would you mind?

[Sideburns]

Thought about it but havent actually tried it. I have been more considering sending pictures to the local television news. They run a regular snapshot of the day thing and show the photo online and television with your name attached. The only thing stopping me really is the concept of "Snapshot" of the day, to me it seems they would be more interested in the local kids playing in the snow or whatever as opposed to portraiture or landscapes.




but it's an idea......

Nobody watches TV any more...and if they are watching the news...they are probably older.

I'm not trying to be offensive...but nobody I know watches the news, nor cares about their community snapshot of the day lol.

 

[DigiJay]

I met someone who picks local minor sports teams and follows them around. She takes all sorts of action shots of all the kids on the team, including fans and coaches, then passes her card around. At the end of the season, she offers all kinds of products from posters, trading cards, photo books etc to the parents at a reasonable price. She seems to be quite successful, and the parents absolutely love being able to purchase these products. She usually posts a few shots of each player on her website to peak the interest of the parents.

Just an idea.

 

[Puscas]

Nobody watches TV any more...and if they are watching the news...they are probably older.

I'm not trying to be offensive...but nobody I know watches the news, nor cares about their community snapshot of the day lol.

well, that's good: older people have more money...



pascal

 

[Battou]

Nobody watches TV any more...and if they are watching the news...they are probably older.

I'm not trying to be offensive...but nobody I know watches the news, nor cares about their community snapshot of the day lol.

Yes, also another down point that has crossed my mind, but the one fact that remains is my issue with the society surrounding me assuming everything is perverted in nature. There is a gorgeous little girl who I would love to get some real portraits of but, given what I do for a living (Child Daycare Provider), my hobbies (drawing NSFW pictures, and heavy interest in photography), and my lack of a significant other, I simply can not risk it. Just the mere hint of interest in a child unrelated to me to the point of asking to take a picture could have me jailed because I happen to meet several of the things police agencies look for specifically in suspected child pornographers, even if that is not my intent. Yeah I am reducing my possibilities but that is a risk I can afford to take repeatedly.

There are also a few unrelated deturrants I have in reguard to asking random people on the streets that are completely unrelated to any of that I just mentioned but that is the biggie.

Now I understand this thread is not about my personal fears so I just threw out another idea I have been considering, even if my personal aversion to the original does not apply to the original posters intentions or practice. So lets not take this any further off topic than I already have :mrgreen:

 

[Big Bully]

Yes, also another down point that has crossed my mind, but the one fact that remains is my issue with the society surrounding me assuming everything is perverted in nature. There is a gorgeous little girl who I would love to get some real portraits of but, given what I do for a living (Child Daycare Provider), my hobbies (drawing NSFW pictures, and heavy interest in photography), and my lack of a significant other, I simply can not risk it. Just the mere hint of interest in a child unrelated to me to the point of asking to take a picture could have me jailed because I happen to meet several of the things police agencies look for specifically in suspected child pornographers, even if that is not my intent. Yeah I am reducing my possibilities but that is a risk I can afford to take repeatedly.

There are also a few unrelated deturrants I have in reguard to asking random people on the streets that are completely unrelated to any of that I just mentioned but that is the biggie.

Now I understand this thread is not about my personal fears so I just threw out another idea I have been considering, even if my personal aversion to the original does not apply to the original posters intentions or practice. So lets not take this any further off topic than I already have :mrgreen:

I would say the "snapshot" would be a draw back to an actual photographer.


Now back to the printing onsite, what kind of epson printer would you use? How expensive is it and does it produce good quality prints?

 

[Battou]

I would say the "snapshot" would be a draw back to an actual photographer.

Yeah, it is as I mentioned, but an idea none the less.

The way I figure it is, some times to stand out in a crowd one must enter the crowd they find first.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

David and Meg- I use Epson R380 printers. They are very cheap, about 150.00, and they are really very durable, little workhorses. They have a 2-inch monitor on them so you can see what you are printing and they also have basic settings on them so you can set sharpness, color, saturation, etc.

I shoot everything in jpg. Since I will not be doing any PP at all, I set the camera settings different than if I am shooting for myself in raw. I increase the sharpness a bit, increase color saturation, and so on. When I hand the first card to the assistant, she runs out a test print and then she adjusts the settings on the printer to get the proper results. I also check out that test print to make sure I am getting things right in the camera, such as cropping and so on.

Some guys use dye sublimation printers on location, some use the type of printers I do, and others go about this in a completely different manner.


Your biggest expense, of course, is ink. I buy my paper in big lots off ebay or I keep a look-out for local sales.

I use a very old set of Novatron studio strobes, they are over 25 years old, and I bring several portable backdrops. My Novatrons fit inside a hard shell case and are completely portable. I literally set up a complete, mobile studio right at the location. I use Pocket Wizards to sync my lights with my camera.

Of course, the best way to shoot these things is the first method that I described in my original post- getting paid by the event organizers. That is, by far, the best way to go. The other method of getting paid by the customers can definately be hit and miss. Also, when I shoot awards banquets or corporate events, many times, depending on the location, you may be able to incorporate the surroundings as part of the photo, which really makes for interesting souvenir photos that will always be cherished by the folks attending the event. I have included a shot I did last year. The event was an awards banquet that was being held at Lone Star Park, a beautiful horse racing track. I dropped by the place a few days ahead of time to scout it out and found a really nice mural on the wall next to the main entrance and we used that for the backdrop instead of my usual portable backdrops and the people just loved it.

The examples below are not the greatest portraits in the world, but they sharp, clean, and they show the folks having fun, and that is exactly what you want to provide and also that is exactly what I was hired to do. The lighting set-up was very basic- two lights with umbrellas and a light on the background. Simple. I set the lights up where I will be able to shoot individuals, couples, or groups of up to four or five. If the group is bigger than that, then I may have to move the lights a bit, but overall, once I get the lights set, I never move them. I also use basically one lens- a 50mm 1.8. It is small, lightweight, very sharp, and it will shoot just about anything unless I get groups that are larger than 5 people. After shooting over 100-200 people or more, you will appreciate not having the extra weight of a big zoom on the camera. And I shoot with heavy cameras. My main camera for events is a Nikon D1X.

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Yes, also another down point that has crossed my mind, but the one fact that remains is my issue with the society surrounding me assuming everything is perverted in nature. There is a gorgeous little girl who I would love to get some real portraits of but, given what I do for a living (Child Daycare Provider), my hobbies (drawing NSFW pictures, and heavy interest in photography), and my lack of a significant other, I simply can not risk it. Just the mere hint of interest in a child unrelated to me to the point of asking to take a picture could have me jailed because I happen to meet several of the things police agencies look for specifically in suspected child pornographers, even if that is not my intent. Yeah I am reducing my possibilities but that is a risk I can afford to take repeatedly.

There are also a few unrelated deturrants I have in reguard to asking random people on the streets that are completely unrelated to any of that I just mentioned but that is the biggie.

Now I understand this thread is not about my personal fears so I just threw out another idea I have been considering, even if my personal aversion to the original does not apply to the original posters intentions or practice. So lets not take this any further off topic than I already have :mrgreen:

I know exactly where you are coming from. Last year, I was hired to come into a local children's theatre workshop and shoot headshots of all the kids. My assistant, who is female, was late getting there, and after I set the lights up, etc. the only people there, were the children, the lady running the workshop, and me. These kids ranged in age from about 10 years old and up into the teens. I shot a couple of kids, and then, the lady started to leave the room. I followed her out, while I was on my cell phone trying to find my assistant (who was my grown daughter ), and I explained to the lady that there was no way I was going to stay alone in a room full of kids and I told her why. She understood immediately where I was coming from and she came back in the room and stayed until my assistant arrived just a few minutes later.

It is terrible that it has come to this. But nowadays, you can never be too safe. It is extremely rare when I shoot any type of event or anything like that, where I do not have someone with me at all times.

 

[Big Bully]

I know exactly where you are coming from. Last year, I was hired to come into a local children's theatre workshop and shoot headshots of all the kids. My assistant, who is female, was late getting there, and after I set the lights up, etc. the only people there, were the children, the lady running the workshop, and me. These kids ranged in age from about 10 years old and up into the teens. I shot a couple of kids, and then, the lady started to leave the room. I followed her out, while I was on my cell phone trying to find my assistant (who was my grown daughter ), and I explained to the lady that there was no way I was going to stay alone in a room full of kids and I told her why. She understood immediately where I was coming from and she came back in the room and stayed until my assistant arrived just a few minutes later.

It is terrible that it has come to this. But nowadays, you can never be too safe. It is extremely rare when I shoot any type of event or anything like that, where I do not have someone with me at all times.

I know it is a shame that you have to openly protect yourself like that. It really is a shame that we have to do that now a days. But there are too many people who would take advantage of the photographer, and in some cases the kids. So it is best to just cover your own butt and watch yourself. And have someone watch over you. Then there is no way that people can start rumors.

 

[Big Bully]

David and Meg- I use Epson R380 printers. They are very cheap, about 150.00, and they are really very durable, little workhorses. They have a 2-inch monitor on them so you can see what you are printing and they also have basic settings on them so you can set sharpness, color, saturation, etc.

I shoot everything in jpg. Since I will not be doing any PP at all, I set the camera settings different than if I am shooting for myself in raw. I increase the sharpness a bit, increase color saturation, and so on. When I hand the first card to the assistant, she runs out a test print and then she adjusts the settings on the printer to get the proper results. I also check out that test print to make sure I am getting things right in the camera, such as cropping and so on.

Some guys use dye sublimation printers on location, some use the type of printers I do, and others go about this in a completely different manner.


Your biggest expense, of course, is ink. I buy my paper in big lots off ebay or I keep a look-out for local sales.

I use a very old set of Novatron studio strobes, they are over 25 years old, and I bring several portable backdrops. My Novatrons fit inside a hard shell case and are completely portable. I literally set up a complete, mobile studio right at the location. I use Pocket Wizards to sync my lights with my camera.

Of course, the best way to shoot these things is the first method that I described in my original post- getting paid by the event organizers. That is, by far, the best way to go. The other method of getting paid by the customers can definately be hit and miss. Also, when I shoot awards banquets or corporate events, many times, depending on the location, you may be able to incorporate the surroundings as part of the photo, which really makes for interesting souvenir photos that will always be cherished by the folks attending the event. I have included a shot I did last year. The event was an awards banquet that was being held at Lone Star Park, a beautiful horse racing track. I dropped by the place a few days ahead of time to scout it out and found a really nice mural on the wall next to the main entrance and we used that for the backdrop instead of my usual portable backdrops and the people just loved it.

The examples below are not the greatest portraits in the world, but they sharp, clean, and they show the folks having fun, and that is exactly what you want to provide and also that is exactly what I was hired to do. The lighting set-up was very basic- two lights with umbrellas and a light on the background. Simple. I set the lights up where I will be able to shoot individuals, couples, or groups of up to four or five. If the group is bigger than that, then I may have to move the lights a bit, but overall, once I get the lights set, I never move them. I also use basically one lens- a 50mm 1.8. It is small, lightweight, very sharp, and it will shoot just about anything unless I get groups that are larger than 5 people. After shooting over 100-200 people or more, you will appreciate not having the extra weight of a big zoom on the camera. And I shoot with heavy cameras. My main camera for events is a Nikon D1X.

Thank you for your help and advice. Sorry it took me so long to respond I didn't get notification that you wrote back.
Do you set up some sort of room so you can control the lighting? Or do you just do your photos outdoors and go with the flow?

 

[Rick Waldroup]

Meg, whenever I shoot banquets, awards dinners, etc.....I always try to set up indoors. Outdoors can be tricky due to wind, available electricity, and so on. My lights are not monolights. They run off a power pack.

However, there is a charity event I shoot every year where I have to set up outdoors because of the props the organizers want to use. The event is western themed so we use a covered wagaon, hay bales, ranch style type settings for the souvenir photos. When I set up outdoors, the very first thing I do is anchor the lights at the bottom of the stands with bags using either sand or cat litter. I mean, I anchor each light with at least 50 pounds of weight. The wind can blow mighty hard sometimes here in Texas. If it is really windy, I will not use the umbrellas and will instead use diffusion gels on the heads. Also, if I have to shoot an event outdoors, I may adjust the way I normally set up the lights and even reduce the amount of lights I use. It all depends on what the available area looks like and how it is naturally lit.

Indoors is always much better for doing these shoots.

Whenver I shoot an event, I always try to set up everything at the main entrance where most of the attendees will arrive. I have my assistant snag them right there and we shoot them. That way, you will get just about everyone who arrives for the event. I take just one shot, unless I feel that someone blinked or something else looked strange. I simply tell them that I am going to shoot on the count of three. Sometimes, they will act up and have fun and ham it up for the camera. I always shoot that and those are usually the priceless ones because their photos are more life-like and personable. And also, my assistant is helping to pose them, straighten clothes, fix stray hair, minor details- and then we shoot them. I can usually get it in one shot. I would estimate that the average time I spend on shooting one couple is no more than 2-3 minutes, a lot of times even less than 2 minutes. Sometimes I will take two or more shots, but not often. The more you do this, the easier it becomes, just like anything else. Very much like school photography. I had a friend who shot schools for years and years and he always referred to it as meatball photography. I don't know where the term came from but it fits.

Also, when talking about shooting on location with lights. I am getting ready, probably next month, to seriously update my lighting equipment. My set is about 25 years old and they work just fine, but they are very limited in having controls for varying the light output. I am going to go to a monolight system and run it off battery packs. It will cut down on the weight, somewhat, of stuff I pack along on these shoots, and I will have much more control and more power with the newer lights. My old lights that I have had for all these years were one of the best investments I ever made as a photographer. I have made a decent amount of money with them over the years, but it is time to uprgrade.

 

[Big Bully]

Thank you Rick for all the information. It has been really helpful. Now I just need to get some equiptment and get started. But if I have any questions I definately know who to come to!!!