What´s behind a portrait session?
I have been wondering about this for quite some time.
Not for you but just for myself. You know. How to get down with all the
pictures floating around. How to optimize my work process. If you have been
following this Blog super close you will
realize that I tried to write a similar
post a couple of months ago. I took it down. It was not where I wanted it to
be. And then, yesterday I read a post by
Mary on $hitty First Drafts. Yeah, you read that right. Now, you see, very
often when I need something getting done and we push it away…
I argue Oh I could not start this project, I haven´t
found someone to coop with me yet. Or Ähm,
I could not start the new page yet, I´m undecided about the color scheme.
Yes. I do it ALL the time. $hitty First Drafts is an
idea to write down a very vague first draft to take the pressure away from
getting it right the first time. I friggin´ love this idea! And I´m sorry I put
an unfinished post right in your face! I am trying to do better. Promise.
Here is what I do behind the lens. Here is how I work
around a portrait session and I know it´s not perfect. It´s not gold. BUT if
just one single person finds this helpful I am mighty happy to share!
If you roll different or have a question shoot away in
the comment section!
1.
Prep time with the client. There is
contact, answering mails/ phone, talk through questions and brainstorm ideas
for the shoot. Place, time of day maybe outfits. Often I also check the sunset calculator
for the place chosen. Depending on the
kind of session 15-25min.
Prep time equipment. Clean all the lenses, charge batteries, empty
memory cards, pack the bags. 15 min.
2.
Warming
up time. I really love getting to know new people and I figured it´s way easier
to do that in a cafè over a cup of tea or coffee, than with a camera staring at
you. I´ve seen it enhance the shooting time soo much if there was some getting
to know me/us time beforehand. 20-30 min
The shooting itself. We just go out, goof around and
take.those.pictures. Uh, I love this part :) 90min
3.
After
the shoot I upload the files to my laptop and usually start with a quick
selection in LightRoom. I pick out the best ones, editing them, clean up a
couple of things, add the copyright and other information to the data and put
my logo on the pics intended for the use online. 70-90 min
I write Blog posts as you have already seen and I love
this part. It gives my clients the chance to look at the pictures and share
them before they have them in their mail box. After all is written and pictures
are added I do a little media push on Facebook and Twitter. 70 min
To round it all off I send images to the client
(online or in mail), write a little note to them and back up the files. 30min
Now, if you wonder what
is he/she charging for all this money?! This
shooting it like what?-one-hour! I
know this thought. I have thought it myself! But now that I have written down
all the steps and counted the hours, which add up so much quicker than I
thought. We´re down to around five hours. It´s work. It´s art. And we all want
the pictures to turn out as best as they can.
~
Here is to $hitty First Drafts and better second ones!
Have a great Tuesday!
~ Saluti. ~
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