First real gig. This time I mean it. Advice appreciated!

[Stradawhovious]

I have shot a couple of gigs in the past with and for a photographer in town here. Yeah, I got a taste of what it can be like to work in the world of a pro for a little while.....

But now its different. I have been asked to........... wait a minute.. [puts on flame suit].. Ok, that's better..... I have been asked to shoot a friend's engagement photos. After repeatedly asking them to hire a pro, and them repeatedly saying "NO", they said that they are happy with what they've seen of my "work", and would rather me do it. I have refused payment, looking at this two ways. A good way to get experience, and a good engagement present for a friend if it works out.

I have had the bride to be and the soon to be ex bachelor come up with a list of poses and ideas, and I have scouted a small handful of fun locations, and scheduled the day so we will hit them with (hopefully) decent light. I also have an assistant and very portable lighting.

Any advice for a guy going on his first solo gig? I'm not looking for poses or God forbid "settings"... just some ideas of what to expect, and maybe a few things the pros wish they would have known their first time out that would have been helpful.

Thanks in advance, spoken from the safety of my flamesuit.

 

[RauschPhotography]

Get them talking and keep them laughing, smiling, have them tease each other playfully. The more character you can channel through your photos, the better. Good luck! :thumbup:

 

[o hey tyler]

In all honesty home dawg, you may want to look at other E-Sessions for posing ideas. Often times, clients have no idea what kind of poses work photographically, and may end up working against you. If you're going to be doing portraiture, even if it is for free, you should do some digging and researching on posing. I know it's awkward telling people where to place their hands, and how to stand, but it's kind of necessary for the profession.

Do you have a date/time planned out? Are you going to be using supplementary lighting, or bring a reflector?

 

[Stradawhovious]

In all honesty home dawg, you may want to look at other E-Sessions for posing ideas. Often times, clients have no idea what kind of poses work photographically, and may end up working against you. If you're going to be doing portraiture, even if it is for free, you should do some digging and researching on posing. I know it's awkward telling people where to place their hands, and how to stand, but it's kind of necessary for the profession.

Do you have a date/time planned out? Are you going to be using supplementary lighting, or bring a reflector?

Good advice.

The ideas they have come up with were from sending me photos they liked from the intrawebs so at least they aren't too terribly off base to begin with. I am also, as we speak frantically researching "posing 101" to help be less stupid about the whole ordeal. I realize I can't learn a lifetime of knowledge by scouring the intrawebs for a week, but it will at least help.

We do have a date picked out, it will be this Saturday.... and I have a couple of speedlights, wireles doohickies, an assistant, and a big ole reflector I will be bringint with me.

Rausch, These are good friends from the gun forumz, so I will have no trouble making them comfortable, and bringing out their character.

 

[Robin Usagani]

why do you consider this a "REAL" gig?

 

[Stradawhovious]

why do you consider this a "REAL" gig?

Because its for someone else. Not me. Why would you consider it "NOT" to be? There's a "CLIENT" isn't there?

 

[o hey tyler]

Are you shooting morning, mid day, or around sundown? You sound like you have a good idea of what gear to bring.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Are you shooting morning, mid day, or around sundown? You sound like you have a good idea of what gear to bring.

Mid-day at the covered locations, and sundown at the outdoor.

 

[Robin Usagani]

It is just that it is easy to please anyone if it is free. So there is not as much pressure. I would call it real if you get money for it. Afteral a gig = short duration job = get paid
[gig] Show IPA noun, verb, gigged, gig·ging. Slang .
–noun 1. a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.

2. any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration: a teaching gig out west somewhere.

 

[o hey tyler]

It is just that it is easy to please anyone if it is free. So there is not as much pressure. I would call it real if you get money for it. Afteral a gig = short duration job = get paid
[gig] Show IPA noun, verb, gigged, gig·ging. Slang .
–noun 1. a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.

2. any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration: a teaching gig out west somewhere.

So because he's not getting paid, he can't consider this a job? It's photographic work. Having a monetary transaction is ONE of the qualifying factors in ONE of the definitions of "job" you provided, but it's not a prerequisite for it to be considered a job.

I do photographic work for a non-profit all the time. I don't get paid, but I consider it a job. Arguing over what he calls a job or a gig, whether he gets paid or not doesn't help. You have to start somewhere, as did both you and I.

 

[Stradawhovious]

It is just that it is easy to please anyone if it is free. So there is not as much pressure. I would call it real if you get money for it. Afteral a gig = short duration job = get paid
[gig] Show IPA noun, verb, gigged, gig·ging. Slang .
–noun 1. a single professional engagement, usually of short duration, as of jazz or rock musicians.

2. any job, especially one of short or uncertain duration: a teaching gig out west somewhere.

They insisted on paying me, and I adamantly refused. Besides, just because I'm not receiving any money doesn't mean I shouldn't treat it like a paying gig, or present a product that looks like it was free, right?

Thanks for the lesson in semantics though....... duly noted.

 

[gsgary]

If you want something different and high key find a doorway/arch/alley with the light coming towards you, get them to pose try settings ISO400, 1/30, F4 with some fill flash (off camera), adjust the power on the flash untill you get enough fill light if you want a darker background increase your shutter speed
Thats the only secret i'm giving you

 

[Robin Usagani]

I guess I can call all those photos of my friends' kids real gig then. I dont call them a real gig personally because I was just basically looking for a warm blood to practice on.

My advice is watch the shadow. The best way to shoot is to put the sun behind the subject. In addition you need to make sure the background is in the shade (should be easy to find since the sun is behind the subject). This is why people like to shoot when the sun is low so they can find dark background. If you put the sun behind the subject and not have dark background then when you expose it to the skin the background will be blown. Adding reflector will be nice too but sometimes it is not doable.

Once in a while put the sun in front of the subject but make sure there is no harsh shadow on the subject (hair shadow, panda eyes, dapled sun etc.).

Example, notice the sun is behind her and the background is dark. You can see the stream is about to get blown. If I had shot this toward a sky, the sky is probably white and the mountain looks like a card board.

 

[camz]

LOL man your posts are hilarious :thumbup:

Ok so what to expect? I think looking back my biggest mistake was not having the camera ready at all times and missed a bunch of moments. I was busy thinking of my settings, lighting and location and all the darn technicals. Your clients can do the most simple things without your direction(little smile, little smurk, brush of a hair) so be ready to capture that. I know this is cliche but just be ready with that trigger finger. That was my lacking...

 

[Stradawhovious]

I guess I can call all those photos of my friends' kids real gig then. I dont call them a real gig personally because I was just basically looking for a warm blood to practice on.

I guess that's where you're confused. I'm not looking to practice on anything. If I wanted to do that, I'd take pictures of my dog. I don't call practice a gig either.

This is something I was asked to do, by a "client", because they like what they have seen of my "photography". If you don't want to call it a gig, then don't, but let's not split hairs over perceived semantics, shall we? Kind of makes you look petty and condescending. At least to me it does anyways.

Thanks for the advice though! :thumbup:

If you want something different and high key find a doorway/arch/alley with the light coming towards you, get them to pose try settings ISO400, 1/30, F4 with some fill flash (off camera), adjust the power on the flash untill you get enough fill light if you want a darker background increase your shutter speed
Thats the only secret i'm giving you

Thanks. I'll try to remember that. :greenpbl: