Shooting the Piano Player - DPChallenge Forums

10/12/2007 03:17:52 AM · #1

Ok, he's more of a singer/ songwriter and my neighbor and I am doing some shots for him this weekend in a vacated penthouse with an ocean view. The photos will be used as promo shots, some for his website and possibly some for a CD cover. His genre is kind of adult contemporary and some funk or jazz type stuff.

So my plan is to shoot various poses with and without props (piano, guitar, music sheets, etc.), some indoors using natural (window) lighting and I have some cheapo softboxes and an umbrella strobe if I need them.

I rented a SWEEEEET 85mm 1.2 L lens and I have the other lenses in my profile as well.

Here are the questions I have:
- What kind of fees / rates are typical for this type of shoot? (I am thinking I need to charge enough to buy me one of those 85mm lenses! LOL)
- Any suggestions for setups, poses, processing style base on the info I mentioned above?

I appreciate any advice - I did look through some recent threads and even though this isn't a "my first wedding" thread, I still look forward to the always-inspirational "tell him to hire a pro" responses. :)

Puckzzz

Pentax FA 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 AF - Silver

10/12/2007 03:51:12 AM · #2

what kind of genre music does he make?

maybe some clean B&W shots, no fussing with all kinds of props. Just him and the piano. maybe focus on the hands on the keys with really shallow dof and some backlight from a window with ocean view.

nice shadows from a hat, maybe if he smokes, some of that too...

Can I come?? ;-)

Sony 24-70mm F4 Vario-Tessar T* FE OSS

10/12/2007 04:18:58 AM · #3

Originally posted by Puckzzz:

Can I come?? ;-)

thinking.................................... thinking......... thinking.......... :P

Well, yes of course you're invited. :)

Originally posted by Puckzzz:

what kind of genre music does he make?

Originally posted by Arty Smarty:

His genre is kind of adult contemporary and some funk or jazz type stuff.

So you're suggestions sound very good. He's a wine freak also, so maybe I'll work that in there. He doesn't smoke, but it's never too late to start. ;-)

Thanks! I appreciate the suggestions. :D

Bear_Music

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra

10/12/2007 04:33:02 AM · #4

Be sure to plan your shooting time to include sunset/twilight, or possibly twilight/dawn depending on window orientation; but I'm assuming windows will be facing the ocean, and that would be westerly exposure, so late afternoon/evening for you.

And most of all, have fun!

R.

Puckzzz

Pentax FA 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 AF - Silver

10/12/2007 04:45:22 AM · #5

Originally posted by Bear_Music:

yeah nice long shadows and soft light!

Pug-H

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

10/12/2007 04:54:35 AM · #6

A rather dark key black and white, with him sitting at the keyboard (hey, it can even be an old typewriter ;-Ã�), head bowed as if in contemplation/meditation as he plays the keys.

MAK

Leica M Monochrom

Leica 18-56mm f/3.5-5.6 Vario Elmar-T ASPH

10/12/2007 05:07:44 AM · #7

Watch out for that 85mm f1.2 Art... move a single mm and the DOF monster will get ya.. it is a SUPERB lens but that DOF at f1.2 is killer, make sure you nail the guys head to the wall and use a tripod..

Have a great shoot, a man with your talents will get great results.

eschelar

Canon EOS-7D

Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM

10/12/2007 07:16:38 AM · #8

Agreed, that lens is a flipping BEAST. *drool* I've only handled one once, but I'm pretty much smitten. It's first on my list when I get my 2nd hand 5D in a year or so.

But seriously, hire a pro and uhhh don't wade in water too deep for you to bite off more than you can chew. Back out while you still can step in horse poo.

Or something like that...

You'll be fine... I know you know this, but make sure that you go from RAW to 16 bit TIFF when going to B&W if you want a really clean look. that's about all from this peanut gallery.

Also try some duo and tri-tone images.

If you REALLY need to nail something with difficult lighting. Mount on a tripod and use multiple exposures with him in the pic and out of the pic. Only one needs to have him in it. You can use multiple exposure HDR for the rest.

Oh and if you need extra light, have Godzilla with you or a good burning bush... otherwise, try chatting up the sea-hag that mans the local light-house to see if you can get some 'extra-curricular' lighting...

Message edited by author 2007-10-12 07:21:10.

Puckzzz

Pentax FA 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 AF - Silver

10/12/2007 07:35:27 AM · #9

Originally posted by eschelar:

Oh and if you need extra light, have Godzilla with you or a good burning bush... otherwise, try chatting up the sea-hag that mans the local light-house to see if you can get some 'extra-curricular' lighting...

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/12/2007 07:52:20 AM · #10

If he's anything like Jon Schmidt, you'll want to capture his personality as well as getting some "great looking pics". :-)

10/14/2007 05:14:50 AM · #11

...OK, well it is done - well, almost - I still have some more to edit and then go through them with him. When I rented the Canon EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM, I wasn't sure if it would be available in time, so I also rented a Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM as a backup and as it turned out, I used it much more because of the wider angle - the 85mm is fixed at up close & personal. I shot over 300 pics and expect to get about 20-30 keepers. I am psyched at how well they came out and how little editing I had to do. And now I am considering buying the 24-70 2.8 instead of (or before) the 85mm.

Oh, I never did get any advice on rates or fees, so I came up with something that he was fine with. Out of curiosity though, I would still like to know what people would charge for a 4 hour shoot, 8 hours of processing time, 1 hour proofing session and a CD with all the final images (including full rights)?

Also interested in some feedback on some of these preliminary ones...

Black & Whites

Color collection

And here's a couple shots of the place we did the shoot:

Thanks for the advice & comments!

ETA: We couldn't shoot in the late afternoon (sunset). Had to start at 11am and it was foggy the whole time. Still seemed to work ok though.

Message edited by author 2007-10-14 05:19:05.

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

10/14/2007 12:55:35 PM · #12

bumppppp

dwterry

Canon EOS-1D Mark III

10/14/2007 12:58:07 PM · #13

I agree with you on the versatility of the 24-70 2.8L versus the 85mm 1.2L. I think the latter is good for portraits of one individual. But the 24-70 is good for a LOT of things. I found that at weddings I hardly used the 85mm lens at all... it just felt too crowded with no chance of zooming out (other than to run backwards). It has it's purpose. But it's not as versatile.

ETA: gotta run, I'll be back to look at pictures later.

Message edited by author 2007-10-14 12:58:33.

Mike_Adams

Canon EOS-40D

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM

10/14/2007 01:42:35 PM · #14

3121 in B&W has promo picture written all over it. That is exactly what so many clubs, bars, theater venues put out as fliers with artist name on it. Doing in in B&W is also extremely helpful from their standpoint as odds are they will be doing black and white copying rather than color copying. And I must say having placed and made lots of those fliers for bands and groups nothing makes me more sad than to take a color image and destroy it by making 500 B&W copies. GREAT CHOICE, and excellent shot he will be thrilled as will the venues that use the shots for promo work.

3067 in B&W has album cover written on it for me as well. I might like that one in color for an album cover, but it really is his taste for that. Great job and great shots!!

Well done and keep up the great work

MattO

Nikon D4

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

10/14/2007 01:58:47 PM · #15

Art I think you did awesome. I did leave a comment on one of the color shots with something that bothered me. But overall I think you did a wonderful job, and I'm sure he would be happy.

I know you didnt get any advice on pricing. However for that much work shooting and editing, proofs, and full rights to the photos I'd say $500 or so would be a starting price and go up from there.

MattO

aliqui

Nikon D300s

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II

10/14/2007 02:02:05 PM · #16

3121 is by far the best to me.

All the others had something that bothered me. Be it, his pose, his facial expression, hazy sky, or the posed props. That does not mean that those would not be greatly accepted by people that aren't as picky/anal as I am.

3121 is awesome though.

=)

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

10/14/2007 02:33:11 PM · #17

thank you much! all very helpful and encouraging! I knew what my main weakness was right when we started - posing and getting him to loosen up and smile more. One thought I had would be to have another person interacting with him but out of the frame. Would be much more natural.

Thanks again and I'd love to hear more opinions...

Dr.Confuser

Nikon D800

10/14/2007 03:45:09 PM · #18

[thumb]599812[/thumb]
This is the one that does it for me! Nice work. Might try a B&W conversion on it as well for a different look.

PS. Damn that damn fog!

Pug-H

Sigma 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 Aspherical HF for Pentax

10/14/2007 05:13:12 PM · #19

Oh, I see. It was like that. The Piano Player playing a guitar.
I guess that's like Groucho Marx singing "I Love a Piano" while playing the guitar.

Great job, by the way. ;-Ã�

10/14/2007 05:50:38 PM · #20

Ha! Thanks David. He actually plays both, but there was no piano and he rejected my offer to bring one. :)