Here are some ideas to keep in mind
when preparing for a photo session:
1-DO make sure your camera battery is charged. Yes, this one seems like a no brainer, but sometimes we get busy and overlook the things that matter most! After all, it's hard to take a photo when your battery is dead. Also, remember to put your battery in the camera before you leave the house, again a no brainer, but you never know! I once made the mistake of leaving for a shoot and totally forgot my battery. It was charged, but that doesn't do my any good if I don't have it with me! Thankfully, I was only 10 minutes away from home and I always plan for extra time, so I turned around and got the battery and then made it to the session. I get there and nearly pee my pants-I can't find it. I know I grabbed it because I remember forgetting it in the first place!! Somehow, when I got back in the car, I dropped it and it was under my seat. That was fun covering up! Not like I wanted the client to know I couldn't find the battery...true story!
2-DO bring a contract for the client to sign, if you haven't already sent it to them via mail or e-mail. Even if they are your good friend and you will have them do it another time and even if you are just starting out, it's good to always have a contract signed. It protects you and the client. Included with that should be a model release. You always want a signed model release giving you permission to post pictures in a public place.
3-DO wear clothes that are comfortable and that you can move easily in. I tend to wear the exact same thing when I am out on a photo shoot because not only are the clothes comfortable, but they show who I am. I love flip flops, but do I wear them while shooting, no! I like to get down on the ground and climb up onto fences and do whatever else I need to in order to capture a great angle. I once was literally in a swimming pool on the ledge around the side of the pool in order to get a great shot (please hold back your comments about how you shouldn't be in a pool with a camera-I had the camera on the strap and around my neck and was not in danger of falling in!). So what do I normally wear? Jeans, a black shirt (t-shirt, long or short sleeve...mainly because I own like 30 black shirts) and black boots. This is my standard attire. I'm comfortable, the boots protect my feet and I don't worry about ruining a shirt because I have 29 more at home! By the way, I was wearing linen pants when I got in the pool, so I was able to roll them up! Got lucky on that one-not planned at all!
4-DON'T leave your family in a grumpy mood. Plan your time so that if a child is having a meltdown before you leave, you have room to talk with them. Your family comes first. Even though you have to go off to work, it helps just to take a moment to explain to your child (or spouse or significant other or mom...you get the picture) that you are going to work and as soon as you get home you two will talk and cuddle. Your mood affects the mood of your work and your clients. If you are in a grumpy mood on the way, put on a favorite song to listen to in the car or stop by and pick up a snack along the way. Personally, I turn on music from Glee and it has a way of making everything in the world right again!
5-DON'T expect clients to be mind readers. If you want them in a certain pose, show them. Sometimes you get those dream clients that just know what to do and you're job is made easier. But if that isn't the case, don't be afraid to show your clients how you want them to stand or place their arm. As photographers, we are visual people. But not everyone else is. I recently did a photo shoot with my family (okay, I
6-DO your best for every client. Be on time, be professional, be organized and communicate well. If you say you will have their photos ready to be viewed in one week, then one week it shall be. If your home suddenly gets invaded with the flu and you are up to your eyeballs in laundry and tending after sick kids, let you client know that you are sorry, but you will need a couple of extra days.
When it all comes together, you get great results!
The Do’s and Don’ts of Stealing Images From Your Photographer
{Article originally posted on The MomTog Blog}.
I get asked a lot by both photographers and clients what my policy is on letting my clients post their images to their blogs and facebook account. I personally love it when my clients post their family pictures on their blogs, facebook, etc. It shows me that they truly love their images! I encourage my clients to “steal” their pictures from my blog to use on the internet. Here are a few do’s and don’ts that you should think about when reposting your images:
1) DO ask your photographer what their specific policy is on taking pictures off of their blogs. Some photographers encourage it and some don’t allow it. If this is important to you this is something you should ask BEFORE you hire your photographer!
2) DO include your photographer’s name and website under the images (a link would be super nice!). That’s just the polite thing to do!
3) DON’T crop out their logo. Unless you have paid for the digital negatives don’t alter the files in anyway. Most photographers use their blogs to advertise their work and do so as a courtesy to give their clients a sneak peek. If a client crops out the logo then how will other people know who took the picture?
4) DON’T edit the picture in any way. Taking the pictures is only half of a photographers job. The other half is editing. If you think you can do a better job or want to edit out some of your wrinkles or use selective coloring please don’t show and/or tell your photographer. That is super insulting. If you don’t like your photographers editing enough to want to edit it yourself than maybe you need to find another photographer next year.
5) DON’T try to print from the files on the blog. For me specifically I know that the files I upload to my blog are too small to be printed in a 4×6 size. It’s not cool to invest in a family session and then print the images off of the blog and not pay for prints. Make sure you know how much the prints cost before the session to avoid sticker shock. Same goes for scanning prints that you already bought. Not cool! Some of my family members are guilty of printing images off of my blog. It makes me cringe when I see them FRAMED in their homes with my logo still on there! To be fair, I’m also not great at emailing them the file when they ask for it!
This article was reposted with permission!
Would you want to steal these sweet faces? I think not!!
Photo courtesty of On The Phippside Photography
