Some great tips and pointers....thanks for sending them. Any chance the "Child's Play" lesson is in book/pamplet form somewhere? I'm really good with individual kids and I'm not bad with 2 but get much over that and it gets hairy! Maybe I just need more practice, maybe I need to say I just don't do family groups with small children. Thanks for all the good advice. Lea ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Baldwin" <fotofx@ix.netcom.com> To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu> Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 2:14 PM Subject: Re: reshoot suggestions, ideas > Hi Lea, > > After shooting for over 30 years and countless situations just like this, I > have come to one conclusion. Shoot the groups first, and shoot fast. Between > the ages of 2-6 kids figure out that THEY can say no, and love to prove it. > Attention spans are short and most have had Mom and Dad dress them to the > 9's before you got there. > > If you shoot the groups first and then there is a problem w/ a single > subject, than you can go on and shoot the rest of the individuals and shoot > the trouble maker <VBG> as a reshoot. Generally speaking, I may or may not > charge for the reshoot depending on who the problem lies with. Also I avidly > suggest that the parents not give candy or soda before the shoot and use > something other than bribes to get them to sit for the pictures, it rarely > works. I do however have a boatload of kids toys that I bring to each shoot. > I let the kids pick through the toys for something to hold, and keep there > little heads busy while I get set up and it can work wonders. Sometimes it > is difficult to get your toys back though... > > When I shot for PCA we went through what is called Child's Play. It teaches > you to work with the different age groups, their attention spans, and there > main physical capabilities. An 8 year old will not laugh if you put a > stuffed toy on top of the camera and tell them to blow it off. However many > 4 year olds will eat it up. > > If it's on me then of course I won't charge, but if the kid is cranky or > just does not want to cooperate then I will charge an additional fee. I also > let the customer know that there may be extra charges for time and materials > if the fault does not lie with me. And of course all of this info, reshoot, > usage, COPYRIGHT, print prices, sitting fees, etc. are spelled out in the > WRITTEN contract with the client. I do this mainly because there is a good > chance the kid will not cooperate a second time as well. Multiple reshoot > can be expensive you cannot schedule anything else that day and extra > supplies, rentals or assistants will eat up profits quickly. > > I hope this helps, > > Les > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "lea" <lea@whinydogpress.com> > To: "List for Photo/Imaging Educators - Professionals - Students" > <photoforum@listserver.isc.rit.edu> > Sent: Friday, June 20, 2003 10:46 AM > Subject: reshoot suggestions, ideas > > > > I have a question for those of you doing portrait work for hire. > > > > I recently branched out and am offering family portrait work as an > > addition to my children's portrait work. Most of this is done on > > location either at the client's home or at a park. > > > > I've had a couple of occassions where the client has been very happy > > with individual portraits but not pleased with the full group...either > > not everyone is looking at the camera, kids are getting tired/crabby, > > kids aren't participating, nothing turned out well, etc. And when I say > > kids I mean little ones...usually 5 and under. > > > > I offer a reshoot an no fee of just the family group. What are others > > doing in this situation? > > Lea > > > > > > Lea Murphy > > Whiny Dog Press www.whinydogpress.com > > New images www.whinydogpress.com/new.html > > Picture a Week PAW http://www.whinydogpress.com/paw.html > > > > >
