Thank you all for the advice... Biggest multi-quote I've ever had to do haha... It's a bit of a tricky one with the whole Covid19 situation and the laws, however it's a bit of a grey area... He's not actually my manager, he's my company director. So he's suggested that I do the shoot in the place of work after hours...
So it's him and his wife and his 3 kids. (Aged 3 and a half is the youngest, aged 16 is the oldest)
His sister is another company director for the same company (so it would be her family as a separate shoot with her 3 kids, aged 8 to 17.
and the Shoot is for a gift for his Dad (managing director) and his Mam's anniversary (also the other company director)
So it's a bit of a tricky situation in regards to the law because I am carrying out the work in my normal place of work.
It's for his family (In the premises they own, and is also their place of work)
Can someone else help with the shoot? For example to chat with the family, suggest some poses and so on, leaving you to concentrate on the lighting and taking the shot?
I'm pretty much myself with the shot, unfortunately. So can't really bring anyone in. (trying to keep covid friendly and within the law)
He must be impressed with what you can do
You'll find that the people you are taking pictures of are more nervous than you.
Just be at ease and make them do as they're told. Don't forget to charge him ;-)
Most of the prep work I'll be doing will be within my working hours anyways.. I'll then come in with my camera, lighting set up etc, I'll literally be coming in on the Saturday afternoon after working hours to carry out the shoot. (he said he'll obviously pay me)
How old are the kids? Have you got experience of dealing with kids at that age?
one group with a 3 and a half-year-old, and his 2 older brothers in their teens.
the other group with an 8-year-old and her older brother (or maybe 2 older brothers) both in their teens.
I've got an 18-month old who likes to try and lick my camera lens and I've got a 3 and a half-year-old who doesn't stand still haha.
I’m going to say this and make no apology for it. If you’re uncomfortable don’t. It sounds like he’s using you to get a cheap pressie
I can see why you would think this,.. Knowing him as a person, I think it's more of a bypass of the covid laws as it is taking in my place of work, and he doesn't have to bring an external photographer in... plus knowing him over the years, he's always been more of a person to give people chances to try and do things they enjoy... I've came up from a warehouse picker. into the website development (as this is what I loved doing as a hobby) which has kind of merged into marketing executive/product photographer in house as part of my day job. So i have developed as a company through the year, and he's always kind of gave me free reign to make improvements and kind of do things off my own initiative.
Me doing our headshots for the company wasn't prompted by him. it was my suggestion, taking a hobby I love and bringing it into my workplace.
I have worked with people quite a lot- Photographing the local school prom in 2019, a few Weddings same year- not much last year ( Covid) and a few booked for this year mid-summer.
my advice is this DON'T DO IT - your boss will expect pristine images and if cannot provide that, I'd back out saying you do not have the relevant experience- no shame in that
Les
PS we are still on Lockdown, I would check the legality of what your boss wants you to do - just a thought
This is where I'm in 2 minds at the moment Les, I know I can take the pictures, I'm just not sure how proficient I am. Although i have enjoyed photography for a good few years, I think it would be nieve for me to assume I can pull this off with no hitches... As I do make mistakes occasionally... For example today I was shooting product, I've looked back through my shots and noticed that 2 of the shots I've actually dialled in a wrong setting when I've returned to the shoot and shot at 1/320th of a second instead of 1/250th which is not my flash sync speed, and I've ruined them 2 shots because of a mistake.. I don't mind because it's my mistake to correct, however, when it's peoples time your wasting it's a different story.
I'm going to counter the "don't do it" crowd in answering the question you never asked.
Give it a go, but set the expectation with your boss. Even make a joke that he'll be getting exactly what he's paying for! If you've never done this before, it will be good experience. You may decide it's a new career path, or you may decide it's a mugs game. Either way, if you set the right expectation with your boss, nothing is lost. If you don't try you will never know, and opportunities like this won't be around every corner.
If your boss is a bit of a nightmare though, best to steer clear
I've thought about asking him to give me examples of what he wants... Then if i can achieve this, I'll say I'll have a go... If it's out of my ability, I'll be straight with him. He's a pretty open guy to be honest.
I wouldn’t worry too much. If your boss valued photography he would hire a portrait photographer. He just wants some free photos of his family, so his expectations will be low. He has already used you to do free commercial work for him. He seems like a bit of a chancer. When it comes to photography people are often taken advantage of in this way. The amateur photographer thinks its great to be able to do some photo work at work, not realising they are being exploited. Would be surprised if your job description mentions anything about photography if your job role is in I.T. Are you a member of a trade union?
I'm not a member of a union. My job roll is officially a marketing executive, which has involved website work/content and photography, I've kind of stepped up from there now and i look after the internal system as my knowledge is more so in IT. The commercial work I done was actually within my working hours. So it was paid, but this was at my hourly rate.
I'm with f/2.8 on this - " However legally you aren’t allowed under current lockdown regulations to shoot this for him at the moment"
However, I do differ with his final sentence - " They would still be breaking current unnecessary travel restrictions but at the end of the day that is not your concern.". If I were the OP it would be my concern as I would have misgivings about how the family have been behaving during lockdown if they think this is an acceptable reason to leave the home. My own health would be the paramount interest for me.
As mentioned previously about the covid restrictions. I wouldn't be doing this in anyone's home, It's at my place of work where I do go every day, I do have regular meetings with my boss. We have temperature checks on arrival etc to try to be as covid safe as possible.
As you describe your boss as his I assume his family includes a partner/wife.
IMO it won't be the boss you have to please, but his spouse.
She's actually the more laid back of the couple to be honest!
Thank you again for all of your feedback guys, It's giving me things to think about and where to go with things. I'll keep you all informed if i do decide to go with it!
Thanks
