First Photo Shoot Help

[Jamesfiresphotos]

I'm going to be doing my first photo shoot this Sunday May 5th and want to make sure I have everything in order. Can someone or everyone fill me in on what I need to do beforehand from the business side?
I'm doing headshots for a website. For about 8 people


waver forms from client?
I want to use what I do to build my portfolio.


Thanks

james

 

[hirejn]

What exactly do you mean by waiver forms? Whenever you shoot as a job, you should have a contract that spells out the terms of the work to be done and how it's to be used, how it's to be paid for, and cancellations and recourses. You and the clients must sign the contract. A contract doesn't have to be written or approved by a lawyer to be legal, but it's recommended. Ambiguity tends to favor the party that did not draft the contract. In other words, if you have nothing in writing, the client has a better chance of screwing you than you do of protecting yourself. How well you know the client or how good of a person they are is completely and 100% irrelevant.

 

[imagemaker46]

Are you being hired to do this shoot? What is the intended use of the photos? Are they simple stand and shoot head shots, or portraits?

 

[tirediron]

Based on your post, it rather sounds like you're not even at a stage yet where you know what you don't know. Contracts, tax, licensing, INSURANCE..... Is this a paid commission?

 

[Jamesfiresphotos]

Thanks for all the questions!

I am getting paid for this. I was suggested to this persons tutoring website by my sister who is a tutor for that company. Its going to be a shoot with 8 people. Shots will be simple Headshots and all of them similar to each other with 2/3 different poses for each person. I haven't signed any contract or anything. Because this is my first shoot and she was expecting me to do it for free to build my portfolio I told her that if she doesn't get what she likes then she won't have to pay me.

I don't have any Insurance either.


I'm assuming if all goes well she is going to pay me cash and taxing is not going to be a problem. Licensing? as you said I don't even know what I don't know. I got my Nikon D7000 4 months ago, done a tone of reading. I showed her some of the photos I've taken with my wife a couple weeks ago and she was happy with them. So as long as I can re-create everything I did with her I'll be fine photography wise.

Up for any suggestions please!

 

[Pallycow]

Dare I ask what lighting gear you have?

If you plan to use on camera flash you will be doing mugshots/passport photos, not headshots.

Do it for free for the experience, you will only be better for it and learn from it, and not have the hassle of unhappy clients if they don't turn out well. ;-)


I cannot count the free stuff I have done, and even continue to do, for learning/portfolio sake. Yes, I now charge for services, but I do more free stuff than paid stuff really as I am still building my name and myself and learning the trade.

 

[tirediron]

First recommendation: Don't do these for money, I STRONGLY discourage working for pay without insurance; instead, suggest the person treat you to a nice meal for you and your wife/sister/brother/?? if they're happy with the work.

Headshots are very simple; I do mine almost without exception using a single speedlight and a 30" Ezybox high and left, with a 48" 5in1 reflector (white side normally) close in on the right. With a dark-hair client or dark background (Example) I will use a hair light to provide separation.

Read up on posing, esp. masculine and feminine poses (masculine incline head toward low shoulder, feminine toward high), and use someone as a practice dummy to work out a system that produces consistent results.

 

[vintagesnaps]

I don't think it's realistic to expect that four months after buying a camera that you have the skills and expertise necessary to do paid work as a photographer. And to be able to recreate the photos you took with your wife (as your subject I assume) may not be realistic either if you'll be in a different location or in different lighting.

You said you're getting paid, but the expectation is that this will be free because it's for your portfolio - it sounds more like a favor than a job. You don't have a contract, photo releases, etc. - and you have three days left to get prepared for this weekend - since you've already made the committment I'm not sure what you can do at this point. There are photography business resources available but it would involve more than what you can probably pick up on a message board in a few days. Maybe your sister intended this to help you get started; at best if the photos turn out OK you may have something usable for your sister's employer or for your use in a portfolio.

 

[orljustin]

Up for any suggestions please!

Back out and learn how to use your camera.

 

[Jamesfiresphotos]

Thanks for the advise.

I can't back out now as it is too late.

If someone could fill me in on what type of insurance I would need. Obviously not for this time but for next. Just so I know what's going on.

As I said if the client doesn't get what she wants then I don't expect anything from them.

I'm pretty confident I can make it all work out.

The main question I had and would like answered is if I should bring waiver forms to this and if so where to find them.


Thanks again!

 

[orljustin]

What exactly do you mean by waiver forms?

What he said.

 

[KmH]

If someone could fill me in on what type of insurance I would need.
The main question I had and would like answered is if I should bring waiver forms to this and if so where to find them.

As a self-employed business owner you would need several kinds of insurance:

You need business liability insurance ($1,000,000 minimum/$2,000,000 is better). You need errors and omissions insurance, You need indemnity insurance. You need life insurance. You need health insurance. You need photography gear insurance. You need short-term disability insurance. You need long term disability insurance.

If you don't have a legal, registered/licensed business, you may not be able to buy the kinds of insurance a business needs.

What you are calling 'waiver forms' are generally known as 'model releases'.

I am not familiar with model release law in Canada. Here in the US, model release law is state law, so there are 50 somewhat different versions.
This is US based info, but FWIW - Property and Model Releases | American Society of Media Photographers

 

[imagemaker46]

I wouldn't be concerned with any kind of insurance, waiver forms or anything else at this point. You are an amateur taking some pictures for your sister, you are not a professional, have no business licence or anything else that says that you are nothing more than someone with a camera. I wouldn't use any of these to "help build" your portfolio, why do you need to build a portfolio? It is clear that you are a very long way from being able to start charging people for shoots. Your sister asked you to do this, that is quite different from you being hired by some complete stranger, and you showing up to do a shoot you aren't prepared for.

Do this one, if the pictures turn out, great, take whatever you are getting paid, and put it towards learning photography. It sounds like you have already decided to run in the 100m race without even knowing how crawl.

 

[vintagesnaps]

That seems to sum it up. I don't know of anything called a waiver that's used in the professional photography business but I assume the same, that you're referring to model releases.

There are professional photographers organizations that have info. on releases, contracts, insurance, etc. etc. - there are a number of options but I don't think there is any one particular standardized form or procedure. In the US individual states have info. on registering as a business.

I think as mentioned I'd consider this to be taking pictures as a favor, then go from here and work on developng expertise in photography and researching how to set up a business.

 

[AlmostFamous]

Everyone has to start somewhere! I agree that this should be done as a "favor" It will mean less pressure for you on your first shoot and you can relax and do your best. GOOD LUCK!