/ I know I am more picky then most be sheese.... |
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06/19/2006 10:51:35 AM · #6 |
Well concidering your not willing to do them yourself....
And it sounds like you are not even willing to try to talk to someone about the issue...
You just want to grump about it. Thats cool and all. i guess.
Just with me, I would have gone up to the league owners, or whoever was in charge, and explained how unproffessional and of poor quality these images are.
And if that didn't do it. I would take it to the parents and show them the 'cut off players' the horrible shadows, and as the parents group together, the league will have to do something about it.
'Normal' people (when I say normal here I mean non-photographers} don't see the mistakes, and poor qaulity unless someone else points them out. And once they are pointed out, its like a black bird in a white sky. There just isn't nothing else to see.
It doesn't matter if the 'pro' photographer sponsors two teams. They can always find other sponsors. Because he knows he can make some ducket with crappy product and keep it going, that hey.. isn't that the American way?
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06/19/2006 11:39:38 AM · #7 |
Speaking as one who has done that sort of photography for several years (no longer, due to the wear and tear on my knees from so much up-and-down for the individual shots) I can say that it is indeed, as Bear says, a challenging job. The studio that I shot for specializes in team photos and has long-running relationships and contracts with several soccer, baseball and basketball leagues in the area.
The only way to make it work is to be well organized, have plenty of photographers and assistants, and be prepared for just about anything. You are shooting in very demanding circumstances...usually before games and always with heavy time constraints (waiting for the late-comers was a perpetual problem and source of contention). The weather often didn't cooperate, and make-up shoots were money losers.
It is standard procedure for the league to get a portion of the take often 20% or so - that is what makes it worthwhile for them to contract with someone, and it is attractive for the parents, viewing it as a fund-raiser.
I am still involved with the studio, but now, instead of shooting, I make their trading cards for them. They provide me with a print and info, and I scan the photo into Corel Painter and assemble the necessary info, print on two-sided matte paper, laminate and cut the cards. Not a huge money-maker, but every bit helps! Here's a front and back view for those that are interested
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06/19/2006 11:44:54 AM · #8 |
haha, similar story with my brother's team. Local guy that shoots EVERYTHING (schools, dances, sports teams, etc) is a total HACK, he was shooting my brother's Little League team and they ran out of time for the group shot. Instead of just doing it real quick/later/not at all, the guy had a temper tantrum and erased all the pics and gave all the money back to everyone, so there were NO pics.
The coach ended up doing them, even though he was inexperienced, at best. I took some of my own for my family, which came out nice. I would have offered to do them for the whole team, but I only found out about the fiasco the day of the last game.
I can understand it being a frustrating job, but geeze, when people pay, they still expect professional attitudes and results.
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06/19/2006 11:55:24 AM · #9 |
Haha, that sucks Rob! I know the feeling, got a crappy ass photo of my son the other day, a kindergarten year photo. Was printed on poor paper, lighting was awful, very dark and the whitebalance was way off, way to yellow. Was framed ok though, nobody was cut off and all the kids but one was smiling so that part was ok, just wish the image quality was better, that´s all.
Well bring your kid to Iceland and I´ll photograph him in the baseball kit for free, well maybe I´ll let you buy me a beer in exchange :) |
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06/19/2006 12:58:13 PM · #10 |
I expected crappy pics - they were shot in teh local gradeschool gym with that nasty lighting. the individual set up looked ok - 2 flash w/ umbrellas. the group...half falling down musline taped to the wall, the camer WAY far back, posed up agains teh BG, one strobe behind the photog - open bulb pointed at the group - i opted for the free group shot and skipped the indiviuals.
The price list/order form was a bad xerox copy, no explanation of what some of the items were (i had no clue on some of them). At the shoot he looks like he should be BBQing and his wife was helping and looked not much better.
Pics turned out pretty decent, had it back in about 10 days, and in a folder too.
Errors on the photogs part - no spec shots (no individ shots unless you pre-ordered one), no ad or biz card in the little bags with the photos...having seen the end results I might now buy a Wheaties box...but alas, he took no pic and I got no way to contact him. Photos by Dave was on the order form. Not even a phone number.
Not the kind of photography i want to do, but jeez, if he is making money at this by working so poor a business perhaps I need to get into it!
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06/19/2006 12:58:59 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Larus:
Haha, that sucks Rob! I know the feeling, got a crappy ass photo of my son the other day, a kindergarten year photo. Was printed on poor paper, lighting was awful, very dark and the whitebalance was way off, way to yellow. Was framed ok though, nobody was cut off and all the kids but one was smiling so that part was ok, just wish the image quality was better, that´s all.
Well bring your kid to Iceland and I´ll photograph him in the baseball kit for free, well maybe I´ll let you buy me a beer in exchange :) |
What? Not all Icelanders are expert photographers? You lie! :D
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06/19/2006 02:21:15 PM · #12 |
Originally posted by jemison:
Speaking as one who has done that sort of photography for several years (no longer, due to the wear and tear on my knees from so much up-and-down for the individual shots) I can say that it is indeed, as Bear says, a challenging job. The studio that I shot for specializes in team photos and has long-running relationships and contracts with several soccer, baseball and basketball leagues in the area.
The only way to make it work is to be well organized, have plenty of photographers and assistants, and be prepared for just about anything. You are shooting in very demanding circumstances...usually before games and always with heavy time constraints (waiting for the late-comers was a perpetual problem and source of contention). The weather often didn't cooperate, and make-up shoots were money losers.
It is standard procedure for the league to get a portion of the take often 20% or so - that is what makes it worthwhile for them to contract with someone, and it is attractive for the parents, viewing it as a fund-raiser.
I am still involved with the studio, but now, instead of shooting, I make their trading cards for them. They provide me with a print and info, and I scan the photo into Corel Painter and assemble the necessary info, print on two-sided matte paper, laminate and cut the cards. Not a huge money-maker, but every bit helps! Here's a front and back view for those that are interested
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The photog company that does my kids' soccer photos makes those plastic trading cards, which we can order separately. We absolutely LOVE them. I keep it in my wallet and have passed it around many times. We get extras for relatives, too, of course.
Their group photos are OK, but they could have set up in a better spot (outdoors) for a nicer background. I take credit for making the kids smile for the group shot, as I was goofing off behind the photographer, who's personality was rather lacking. :-D
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06/19/2006 02:27:43 PM · #13 |
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I was goofing off behind the photographer |
YOU?! Goofing off? Never! I don't believe it!
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06/19/2006 02:30:10 PM · #14 |
Originally posted by pidge:
Originally posted by Strikeslip:
I was goofing off behind the photographer |
YOU?! Goofing off? Never! I don't believe it! |
Hehe, hopping around like a bunny rabbit. Imagine that! :-D
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