School Photography

Daryl

Daryl

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Daryl
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Just thought I'd voice this, becaude it makes me chuckle.

This season we used 5 freelance togs for extra double booked jobs.

90% of our work is not the tradtitional head n shoulders that most think of when you say 'School Photography'. But i thought pass some work out to others and give them... what i thought was easy stuff to shoot.

Now I have been in Photography since leaving College.. worked studios = fashion product packs etc. Acheaological photography/Sports and celeb work for the Nationals and magazines etc.... Did scenes of crime work for the old bill for 6 years aswell. Now when anyone used to mention school work I stuck my nose up in the air and would say ' Won't get me doing that!!!!'

I looked down on it. Thinking it would be easy.. I did find it it easy-ish. But then i have done many various jobs through this fantastic medium we all love ...PHOTOGRAPHY. Would never do anything else...

So getting to the point as there is still some snobbery to schools work.

Why O why can I not find togs who can do it properly??????

The togs that helped were pros, own studio or been in the biz for 10-15 years.

The amount of cock-ups that these people did all but one who is superb at the technical side and amazing people skills.

These pro togs shot the basic portraits we all think of. But they shot loose, instead of getting every head shot exactly the same what ever size the sprog was... Fat, small, dwarf or giant bean pole.

They also went on to the next with out getting smiles which is key to sell kids. Also missed lights not flashing from shooting to quick before heads could recharge.....

All very very very basic skills to look out for in any studio set up. And all but one looked throught he camera on point of shutter release.
Line up the shot and shoot looking and keeping subjects attetion.

all great techically but could not get to grip with logistics of large volume shooting or do the basics that all are supposed to use in running their own studios....

so thumbs up to the part time and ones that want to learn as some togs think they know what it's all about, don't seem too......

This business what ever you shoot is a learning curve all the time. You never stop learning, when you do..... time to retire.

Even when shown what to do and expect they still got it pear shaped.

Goes to show you need: 1 Technical skill of your kit. 2 People skills and ability to make clients feelat ease. 3 the thirst to learn new and varied skills what ever the job you shoot.

Just thought I'd share that it's not as easy to shoot schools as some togs would believe.

The logistics to it will make think twice about it...... Good luck to those that want too and please by all means PM me if you have any questions about getting into Schools.

Sort of rant over. thanks for reading.
DB
 
Very interesting post.

I have been doing a lot of research recently on making a move into schools photography ( a large ammount of info has cone from your posts on this forum)

I think hot post here highlights what screams to me as one of the biggest factors to consider when shooting schools - workflow

If you don't have a repeatable formula for each and every shot it will be a really difficult job. In the case of schools the work flow starts from when you pull up in the car park to when yo deliver the prints.
 
Have no fear Chip. will be looking for freelancers in March. I also promissed to do a a 2 day Schools seminar with models etc plus setups for togs to take their own images and use. will get on with that in Jan for Easter time. Child models still go to school so would need to be during their break.

It's been the busiest year ever. so I got way laid. Sorry to all those who want to know more. I will get on with it in Dec and post set up and dates before Xmas. It will be around £250 for 2 full days. and will give you a full hands on drop in the deep end approach. not a sit there and listen to some old b****r drone on then have a tea break...... Then watch someone talk about lights and not let get stuck in.

You are right Rob.

If you run a studio you are half way there but it seems to be the logistics. Organise your work flow and do not deviate from it and all things should run swimmingly. shooting tto names has it's problems too but all that but not difficult.
 
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I wouldn't say you have to love working with kids, but you certainly have to know how to deal with them and it's possibly the most important factor to take into account when shooting schools. Some people are fine, but you get some who simply don't know how to deal with them.

I've spent the last 13 years around kids as nieces and nephews were born, and now have two of my own, and having had the years of experience with them means I find it so easy to deal with other kids. Some people without this experience are still great with kids, but you then get those that aren't.
 
Last year my sons school had there Year 11 photos before xmas and it got near the xmas and no order forms. The school chased up the firm and it turns out they had lost the images.
Shoot rescheduled after xmas. The sample image sent with the order form was overexposed. Not many images where sold that year which was a shame as its there last year at high school. Even the pictures from there prom night ( differant photographer) where not technically that good.
 
My First 'try-out' for the local school contracts is next week...nail-biting stuff...
Doesn't help my nerves that the woman who organises this for the local schools can also get me an 'in' with the local ice-hockey team, as the post of official tog for this season (and ever-after) is up for grabs...:runaway:
 
I was about to drop £300 on a hi-lite background, but I've never really liked the look they give or the 'fill-all-the-shadows-with-softboxes' lighting that seems to be de rigeur. Just saw it as one of things you have to suck-up, as the clients all seem to like it.
However I'm going with my own instinct and using an unlit backdrop and more traditional/dramatic lighting instead...

The kids will be a challenge (though they are Canadians - sons of the hockey players drafted in to the local team - so the language barrier isn't an issue) but I have a cunning plan for the hockey-player souvenir portraits if I can get a foot in the door...

This is the standard NHL-style portrait...
Canada-faces-must-win-in-hockey.jpg

Men's Ice Hockey player Ryan Miller poses for a portrait at the 2010 United States Olympic Team Media Summit in Chicago.
September 10, 2009.
UPI/Brian Kersey

I think we can do better than that and still keep to the same broad formula in order to keep the fans and the club happy...
Think strobist...
 
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Daryl said:
I would have shot from Elbow up.... Too much body and is it just me? His head looks small.

Reminds me of Talking Heads concert...
Click to expand...

Bigger with a helmet on, I think.:lol:

Full jersey has to be included to keep the sponsors happy.
Depending on the other sponsorship deals in place, helmets and sticks may also have to be included...:gag:
 
The fact that the shirts are sized to fit all the padding underneath means that you will get the oversized look in that shot (which is awful IMO).
 
Daryl, very interested in your course, look forward to seeing the details when you have it organised.
 
If you fancy training someone in the style you want in order to cover similar days over the next year I am more than willing ;)
 
Style is not the problem Harve..... Its that fact that the togs used are pros have their own studio... (friends) but just seem to miss the basics rules that they would use in their own studio. Just baffles me. Not noticing misfired lights that sort of thing.

I said at the beginning of the year that I would put a hands on type course together so will sort it for the half term in the new year. No that we have a few staff now Should be able to dedicate time to it.
 
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