Jeff Smith's Senior Portrait Photography Handbook · A Guide for Professional Digital Photographers by Smith, Jeff -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Table of Contents Introduction

It’s a Business Being a Professional About This Book

1. The Senior Portrait Market

Teenagers as Your Demographic First and Foremost, Teens are Kids Regional Variations

Contracted vs. Non-Contracted Live with the Reality

The Numbers

2. Creating the Experience

Great Portraits Aren’t Enough Build the Emotion, Build the Investment Keep It Moving Break the Rules Viewing the Images

The Advantages of Selling Immediately After the Session The Excuses You’ll Hear for Not Doing It Simplify the Process

Don’t Overdo It

3. Design and Style

Creating Lasting Appeal Style Starts with Education Factors You Can’t Change (Much)

Your Subject’s Appearance The Clothing They Brought to the Session The Makeup They Normally Wear

Using Your Creative Controls

The Studio Background The Outdoor Background Lighting Posing Expression

Final Thoughts

4. Lighting

It’s Not That Complicated The Basics

Auxiliary Lights Fill Light Main Light

Softening the Light

Light Modifiers Feathering the Light

Testing Your Lighting

Prepare for the Test Testing the Main Light Testing the Fill Source Allow for Different Situations Make Prints Evaluate the Results

Developing Your Style

An Additional Reflector/Light Butterfly Lighting Ring Lighting Spotlights Diamond Light Parabolics

Background Lights Final Thoughts

5. Posing

Care Enough to Do It Right Sensitively Identify Any Problems Posing Styles

Types of Poses A Direction for the Session The Style Breakdown

Posing Fundamentals

The Face The Neck The Shoulders The Arms The Hands The Waistline Hips and Thighs The Legs The Feet

Pose Every Image as a Full-Length Portrait Demonstrate the Pose Work with Variations Be Tactful Refine the Camera Position Final Thoughts

6. Outdoor and Location Portraiture

The Rules

Rule 1: Don’t Use On-Camera Flash Rule 2: Work with the Natural Light or Overpower It Rule 3: Learn to Work in Less-than-Ideal Lighting Rule 4: Be Smart about Scheduling and Travel Rule 5: Make the Most of your Locale

Lighting Control

Find Pockets of Shade Create the Main-Light Source

Background Control

Finding the Right Exposure Balance Camera Height Look for Even Lighting

Indoor Location Sessions

Using Window Light Shutter Speed and ISO Keep Your Focus on the Subject

Final Thoughts

7. Adding Props

Personalize with Props Keep the Focus on the Person The Size of the Prop Final Thoughts

8. Finishing the Portraits

Delegate Postproduction Standardize Your Procedures Our Approach to Enhancement

The Skin The Eyes Shadowing And That’s It!

Our Approach to Correction

Look for Simple Fixes For Heavy Subjects Vignetting

Clients Pay for Other Corrections

9. Marketing

Contracting

What to Expect Donations The Value of the Contract Know Who You’re Dealing With Understand the Legal Issues What’s Good About Contracts

Understand the Demographics Understand the Competition Direct Marketing

The Two Rules of Direct Marketing Methods of Promoting Your Studio Create a Theme Ask Your Clients

There Are No Average Seniors Be Honest, Accurate, and Consistent Watch Your Budget Final Thoughts

10. Being Profitable

Prepaid Sessions Insist a Parent Accompanies the Senior/Teen Shoot It, Show It, Sell It Protect Your Copyright

Add Your Logo Add Texture to the Prints Stop Selling Single Prints

In Closing Index

← Prev
Back
Next →

← Prev
Back
Next →