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06/13/2004 07:10:08 PM · #1 |
ive been asked to shoot a sweet sixteen, not the entire event but only the birthday girl, 10 couples and a group photo of all (birthday girl & couples). ive never done something like this and would appreciate any advice. the photos will be done in the church. i currently have the kit lens and the 50mm 1.8 lens, should i get a different lens and what would be a fair price to charge?
thanks
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06/13/2004 07:14:03 PM · #2 |
You should test shoot in the church before hand. Ususally because of lighting, stain glass, etc churches are some of the toughest place to shoot.
You may have to bring your own lighting, reflectors, etc.
Others may have more input on lighting for your shoot. Good luck. |
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06/13/2004 07:15:27 PM · #3 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
You should test shoot in the church before hand. Ususally because of lighting, stain glass, etc churches are some of the toughest place to shoot.
You may have to bring your own lighting, reflectors, etc.
Others may have more input on lighting for your shoot. Good luck. |
thank you! |
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06/13/2004 07:48:15 PM · #4 |
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06/13/2004 07:50:59 PM · #5 |
If at all possible, get to look at the venue at least the day before too - then you can make sure you've got everything you might need, and scout where power sockets etc. are.
And take spares of everything
Good luck
e
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06/14/2004 08:37:48 AM · #6 |
| any thoughts on how much i should charge? |
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06/14/2004 09:28:18 PM · #7 |
| any thoughts on how much would be a fair price? |
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06/14/2004 09:30:33 PM · #8 |
| How many shots are you to present them with? Will they get to pick from multiply shots? |
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06/14/2004 09:38:25 PM · #9 |
Originally posted by faidoi:
How many shots are you to present them with? Will they get to pick from multiply shots? |
my client did not say exactly how many photos she wanted - only expressed that shed like a photo of the birthday girl and of the couples - and unfortunately because of my inexperience i didnt ask - i figure ill shoot and present her with the best ones. |
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06/14/2004 11:22:05 PM · #10 |
Lelani - Two trains of thought on what is a fair price.
1. Professional. You should be accounting for your time at $17-$25 hour to take the shots and fix them on your computer (color balance, crop etc). Your "deliverables" would be a CD-R (with the original 2mb+ files scaled down to 70-100kb files for computer and email use) and printed proof set of the photos. When they order prints from you, take a CD-R with large files to a photo shop, have them made, and mark up the cost 30% + your time.
2. Semi-Professional. Account for your time at $17-$25 hour for just taking the shots. Sometimes a flat fee works - but - only if you know for sure how long the 'event' is. Donate your time fixing the pics on your computer. Present the client with a CD-R contining the fixed large files and a set of smaller 70-100kb files for email use. If you have a good photo printer - give them a proof sheet. To keep from handling money, give them instructions on which files to use when ordering prints from the local photo shop. In this way, you do the shoot, provide the files, and the job is over.
Oh, and a "tip". Talk to the client and find out what kind of pictures they expect - and pace your camera's memory. I don't know what sized CF card you have - just be sure you don't fill it half way through the shoot - medium jpg should do you fine. It's better to shoot 150 pics an hour and get 15 awesome and 60 great shots ......... than shoot only 30 and get one or two awesome and maybe 4 or 5 usable.
The lenses you have will work fine. Onboard flash should do fine as well. You might consider an 812 warming filter or soft fx filter for close-ups......... however, if you don't have time to practice with these on a friend, don't bother. Deffinitly take the advice given in the other posts and visit the church ahead of time with a friend and take some test shots. Take allot of test shots!
I really hope this helps. Shoots like this can open allot of doors for you in the future. Best of luck!
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06/14/2004 11:41:18 PM · #11 |
Originally posted by Glacierwolf:
Professional: ... 70-100kb files for computer and email use...
medium jpg should do you fine...Onboard flash should do fine as well...
You might consider an 812 warming filter or soft fx filter for close-ups
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I have slightly different opinions on these few points...
If these are going to be, say, 8x10 prints, I don't see how medium JPG can cut it.
This assumes you've got ample storage - shoot RAW. Shoot JPG for yourself if you like, but for clients? RAW. It offers so much more flexibility over JPG and...
negates the need for any warming/cooling filters, as the color temp is a quick slider-adjustment away.
Also, we're shooting digitally, so special effects are best applied after-the-fact. You might be surprised how few special-effect filter shots clients like. It could be the best shot of the day, but if it's got the filter over the lens, there's no taking it away. Photoshop gives you options.
As far as providing 70-100k JPGs for personal use - not if you're taking the professional route.
At least not without significant watermarks on the images. People *will* take the images and have
them printed themselves, cutting out your profit on prints. Even a 70-100k image has enough detail for small, frame-able prints (if not the best quality - and it's YOUR work, it should be showcased as well as it can be!).
The onboard flash is too unpredictable and harsh for really nice flash photography. Good for snapshots, but that's about it. If possible, see about borrowing/renting a 550EX with a diffuser and play around with it for a couple of days, preferably with some time at your test-shoot. Try angling the flash up at ~45 degrees with a clip-on diffuser, bouncing the bare flash off the ceiling, etc.
The rest of Glacier's post is spot-on, in my opinion. Everyone else has had great advice, I just thought these few points needed to be addressed.
- Chris |
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06/15/2004 12:33:16 AM · #12 |
| I started a thread with a couple of portrait links you may want to take a look at. |
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06/15/2004 04:19:39 PM · #13 |
I wouldn't be shooting this party in raw format unless you are 100% confortable converting the files and know what you are doing in PS.
That, and borrowing equipment you haven't had a chance to become throughly familiar with is a recipe for disaster!
Message edited by author 2004-06-15 16:20:50. |
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