Church Directory Shoot.

gmonkehgmonkeh Registered Users Posts: 312 Major grins
edited February 28, 2007 in People
Hey guys, I've been hired to do portraits for a local church directory. I have 4 Sundays to shoot 200+ families with about 4 hours per day.

Suffice it to say I was worried, but the first week has past. Got quite a few print orders and online sales as well. And I just sent out the first batch of photos to the printers.

It was a challenge for sure, I had 2 AB800's a 20x20 muslin and my D70s with 24-85mm zoom to shoot with. Metered both the main and BG lights both at f/8. I had the main directly above and to my right shoulder, and the background light feathered from left to right.

Here's some samples from the shoot, I would love to know what everyone thinks. Remember this is for a church directory. :)

I had some challenges in post as well. A majority of the congregation was elderly couples so a lot of skin discolorations, age spots, wrinkles and the likes. I was given permission to touch them up as I please. And so far the clients are pretty happy with the results.

1.
74977562.jpg


2.
74977622.jpg


3.
74977580.jpg
http://www.reverbphotography.com
Nikon D300
Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
Nikkor 80-200 AF-D ED f/2.8
2 Alien Bees AB800
Nikon Speedlight SB800
Elinchrome Skyport Triggers

Comments

  • JimMJimM Registered Users Posts: 1,389 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    I think the lighting is very nice for a church directory. Nice job!
    Cameras: >(2) Canon 20D .Canon 20D/grip >Canon S200 (p&s)
    Glass: >Sigma 17-35mm,f2.8-4 DG >Tamron 28-75mm,f2.8 >Canon 100mm 2.8 Macro >Canon 70-200mm,f2.8L IS >Canon 200mm,f2.8L
    Flash: >550EX >Sigma EF-500 DG Super >studio strobes

    Sites: Jim Mitte Photography - Livingston Sports Photos - Brighton Football Photos
  • gmonkehgmonkeh Registered Users Posts: 312 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    Thanks,

    funny story, the old man on the third set walks up to me and asked what camera I have and how many megapixels. I told him D70s 6mp and he comes back with I have a D2X at home. Then I asked him how long he's been shooting and the answer was oh around 70 years. :)

    Made me feel real tiny. lol

    Lex
    http://www.reverbphotography.com
    Nikon D300
    Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
    Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
    Nikkor 80-200 AF-D ED f/2.8
    2 Alien Bees AB800
    Nikon Speedlight SB800
    Elinchrome Skyport Triggers
  • CarnalSighCarnalSigh Registered Users Posts: 152 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    I am NOT critiquing your skills as a photograher. However, I am concerned about the washed out glare on some of the faces in photos 2 and 3. The background and clothing looks great. It's rich and warm, but their faces seem kinda....well...bright. Am I the only one seeing this? Pic one looks fine to me. Is this a lighting issue, a photoshop thang, or am I imagining this?
    I use only Canon cameras and glass
    www.portraitwhisperer.com
  • gmonkehgmonkeh Registered Users Posts: 312 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    CarnalSigh wrote:
    I am NOT critiquing your skills as a photograher. However, I am concerned about the washed out glare on some of the faces in photos 2 and 3. The background and clothing looks great. It's rich and warm, but their faces seem kinda....well...bright. Am I the only one seeing this? Pic one looks fine to me. Is this a lighting issue, a photoshop thang, or am I imagining this?

    It's photoshop, well me and photoshop. I had over 40+ images to work on and I wanted to get some proofs up on my site for client viewing. So rushed it a little. I'll tweak my workflow a little and pull down the diffuse effect.

    Is it so noticeable that a client would go this is crap?
    http://www.reverbphotography.com
    Nikon D300
    Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
    Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
    Nikkor 80-200 AF-D ED f/2.8
    2 Alien Bees AB800
    Nikon Speedlight SB800
    Elinchrome Skyport Triggers
  • urbanariesurbanaries Registered Users Posts: 2,690 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    gmonkeh wrote:
    Thanks,

    funny story, the old man on the third set walks up to me and asked what camera I have and how many megapixels. I told him D70s 6mp and he comes back with I have a D2X at home. Then I asked him how long he's been shooting and the answer was oh around 70 years. :)

    Made me feel real tiny. lol

    Lex

    great story. his gaze is mesmerizing. now that i know he's a 70 year photography veteran his gaze almost now means "I got your number kid."

    I agree the diffusion/brightness is a bit much, but not sure anything the client would take issue with. Well, maybe that maverick old-timer. mwink.gif
    Canon 5D MkI
    50mm 1.4, 85mm 1.8, 24-70 2.8L, 35mm 1.4L, 135mm f2L
    ST-E2 Transmitter + (3) 580 EXII + radio poppers
  • kreskres Registered Users Posts: 268 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    This is the perfect application for Lightroom. :D

    That said, I think you did a fine job. This kind of work is assembly line stuff, and it seems that your quality control was pretty good over all.
    --Kres
  • gmonkehgmonkeh Registered Users Posts: 312 Major grins
    edited February 27, 2007
    Thanks for the input guys/gals. Lesson learned, I already sent out e-mails for proofs. I guess I'll have to pull a switcheroo tonight. I'm going over the prints I've sent out and it looks like they're fine, luckily.

    Kres, I'm gonna check out lightroom. Thanks again,

    Lex
    http://www.reverbphotography.com
    Nikon D300
    Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
    Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
    Nikkor 80-200 AF-D ED f/2.8
    2 Alien Bees AB800
    Nikon Speedlight SB800
    Elinchrome Skyport Triggers
  • ElaineElaine Registered Users Posts: 3,532 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2007
    urbanaries wrote:
    great story. his gaze is mesmerizing. now that i know he's a 70 year photography veteran his gaze almost now means "I got your number kid."

    I agree the diffusion/brightness is a bit much, but not sure anything the client would take issue with. Well, maybe that maverick old-timer. mwink.gif

    15524779-Ti.gif

    He looks like he would be a great subject for a portrait shoot. He's just looking right through my computer screen...right at me!
    Elaine

    Comments and constructive critique always welcome!

    Elaine Heasley Photography
  • RhuarcRhuarc Registered Users Posts: 1,464 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2007
    gmonkeh wrote:
    Thanks,

    funny story, the old man on the third set walks up to me and asked what camera I have and how many megapixels. I told him D70s 6mp and he comes back with I have a D2X at home. Then I asked him how long he's been shooting and the answer was oh around 70 years. :)

    Made me feel real tiny. lol

    Lex

    Same type of thing happened to me at church last week. My wife and I were invited to a church dinner with a couple of other couples. At the dinner I started talking to a guy Dave Moore. We talked for a few minutes and I told him about my new camera and how I am getting into photography, thinking I'm all big and bad. Then I find out that was one of the first 100 employees at Microsoft, owns 4 1dsMk11 cameras, and has been shooting for 20 years. He's even owned 4 airplanes, which I can only dream of being able to do! He even worked on Spaceship One with Burt Rutan and Paul Allen and has thousands of pictures from it. Needless to say I was humbled! Lol... eek7.gif
  • schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2007
    urbanaries wrote:
    great story. his gaze is mesmerizing. now that i know he's a 70 year photography veteran his gaze almost now means "I got your number kid."
    rolleyes1.gif Well said!

    I think these are great for a church directory. Like others have said the diffusion and softness around facial areas drew my eye (as it does for any published photo these days now that I have enough PS experience to see these things on magazine covers), but I have seen much worse. I highly doubt the usual elder churchgoers would spit on your proofs over this. :D

    Congrats on landing the gig and I hope your enthusiasm keeps up after all of those sessions!
  • Addman8Addman8 Registered Users Posts: 91 Big grins
    edited February 28, 2007
    That is a classic story about the 70 year vet!!

    I agree a bit on the brightness factor with the faces. Everything else is lit wonderfully and has a very warm, glowing feeling. Nice work.

    Good luck with Lightroom...it rocks!!
    Matt Addington
    Photography & Design
    Minnesota
    www.mattaddington.com
  • gmonkehgmonkeh Registered Users Posts: 312 Major grins
    edited February 28, 2007
    Congrats on landing the gig and I hope your enthusiasm keeps up after all of those sessions.

    Thanks, but please don't remind me lol. I'm already thinking I'm getting the bum end of the deal. The Church is paying me $500 flat for my equipment costs and travel. And I have the option of selling prints. Well last Sunday was a little disheartening. I don't know if it was my assistant but out of the 40+ we shot only 8 people pre-ordered prints. I made the mistake of offering individual prints so of those people who did order it was for 4 wallets, 1 - 5x7. etc.

    A little frustrating really, I mean I still made $150 in sales on the first day but I still have to pay my assistant.

    So these next few weeks, I decided to drop my individual print sales during the event and just offer my 3 packages. If they want single prints they can still order online. And I will offer 25% off my top 2 packages through the event dates. http://www.reverbphotography.com/pricing.html

    Would this be a good idea? Anyone else have experience with event sales and what it would take for clients to buy on the spot?

    Thanks again guys,

    Lex
    http://www.reverbphotography.com
    Nikon D300
    Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D
    Tamron 28-75 f/2.8
    Nikkor 80-200 AF-D ED f/2.8
    2 Alien Bees AB800
    Nikon Speedlight SB800
    Elinchrome Skyport Triggers
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