There are many reasons why consumers are thinking they can get away with doing their own HS Senior photography. Why not? It's fun, and cameras are less expensive and better and better, and heck, you can even take great pictures on your phone nowadays. Just set your phone to "portrait" mode and have at it, right?
Here's why we think you might be missing the boat if you try to do it on your own.
#1. A professional knows how to light, away from the camera, and a camera only knows how to do what it's told. In the professional world we refer to it as OCF, or "Off Camera Flash", but really "off camera" light source can be a flash, constant light, or the sun, depending on where you are. If you don't understand how to manipulate light to properly shape the face, and light up the eyes, then you are likely to end up with flattened or extorted features, no matter what type of camera you use.
#2. A professional knows how to pose and communicate. One thing your camera will not do for you is tell you where to be positioned in the most flattering way, and again, working with the light. A professional has studied how to minimize flaws and maximize strengths, and then another step further, they can communicate this with their subject. Communication skill with the client is something that is often over-looked and a key component in a successful shoot. If the subject isn't comfortable, or un-cooperate (working with mom or dad or uncle or friend taking the photo), and the person behind the camera really doesn't know what they should say to the subject as far as how and where to move...you won't get the same results or have the same fun experience that you would have with a pro. You could end up spending hours trying to get the right shot, instead of a minutes, seconds even, getting it right the first time.
#3. A professional knows how to shoot with the end in mind. Photographs aren't for sitting in your camera or phone, they are meant to be printed and shared. The end result is that portrait that you want hanging on the wall for future generations, rather than the facebook post that will be 'shared' one day and forgotten the next.
#4. Time is of the essence. When doing it yourself, once the photos are taken, that's just the beginning for a professional, they continue to work with you until you have your finished prints in hand...When you are on your own, the temptation is too great to say, "oh well, I'll get around to figuring out which ones I want, and "around" to figuring out how to print those," and "around" to figuring out framing and hanging that print... "eventually". And then the day arrives when you are panicked because you need to have it done, or, the day arrives when you end up not caring anymore... and then the day arrives when you look back, and you care again, but there is nothing to look back on...your hard-drive crashed, your cd failed, your usb is lost, etc.
I think we'll stop there because that last one is just too depressing, right? Images lost forever. Please hire a professional for your HS Senior photos. It may seem "fun" to have your portraits taken with a family member, or a friend, but at the end of the day, these pictures aren't about you, they are about the generation after you, that will want to treasure those pictures forever.
To our current clients, I am preaching to the choir. To those looking on the internet for "how tos" on "doing it yourself"... please re-consider.
xoxo,
Stephanie and Rod at The Imagery
952-890-7640
