DPChallenge: A Digital Photography Contest You are not logged in. (log in or register
 

DPChallenge Forums >> General Discussion >> Advice for Friend's Portrait
Pages:  
Showing posts 1 - 6 of 6, (reverse)
AuthorThread
09/20/2005 09:12:28 PM · #1
I’m sure a lot of you are familiar with this situation and I need some input. Since I’ve gotten more into photography and more confidence to show people my work, I’ve gotten more and more compliments. Of course it is very difficult in a lot of situations to get useful information from these people. Example, all mothers think their sons are handsome. Since I started shooting photos of a friend I have been asked more than once to shoot other people and occasions. And that is my situation right now. A former coworker wants me to shoot some portraits of her family based upon what I’ve done with my friend and having shot the company’s holiday party. While she might like what I’ve done, I can’t help but feel like my experimentation is being accepted as professional knowledge. I know I can get good shots, but I’m not a pro and I aim to shoot as many photos as I can to help those odds. Here’s the question…

I have a Nikon D70 and an SB600 flash, basic DIY stuff like a couple silver reflectors/dashboard sunblockers, plus some cheapo work lamps from the hardware store (which I refuse to use for anything worth anything). Do you guys have any suggestions about what kinds of things I should be aware of? Where should I think about shooting (like I said, I’m not a pro so I don’t have any studio space, lighting, or backdrops)? How much should I consider charging as she wants to pay me and I know pros would charge much more than my modest sense of worth is? Any miscellaneous concerns, techniques, time of day, angle of sun, whatever? I’d very much appreciate any thoughts you might have.
09/21/2005 03:32:22 PM · #2
Please?
09/21/2005 03:43:27 PM · #3
I am not very good with lighting, so I do most of my portraits outdoors. Last fall I did about 5 families portraits, and we did them all outside. Look for a place with nice scenery and good lighting (meaning not in the shade too much).

As far as pricing goes.... This is my pricing sheet, and no one seems to have too much of a problem with them. I get my prints printed at Sam's Club, so the prices are pretty cheap there and I feel that I make a good enough profit on my prints.

Hope that helps a little :)
09/21/2005 03:47:00 PM · #4
I'm in the same position. I don't have fancy equipment. The photos they are basing their requests on were all shot with the same camera and the same drawbacks. I am up front with them about my lack of experience, but also that I am certainly willing to work with them. I have just recently started charging for my time, and I'm sure that price will go up as I get more professional equipment and more consistant results.

For example, I just did a senior portrait shoot for the daughter of a friend. Not a close friend. I charged her $50 for the shoot, the editing and a CD of proofs. My local lab charges about $3.50 per sheet for very nice development (and they will do the diecut edges and gold name/year). I am charging my friend $12 for each sheet (1 8x10, 2 5x7's or 8 wallets per sheet.) Personally, I feel this is fair.

For a wedding that I did (actually at the same location) I charged $100 for the shoot, edit, and the CD of proofs. I used a different lab for the prints, but still made profit with every one ordered. They ordered quite a bit, so I ended up doing well I think for my experience.

I think as long as you stay within the capabilities you have, and your customers are aware of those capabilities, you'll be fine.

I also tell the people that I am not a "fast" photographer. I don't like to be rushed, because that's when I make mistakes! I like to try different angles and all kinds of different crops and editing for each shot.

One of these days, I'll have better equipment, but I have to get the money for that somehow and right now this is all I have to do that with. Good luck!
09/21/2005 04:48:13 PM · #5
My best advise is to stick with what you know. I did this for a friend once and ended up shooting at a strange location at 1:00 in the afternoon... which wasn't the plan. I wasn't prepared for overhead light and the results showed it. Pick a place and time where you can manage the light and everything else will fall into place.
09/21/2005 04:59:08 PM · #6
Off of the top of my head here are a few suggestions. Outdoor location. I take photos sometimes with the brick of my front porch as a background. Sometimes the wood of my fence, etc. Sometimes I use a tree as a "prop". Ok, avoid the brightest time of the day. Also avoid the sun coming from behind you(they could squint or have yucky shadows on their face) or from behind the subject(used more for dramatic silhouette type photos). Sunlight coming in from the side should work best. Also, learned this lesson the hard way, watch for shadows on your subject! Sometimes I don't pay attention then look at the 30 shots I just took where my daughters have shade on them from trees, etc. If you have a stand or a helper you could use your reflector.

I'm not sure about the pricing but maybe try to do a search on the net for photographers in your area and if they are "Pro's" adjust your price according to ability, etc? That's probably not that helpful, lol. I think charging by "the sheet" is a good way to go along with a "sitting fee". I'd say the sitting fee is where you scale back based on ability.

Hope some of this helps. Just wanted to chime in with what came to mind when I read your post.

Good Luck!!
Pages:  
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 11:02:34 AM

Please log in or register to post to the forums.


Home - Challenges - Community - League - Photos - Cameras - Lenses - Learn - Prints! - Help - Terms of Use - Privacy - Top ^
DPChallenge, and website content and design, Copyright © 2001-2024 Challenging Technologies, LLC.
All digital photo copyrights belong to the photographers and may not be used without permission.
Current Server Time: 03/28/2024 11:02:34 AM EDT.