The Family Shoot

I finally had my photo shoot with the family that volunteered to be my subject. I have never done a family shoot, pregnant mommy, a dad and a 2 year old daughter. I was so excited that I forgot to check the weather. I am learning from my failures. One of the things a photographer must think about is the weather. Although I didn't check the forecast, I did go around the location, which was conveniently at my in-law's farm, so I pretty much knew where I wanted them to be. So, back to the weather, the forecast was 60% chance of rain that day (my client told me this while they were getting ready to come for the shoot). It was very very humid and my friend had to blot her sweat out twice during the shoot. By the way, I did this for free just so I will learn the technicalities and posing part of it.

Another thing that frustrates is I feel like I am unable to give instructions, maybe there's certain words photographers use to tell their clients to look this or that way, or to face this way or do this or that. I get tongue tied and I end up touching them cause I don't know how to say it. UGH! But I am learning. I don't want to confuse them, but it is very important that I know the words to say, key words that would be very clear to them.

I still have a problem shooting while subject is not facing the light. I was culling and I saw very few of the shots where they have catch lights. I know where my lights are but I forget and just not make them face it. I do need a reflector really bad, because I like the effect of the natural sunlight on the hair, but the face gets very underexposed and if I crank up my ISO it doesn't work. I try not to use flash at all cause I hate the contrast and harshness it makes. Maybe I should learn to work with flash too.

Okay, now to the non technical part of the shoot. The little girl was not in the mood for a photo shoot. She made it very clear when we started that there was going to be smiles in the pictures and she would look anywhere she wanted and do whatever her hands wanted to do. She is 2 years old. I had the hardest time with that. The parents were very apologetic, it wasn't their fault, kids are just that way. I need to learn the technique of making the kids interested in a shoot. Some of the shots I did are beautiful except for the little girl's face doing whatever or her legs raised and underwear showing. LOL. But other than that, we had a good shoot.

To summarize:

1.  I need to remember weather forecast before I book
2.  I need a reflector or learn to use flash
3.  I need to remember to find my light and think of catch lights when shooting portraits.
4.  I need to learn to give instructions
5.  I need to learn the techniques of making kids love the shoot

Hope this was helpful to you if you too are having the same problem and you're reading this.

God Bless You! And Jesus Loves You!