First "pro" shoot today.

jwbryson1 · Dec 17, 2011

I'm doing my first "professional" shoot for some friends today. Family Christmas portraits for 3 families. Swapping my time and skills for a chicken fajita dinner and all the beer and rum I can drink. :mrgreen:

Dominantly · Dec 17, 2011

Uh, go get em' tiger?!?

jwbryson1 · Dec 17, 2011

Dominantly said:
Uh, go get em' tiger?!?

Thanks! My post is really tongue and cheek. I am just doing some friends a favor by taking their portraits and we are making it into a party with them grilling and feeding a bunch of us. Zacapa and Flor de Cana rum!! The REAL stuff!! :thumbup:

ph0enix · Dec 17, 2011

jwbryson1 said:
I'm doing my first "professional" shoot for some friends today. Family Christmas portraits for 3 families. Swapping my time and skills for a chicken fajita dinner and all the beer and rum I can drink. :mrgreen:

I would not do it for chicken fajitas but steak fajitas on the other hand...

Good luck!

Derrel · Dec 17, 2011

Remember to take the lens cap off!

Good luck! Keep in mind you have instant image review. Keep calm. Maybe give yourself a little bit of an "ISO cushion", by elevating the ISO level up three or four or five 1/3 stop clicks from lowest...makes the flash carry farther...if you need to photograph Christmas lights, the elevated ISO values help the lights "burn in" more so than if the ISO is kept at lowest possible levels. Take a few minutes to think about the settings you will be using, and to take a few test shots, and to get the exposure and lighting really dialed-in, and then shoot the shots after you have made several test shots and reviewed them and made any necessary adjustments to f/stop, flash power, ISO value, and shutter speed.

For shots of people + a Christmas tree, you need to have an ISO level of around 800, with a shutter speed of around 1/20 second, at an aperture of f/3.5 or so in order to make the lights look bright, and cheery. So, keep that in mind if you go that route.

Also, and this is important--before the shoot, you must tell the parents NOT TO LOOK AT THE KIDS during the actual photographing--that is YOUR job. MANy,many,many parents will try and "ride herd on" the kids, and will RUIN otherwise great shots by looking down at the kids. Parents really,really need to be advised that their job is to look at the camera, or at you, and NOT to talk to the kids, or to ensure that they are smiling. I'm not kidding--talk to the parents before their turns.

"Make haste slowly."

GreatPhotoRace · Dec 17, 2011

All the suggestions seem great so far, but I would add not cropping in to close with your camera to the list. I can't tell you how many portrait style shoots I've ruined by cropping in too closely and then not being able to get a decent 8x10. Of course, I was shooting with a crop sensor, so that changes things as well. I guess what I'm saying is, you can also crop closer in PS

. GOOD LUCK!

tirediron · Dec 17, 2011

Good luck!

eUgalde13 · Dec 17, 2011

jwbryson1 said:
I'm doing my first "professional" shoot [...] Swapping my time and skills for a chicken fajita dinner and all the beer and rum I can drink. :mrgreen:

Do you need some help carrying your gear around? I would love to help you

I wish you the best.

GooniesNeverSayDie11 · Dec 17, 2011

Just remember to drink all the beer and rum AFTER the shoot. Little Sally's Christmas dress doesn't look so good with a loose mixture of regurgitated Capt Morgans and Fajitas on it. :lol:

jwbryson1 · Dec 17, 2011

So, how did I do?

1.

[/URL] O'Connor Boys-0022 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

2.

[/URL] Jace-0037 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

3.

[/URL] Reese-0040 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

4.

[/URL] O'Conner Family-0055 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

5.

[/URL] Steve and Kathi-0059 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

6.

[/URL] Logan-0064 by jwbryson1, on Flickr[/IMG]

photo guy · Dec 17, 2011

That's a pretty good payment in my opinion. Good job on the photos

Derrel · Dec 17, 2011

Oh-my-gosh----you appear to be in grave danger of knowing what the heck you're actually doing!!!!!!!

These turned out much,much better than I expected!