This is MY first and last time for doing child photography :)

Geaux · Nov 22, 2011

Ok, so I agreed to do a shoot for my cousin's 4 year old. Let's just say that it started out as a nightmare from the beginning and planning stages. She insisted on a morning shoot, which is fine, but it was the first weekend of Daylight Savings. This means the golden hour is at like 5am or something crazy and she set up a time of 9AM. I knew the lighting was going to suck, but she kept insisting, so I had no choice. THEN, when we get out there, of course not a cloud in the sky and sun like its high noon lol, they tell me they don't want "pose" shots. What I didn't realize is that this involves me running behind him and taking pictures while he plays in a park and yelling out "LOOK A T-REX" to get his attention (he wasn't looking at me and refused a lot of the times lol).

Anyways, I came out with about 50 edited shots for them, some better than others, but it is what it is... Here are a few to check out.

1.

2.

3. Probably my favorite shot of the bunch, yet I missed the focus and blown skies. Well, I didn't, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4's erratic AF did.

I'm sending it back for a calibration b/c the AF was all over the place that day when it shouldn't have. Backfocusing like a mofo.

4. I know it has a very shallow DOF, but it was the look I was going for. I actually think the lens front focused on this one a bit.

And just for fun, this sums up how both of us felt after him running from me and me chasing him trying to get images lol.

MissCream · Nov 22, 2011

Hahaha love the last one!

mwcfarms · Nov 22, 2011

Aren't kids great!

Geaux · Nov 22, 2011

They are, I just don't want to do that ever again lol.

camz · Nov 22, 2011

Yeah I hear ya kids aren't easy.

But I think the second one takes the cake! For print dude for print.

PhotoTish · Nov 22, 2011

Sounds like a tough day but I really like photos 1 and 2, especially photo 2 :thumbup:

bazooka · Nov 22, 2011

I agree, you did well even though conditions weren't ideal and you didn't exactly want to do it.

Geaux · Nov 22, 2011

Don't get me wrong, I wanted to do it, but I wish I had more lee-way in picking my conditions and which hour to shoot at.

mwcfarms · Nov 22, 2011

When its not family; you do. Even with a client who wants to lead the show you just need to educate them on the why of things. I'm naturally bossy so it comes easy. Hahaha. :greenpbl:

Geaux · Nov 22, 2011

Not that I was going to charge them or accept money given, but after they saw me crawling all over the ground for 2 hours trying to get shots, they didn't even offer lunch lol.

iShootYou · Nov 22, 2011

You did great the photos are wonderful. I relate kids photography it's not an easy task. The thing is if they didn't even offer you lunch at the very least don't do it again or charge next time.

Sent from my iPhone using PhotoForum

bazooka · Nov 22, 2011

Ah, I misunderstood or mis-read then, my apologies. Definitely not the first time.

I hear you about the hard work vs. return when shooting for people you know. I'm starting to run into this with friends. They like my work and want me to shoot for them. On one hand, you want to do a great job and help them out and benefit from the experience you get (I need the experience, maybe you do not), but on the other hand, you know you will be getting paid little, if any and doing free gigs for friends leads to more *expected* free gigs in the future.

Derrel · Nov 22, 2011

1,2,3 look really lovely! I love the kid grasping the tree....shows the time of year well. The first two have lovely lighting,and good, candid-looking poses.

Yeah...that first week of Daylight Savings Time sucks!!!! And people will not even believe you when they want to schedule an OUTDOOR, afternoon shoot at like 4:30 to 5:00 PM, and you tell them, "Uh...the sun will be going down around that time," and they are like, "Oh, no, no, no, it won't be getting dark for another hour or so,at least."

I've found about four classes of people who pay attention to when sunup and sunset are: farmers, outdoor guides, people who walk or bicycle to work, and serious photographers. I swear, 90% of the rest of the world's people haven't a clue as to when the sun rises or sets to within anything less than an hour's precision!

mwcfarms · Nov 22, 2011

I fit into two of those categories lol. :greenpbl: I have also found that a lot of people think either A a bright sunny day is the perfect day for photos and B others think that overcast is perfect because of no sun.

bogeyguy · Nov 22, 2011

Geaux said:
Ok, so I agreed to do a shoot for my cousin's 4 year old. Let's just say that it started out as a nightmare from the beginning and planning stages. She insisted on a morning shoot, which is fine, but it was the first weekend of Daylight Savings. This means the golden hour is at like 5am or something crazy and she set up a time of 9AM. I knew the lighting was going to suck, but she kept insisting, so I had no choice. THEN, when we get out there, of course not a cloud in the sky and sun like its high noon lol, they tell me they don't want "pose" shots. What I didn't realize is that this involves me running behind him and taking pictures while he plays in a park and yelling out "LOOK A T-REX" to get his attention (he wasn't looking at me and refused a lot of the times lol).

Anyways, I came out with about 50 edited shots for them, some better than others, but it is what it is... Here are a few to check out.

1.

2.

3. Probably my favorite shot of the bunch, yet I missed the focus and blown skies. Well, I didn't, the Sigma 85mm f/1.4's erratic AF did. I'm sending it back for a calibration b/c the AF was all over the place that day when it shouldn't have. Backfocusing like a mofo.

4. I know it has a very shallow DOF, but it was the look I was going for. I actually think the lens front focused on this one a bit.

And just for fun, this sums up how both of us felt after him running from me and me chasing him trying to get images lol.

So, in the last photo you lost all patience and decked him??? LOL!