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01/02/2007 02:11:19 PM · #1 |
Hi all,
So, here's my story. Let me know your thoughts.
I did a family portrait shoot on New Years Eve the other day. The family was getting together for dinner at a hotel banquet hall near my house (only about 1/2 mile drive each way, but I digress), and they thought it would be great to get a big family portrait done. The whole group was about 25 people, but I also shot a bunch of smaller groups (you know, grandparents with their adult children, grandparents with grandkids, uncle Joe with his wife and two kids, etc). I came in, set up my lights, moved a couple things to get the area ready, and started shooting. The family was VERY nice, and they were a pleasure to work with. They were friendly, cooperative, and I had a really great time working with them. I charge $200 up front which includes taking the pictures, Photoshop work, emailing proofs, and a small amount of prints is included in the price as well. I then charge for additional prints, of course. They paid me the $200 in cash the minute I got there. Sounds like a dream gig, right? Well, it pretty much was. However...
The first shots I took were of the Grandfather. Other than being a little hard of hearing, he was very cool and he took direction well. I took a few shots, got the one I wanted, and turned around to walk back a few feet. When I turned around I was facing at least 6 or 7 of the other family members standing with their cameras ready to snap. And snap they did! The whole shoot, almost everyone that wasn't getting their picture taken was TAKING pictures. For every shot I took, they collectively probably took 10. They were polite and stayed out of my way, and if I asked them not to shoot while I was shooting they happily complied. Further, all of their onboard flashes were making my Alien Bees go nuts! On that note, I would guess that their shots will wind up being WAY overexposed with my AB lights slaving to their cameras. One of the guys standing off to the side who DIDN'T have a camera remarked something along the lines of "if I was doing this, I'd tell them to put their cameras away until I was done." Good idea, I thought. Why didn't I think of that? It never occured to me to tell them ahead of time that when i'm shooting I am the ONLY one shooting. And once they started, I didn't feel right telling them so. I wound up getting my shots for every family group and just telling everybody else to go nuts and fire away. I hope this doesn't completely kill my print sales for this session, but I guess I'll find out.
Which brings me to my somewhat long-winded question. What is your policy on this sort of thing? Do you officially spell out for your clients ahead of time that they cannot shoot while you are? Advice is greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance. FWIW, my shots turned out great, and I'm sure they will be happy. I just hope they will be happy enough to pay me instead of just looking at their own shots and thinking they are good enough so don't bother.
-Don |
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01/02/2007 06:20:31 PM · #2 |
| 42 views and no replies? What's up folks? |
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01/02/2007 06:52:07 PM · #3 |
| Well I'm one of your viewers Don, but sorry that I don't have anything to offer... never been there or done that. But I appreciate you sharing the experience and I have learned from it! I expect you'll do alright and sell some prints as well. Best of luck. |
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01/02/2007 06:55:32 PM · #4 |
| If somebody is paying you to take pictures for them, and somebody is making it difficult for you to achieve your best work, you aught to let them know. Also I'd consider getting some wireless triggers when you can afford them. It's on my list for sure! |
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01/02/2007 07:18:11 PM · #5 |
heyah, don. that situation rots, but, hopefully, that will be the last time it happens to you. there are basically two types of situations you can be in: 1) you are making your money primarily from the shoot, or 2) you are making your money primarily from after-shoot print sales. in the first, all that really matters is that no ones interferes with your work; others can shoot away to their hearts content, as long as they don't get in your way, or mess up your setups and/or equipment.
on the other hand, when i'm heading into situation #2, i politely make it clear to the person hiring me that there will be no other photography while i'm working. i also get that person to make an announcement to that effect before i start shooting. as yet, i've never had a problem. i imagine that if a problem ever arises, i'll stop shooting and get the person who hired me to deal with it.
hope this helps, good luck! |
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01/02/2007 07:36:09 PM · #6 |
Originally posted by Pixl Mastr WannaB:
Further, all of their onboard flashes were making my Alien Bees go nuts! On that note, I would guess that their shots will wind up being WAY overexposed with my AB lights slaving to their cameras. |
Well, at least you have THAT consolation!!! |
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01/02/2007 08:25:27 PM · #7 |
Don't worry PMW, it's fairly standard practice for the professional photog to enforce 'no shooting while I'm shooting'. So next time, go ahead and stipulate ahead of time and feel free to get behind that policy during shooting times. Tis cool. I've had to do it at practically every shoot/wedding ever.
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01/02/2007 08:30:03 PM · #8 |
This often happens at weddings. I always tell people before I start shooting that their cameras will fire my big flashes and that the exposures will be wrong for the next shot I take. This normally stops people but you will still get the odd one or 2 who will still take pics. I make a point of telling them in front of every one that could they please stop and wait till the end. It has nothing to do with the amount of sales for me but rather I am working and it's very distracting. Most people have a hard time having their picture taken properly with one camera going off let alone 2 or 3. Plus a lot of time my pics are taken on location so I have only a limited number of flashes on my strobes before the batteries fail. So just be tough and tell them. I have yet to have anyone get angry or argue with me. Just explain the reason and be polite.
Jeff |
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01/02/2007 08:37:15 PM · #9 |
If indeed their flashes were making your alien bees fire, chances are pretty good they were blowing their own exposures. So their own shots won't look too good.
Regardless, I highly recommend turning off your slave sensors and using wireless triggers instead. That way you are guaranteed to get the "good light" while everyone else is stuck with on-camera flash.
I have people shooting over my shoulder all the time. I ask them to let me get the shot first and then they are free to take theirs. I've never had anyone not cooperate with that simple request.
While it's true that they are taking advantage of my posing, I still firmly believe that I will have the better "shot" due to the position/angle I'm shooting from, the lighting that I am using, the equipment that I am carrying, the timing, etc. And if they prefer to stick with their P&S shot, chances are pretty good they weren't going to pay my prices for the prints anyway.
I can't stand photographers who bully their way around. But that's me. I'm sure other photographers will tell you that you're there to do a job and so you should just push them out of the way. I prefer to get along with everyone because that's where my referrals for the next job are going to come from.
Message edited by author 2007-01-02 20:38:24.
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