newbie to this forum needs help

[annroselle]

Hi! I am new to child photography and mainly have been doing it for friends and family. I am not a pro so I do not have a studio nor do I have complete equipment.

So far, I have been pleased with my outdoor shoots. My only indoor shoot last year was at my friends house, she had a lot of room and many backgrounds to work with. However, last weekend I was a little disappointed with some of my photos. It was at my husband's friend's apartment (I have never been there before), and with my lack of experience, I felt very limited with space, background and colors. I am not sure how to handle this, but I tried my best.

Do you normally know the place you are going to walk into? I thought that perhaps next time I should visit their place first and see what I can work with and if I need to bring any backdrops (I have not really needed them but they would have helped a lot).

So this friend mentioned that she had blankets colored this and that (and stupid me assumed this would be our backdrop, since my last shoot the mom was very well equipped by big huge "blankets", when I get there they were literally 2ftx2ft wide, just enough to put the 3-month old in. I had to take close-up shots to get rid of most of the background.

No way am I blaming the mom here, but I realized that future clients would be different, some are super ready with endless props and all and some not so much (or at least not in the right way). Do you have your own props or use things from the house as props, what about background?

What things do you normally ask them to prepare, blankets, etc?? The last two times I just asked them to pick clothes in advance for us to decide when I get there which would work best.

Sorry this is long, but I need advise. Thanks!!!

 

[Canon AE-1]

My mind was playing tricks on me, still waking up and drinking coffee mind you, thought i was reading .. Hi i'm new to child pornography... Yeah, i'm brain dead. Anyway,
Hello and welcome to the TPF!

 

[annroselle]

anyone? or is there a better place for this type of question somewhere else?

 

[dxqcanada]

If you intend to do this seriously ... you should have everything that is needed except the child.

If you have your own space/studio that you clients come to it should have all you need ... if you are traveling to the client, you should ensure that you bring everything yourself.

 

[KmH]

+1. You're the photographer. That carries some responsibilities.

Get what you want to use as background. If you're not willing to do that, don't sweat it, just realize your photos will always have unpalatable compromises.

You say your not a pro, but later talk about "future clients."

At the point of you having "clients" you need to have everthing needed except the subject.

I don't get where people think a 300 or so word post is "long" and needs to be apologized for. :scratch: