First paid maternity session - HELP please! ;)

[MissCream]

I would never start a business without a full head of knowledge!! Why would you? That makes no sense, you're just going to create a bad name for your business if you aren't completely sure of what your doing.

I'm not entirely sure that I see that as fair comment. No one (that I know of) has ever started a business with a "full head". You're always learning (or should be). Take a look at the product you produced for your first client; now look at that for your most recent. I'm sure there's some improvement, some change? I'm not suggesting that I agree with starting out without a sound understanding of the basics nor a good set of gear, but as for a full head....

I guess I should clarify that when I say full head I mean the knowledge to know what your doing if you started a business. No one ever knows everything.

 

[vickig.photography]

Thanks Tirediron and Ginu, I appreciate the constructive feedback! You make some good points...lots to think about!

 

[Ginu]

Thanks Tirediron and Ginu, I appreciate the constructive feedback! You make some good points...lots to think about!

No problem I just try to be as constructive as possible, so please don't take my comments in a negative way, just really trying to help both the photographer to be and client as well.

 

[ghache]

Ive been arguing on this forum for months with the so called proffessionals about new photographers who wants to get into the business because i think everyone has to start somewhere, However, if your still unsure about lightning in this situation, you should probably step back and rethink the whole thing. There is nothing wrong with shooting people or taking small gigs., as long as you know your stuff and that you understand what your doing, professional or not.

One advice, Outdoor, in a bright day. if you know you location pretty well and know how to work with your available light, you can shoot this without any lightning equipement.

Try not to have them face the bright light,

Always watch for sun highlight in faces and bodys.

When positioning your subject to backgrounds, try to use background that is no too bright. This is will reduce the lightning ratio difference between your background and the light hitting your subjects faces (You dont want a lightning ratio greater than 2:1 to 5:1 depending on the type of photography you do). This will create a natural feel and you wont need to add more light to fill the shadows or compensate the lack of light coming from the front.

Shooting natural can be done, you just need a good location and know how to work with your available light in you advantage, use the sun for back lightning and side lightning (done correctly it looks amazing) Use barn, walls, bushes, fences and any other natural elements you can use to block sunlight

Even if your subject is not directly hit by sunlight, your subject is still being hit by light from everywhere. find the right exposure.

If money is an issue, get on of these 5-1 reflectors. They can be found cheap on ebay, they work well to fill some shadows or add some more light into your subjects. (reducing your lightning ratio again) You will need a walking light stand

Again, I am not considering myself a profesionnal yet, but this is what i do when i shoot natural light. I try to shoot a bit of natural light in all my shoot, you can get some nice result and to know how to deal with situation where heavy lightning gear is not an option. it could be a life saver.

This was shot natural light with the "cheap 125$ 50mm 1.8" . I placed the model in front of the door and used the window camera left for lightning

 

[photogirl2002]

Here is the thing -- these people are going to talk down to you because in the long run they don't want people to come and steal their jobs. There is a reason these people want you to do their photos so don't worry about what the bitter people on here tell you, to a point.

They do have great advice in many ways, but don't let them discourage you. I'd say any background with a nice grove of trees and some nice bokah is just going to be fine. The background is not as important as the foreground. You're going to do great. The subject is what's really important in this and if you have a good repoire with them I think you will be fine.

And all those comments that start "I don't mean to be harsh" are a crock. They do mean to be harsh. Many on this forum like to make those just getting started look like morons so they feel better about themselves.

DRoberts, I appreciate your sincere advice, duly noted. I'm looking at locations that would stick to one color background, like building walls and greenery and adjust the DOF accordingly to highlight the people and try to minimize the background.

What I'd like to say to the others who posted, it seems great for you that you were able to start your businesses with all the fancy lighting and full head of knowledge, but unless you had a bunch of money to throw at it right away, I'm pretty sure that you probably had to start at the bottom and learn to utilize what you had to the best of your ability before you could afford all the fancy lighting and equipment. I do have off camera flash, just not quite up to par for an in-house session (I'm not going to set myself up for that at this point) and of course I'm going to scope out locations beforehand.

Thanks!

 

[lyonsroar]

 

[vickig.photography]

Thanks Ginu, I really did appreciate your feedback and no negativity was taken

Ghache, thanks for the wonderful lighting tips. I really did have to step back for a while and re-evaluate but you know I figured a) sometimes you're going to hear things that are hard to hear from haters who don't have anything better to do, so I shouldn't take it personally, b) there are people on here who really do want to help and could see through to what I really was trying to ask, and c) everyone does have to start somewhere! I will definitely be getting a reflector of some sort, can't hurt to have it on hand. Great photo by the way.

Photogirl, thanks also for your encouragement! I have read other newbie posts and there are a definite few repeat offenders who certifiably seem to get off on making the new people look like idiots. I'm thinking, why are you going to come on to the newbie section just to belittle people asking legit questions that you think are "below" you LOL guess they have too much time on their hands.

But today I feel much better, and from the constructive true advice I couldn't be happier. Thanks everyone!

 

[MissCream]

Thanks Ginu, I really did appreciate your feedback and no negativity was taken

Ghache, thanks for the wonderful lighting tips. I really did have to step back for a while and re-evaluate but you know I figured a) sometimes you're going to hear things that are hard to hear from haters who don't have anything better to do, so I shouldn't take it personally, b) there are people on here who really do want to help and could see through to what I really was trying to ask, and c) everyone does have to start somewhere! I will definitely be getting a reflector of some sort, can't hurt to have it on hand. Great photo by the way.

Photogirl, thanks also for your encouragement! I have read other newbie posts and there are a definite few repeat offenders who certifiably seem to get off on making the new people look like idiots. I'm thinking, why are you going to come on to the newbie section just to belittle people asking legit questions that you think are "below" you LOL guess they have too much time on their hands.

But today I feel much better, and from the constructive true advice I couldn't be happier. Thanks everyone!

I'm pretty sure they do that to themselves.

Everyone has to start somewhere, very true! However you don't see other professionals jumping into a business without the knowledge to do it.

It's too late for that now so just take the info and do your best with it. I'm sure you will be fine and I hope your clients like the pictures. Good luck.

 

[tirediron]

Here is the thing -- these people are going to talk down to you because in the long run they don't want people to come and steal their jobs.

Really? Given that this is [literally] a global forum, I don't think too many are worried about job-loss.

There is a reason these people want you to do their photos so don't worry about what the bitter people on here tell you, to a point.

Yes, there is, but is it the right reason (and this is NOT a dig/comment toward the OP). Many clients choose a budget-priced begining photographer because they are shown a few okay pictures and a really low price. The problem is, the client's don't know enough about the quality of the end product to make an informed decision. Unlike many things, most of what we as photographers (esp. event) do is a once-chance scenario. You miss the tossing of the bouquet, that's it, there's no do-over. What most of the skilled/experienced people here are concerned with is ensuring that people new to the industry don't run off half-cocked and promise more than they can deliver and leave the client with nothing.

...The background is not as important as the foreground.

Okay, this is jut plain BAD advice. The background is every bit as important as the foreground. A quality background is often what separates a really good image from a mediocre one. Picture this: A beautiful bride in her dress, with her boquet, perfectly exposed, with the city dump in the background.

..The subject is what's really important in this and if you have a good repoire with them I think you will be fine.

True, but remember the image as a whole is the final product that you deliver to the client!

And all those comments that start "I don't mean to be harsh" are a crock. They do mean to be harsh. Many on this forum like to make those just getting started look like morons so they feel better about themselves.

Really? I find that more than a little offensive!

 

[CCericola]

Hey don't bogart the popcorn!

 

[vtf]

Weddings and maternity pictures are moments in time hard to get back, especially when its close to the due date. Take your time and insure all lighting is good. Use full natural backgrounds if possible and place your subjects about 6' to 8' from greenery to help blur it out. Keep subjects out of the harsh afternoon sun. If in deep dark shade you will need flash preferable ocf. Take shots that emphasize the baby bump. Keep her hands cupping the bump along with his or both. A shot taken without this will just be another outdoor shot. Keep poses natural, nothing fancy. The couple lying next to each other or just her again emphasizing her belly. Visit other websites of photogs that do maternity and get ideas.
If you know RAW then definitely shoot in RAW for any lighting color issues. Good Luck and be sure to post some shots when completed.:thumbup:

 

[gsgary]

Hey don't bogart the popcorn!

Anyone got petzels i don't like popcorn

 

[KmH]

Many on this forum like to make those just getting started look like morons so they feel better about themselves.

Many just starting out, need no help at all making themselves seem like morons.

 

[lyonsroar]

Hey don't bogart the popcorn!

 

[SpeedTrap]

Telling someone posting in a beginners forum without proper equipment or experience is not harsh, it is being realistic.
We all started somewhere, the difference is some of us did not just pick up a consumer SLR and start charging clients.
Some of went to school and built our skills over time and once we thought we were ready, we went back and learned some more.
I am not telling her not to shoot, just that I do not think she is ready and lacks the right tools for the job.
And for the record it does not make me feel good to say something like that, but sometimes it needs to be said.