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

[Stradawhovious]

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...

Good safety tip Egon..... Thanks!

 

[Village Idiot]

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.

Shooting for free can give the person the expecation that since you're doing it for free, they can get more out of you without having to pay.

Strad - You're in control. You direct what happens and how the course of the day flows. If you were a pilot, would you be asking your passengers where they wanted you to stop on their way to the destination? Just start practicing now so that you run things like that in the future. I'm not saying that you can't take suggestions from the people you're shooting for, but don't let them run things.

 

[KmH]

.....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.....

Part of what makes a pro, a pro, is not having to think about "settings, lighting and location and all the darn technicals", because all that is virtually automatic, or second nature, but your advice regarding paying attention to the couple is definately on the money.

Stradawhovious - shooting an e-session is not like shoot a weeding day, because you can re-shoot an e-session.

 

[Derrel]

Good Lord, let's stop with the swetty douchiness...this is his first real "gig". Fer Chrissakes...all this hair-splitting about what the word gig means, all this talk about nothing...

1) have a plan 2) have a checklist of everything: locations, times, needed equipment, shot order 3)focus on getting the exposure and lighting RIGHT, at the location, as you are shooting. It's worth a few minutes' time to get the exposure and the fill lighting RIGHT, and only then, only then, begin posing and shooting. This is how you avoid coming back with crap! That means check the ISO, check the white balance, check the synch speed, check the histogram, and make some adjustments to get the exposure and the lighting RIGHT, before you start shooting each pose or sequences of poses. 4) On a two-person shoot, you have two people who can either, or together, manage to screw up a pose or a photo. One of the most important things is to TELL people exactly how you are going to conduct the shoot. So, as you are adjusting the lights and making test exposures, tell them that is what you are doing. Then, explain to them how the "real" shooting will be done. You will tell them how to pose or to place themselves, and then give them final directions, and you will shoot four or five, or as many as ten frames, to get each pose satisfactorily recorded as a 'keeper'. A lot of people try really,really hard; one of the best phrases to tell people is, "not every frame needs to be perfect". Describe to them the way that you will shoot multiple,small variations of each pose. Help them coordinate expressions; nothing looks worse than a big, white-toothed, full-smiling bride to be and a closed-mouth, semi-serious groom to be---you need to tell them and I mean you need to verbally tell them, exactly, how each pose is supposed to be done and what the desired expression and interaction is. This approach helps people quite a bit--just knowing that not every shot must be 'perfect', and that they will be given an opportunity to fail, to slip up, etc.

Two-person M+W shoots often involve a willing woman, and a somewhat reluctant man. If the guy will not smile fully (maybe because he has bad teeth,or is self-conscious), then do not force it, but work with what he can give you. There is also a technique where you allow the two of them to relate to one another, with you photographing their own personal interaction from a distance, using a tele or tele-zoom lens. One way to shoot this is to use a 70-200 or similar, and have them walk toward the camera, slowly, as they interact with one another, and you zoom back as they approach. Begin with the lens at 200mm. As they approach close, you'll be down to 70mm. Needless to say, since this is two, walking people, MOST of the distant shots MUST be shot as talls, or they will look like crap.

As to your plan: don't get overly ambitious. You do not need a zillion billion frames. They might be played out after one hour of shooting, so try and get FIVE to seven poses committed to the "keeper" level. One or two of those can be a short sequence. Aim for no more than 25 finished photos, at the most.

 

[kundalini]

Schwetty, I think you're dealing in semantics. Give the boy his due. He's not coming off as a poser, or an idiot.

.......... I also have an assistant and very portable lighting.

Any advice for a guy going on his first solo gig? .........

Practice with your assistant beforehand and dealing with moving gear around to different positions. Make sure the two of you are on the same page when you shout out your instructions to move this way or that.


For the couple: Fart jokes FTW.

Oh yeah, one more thing. If you have a two step ladder, take it with you.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Nah.. wasnt trying to be a douche. I just feel like the word "real" is a little too strong for this gig. Just wanted to know his thoughts. I did give him some pointers. I was expecting something bigger when I saw "First real gig, this time I mean it" .

 

[camz]

Good safety tip Egon..... Thanks!

Just don't cross those beams with your assistant!

 

[bentcountershaft]

Take a look at this tutorial. It's really aimed towards posed portraiture but a lot of it still applies, I think.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Take a look at this tutorial. It's really aimed towards posed portraiture but a lot of it still applies, I think.

I've seen that link before, but had forgotten where it was. Thanks! That will really come in handy!

 

[mommyphotog]

i still have so much to learn but have done a few couples shoots and definitly recomend the step ladder. I'm a little shorter than most men so this helped me if I wanted to be eye-level or above. Good luck to you and I can't wait to see some of the shots! BTW, Have fun!!

 

[mrpink]

Stradawhovious - shooting an e-session is not like shoot a weeding day, because you can re-shoot an e-session.

Saved me some typing there. If you eff it up, tell them to get dressed up again and have another go at it- that doesn't really work for the BIG DAY.

Have fun, shoot what you like, they will like it too.





p!nK

 

[camz]

Part of what makes a pro, a pro, is not having to think about "settings, lighting and location and all the darn technicals", because all that is virtually automatic, or second nature....

I understand that Keith but what I was telling the Op was my experience regarding the first gigs I experienced. Where you that good on your first gig right off the bat - your settings were spot on, your location was sound, your subject posed properly, you had the right focal length lens, everything was fine and dandy and everything was instinctively executed? Especially on on location shoots man it's even harder to control that environment. I think in general we all had a lot to learn during our novice years and even until this day I still do....

All I was trying to relay to the op was I got stuck concentrating on one thing in my early days where the right thing to do was to balance it. Just leveling with our homey Strad here regarding my experiences.

But yes Keith you are right...the pro should handle and know his.

 

[vtf]

You'll do fine and any of your images that resemble your avatar delete them.