Re: My pet portrait fundraiser
[Re: PossumCorner]
#5650
11/13/06 12:02 AM
11/13/06 12:02 AM
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Joined: Jun 2005
TN
Julie
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2005
TN
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You just do not understand how much I winged it on this one. My Friday people got jipped. The person in charge of it was barking at me, my assistant got delayed, and I just did a crappy job setting up my lights. I was too stressed to *think*. My friend who helped me some, called me at midnight Friday and we did a bit of brainstorming. We went in early, before everyone got there and redid the place. We moved tables, put up a screen and made it less distracting for the animals. This weekend, my best lesson I learned was to take control. By Sunday, I was able to bring the volunteers together, give them instruction on what I needed them to do and NOT to do. I had to actually get after the head of it, as she kept bringing the animals and owners next in line over past the screen. Which, just caused issues as the animals on the table immediately became distracted and wouldn't look at me. Matt, use any ideas you want. Even if you had the exact same stuff, you would put your ideas on it and it wouldn't be the same. I got the Merry Christmas sign at Target. Bought that Thursday. I would love to see a photo of your idea, sounds awesome The ferrets were really tough as if they got loose, it would have been *bad*. Too many dogs and too big a place. I am working on them to remove hands. I will put all of these up in proof galleries as soon as I get the prints fufilled. THAT is going to take all week. I am not complaining, as this is the most I have made on one job by far! I had many people say they wanted private shoots in a studio. I can rent time in a friend's studio. Which will be great
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Re: My pet portrait fundraiser
[Re: Julie]
#5653
11/13/06 12:47 PM
11/13/06 12:47 PM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Montana
Tony Bynum
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Feb 2005
Montana
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Julie, Ive watched your growth from the begining, I think you did a great job. I'm no expert and may even be a bit critical at times, but as a casual onlooker, and not a pet photographer – I’ve owned big and small animals all my life and raised Australian Cattle Dogs (they were working dogs) since I was a wee-small boy – I’d have to say you did a great job overall.
I think you did a great job considering the difficulties you had with your team, and all the different situations and pets and people and angles and on and on. I think you’re a heck a good person for doing what you do, keep it up!
I have a question, why do people get just their pest photographed? I understand show shots for sales etc, but I did not realize that people just go to get their pets seasonally photographed. Do people return to have just their pets photographed year after year?
I have a few constructive comments. First, I prefer to see the dogs in natural positions, mostly like you’ve done, but do not like to see the frontal, face on penis shot like the one on your opening page. Sure it’s natural, but it’s very in your face. Really, it’s a great shot, but for me, it’s just a little too much. Like I said, I own horses, cattle and small animals, but to me those shots are only appealing to “serious” dog people, and their owners. That’s your audience, so my comments are from an outsider, looking in. Even a little angle on that shot would give it a more appealing appearance.
Second, I think you should try to take a few photo journalistic, or candid type shots of the pet and the owner interacting with one another. Just shoot it while you’re prepping them for the strict pose. Some of your shots are a bit too posed and too static. I know it’s tough to shoot animals, I do horses all the time, but, I think you could be a little quicker on shutter, and try to catch that occasional face to face, or emotional shot between the animal and the owner. I also think you could dial down the lights a bit, or put a bit more angle on them and drop down the back lighting for a more dramatic light.
Have you read any good portrait lighting books? I think you should try some more directional light, your stuff, while technically correct in many ways, is kind of flat, and I think that’s because of the lack of shadows (in the right places) and too much straight on light. A more personal mood would make your shots really stand out!!!
That said, I’m very impressed that you could do so well with the family shots and all those dogs and kids!!!!!!!! I really think you did a great job on the white background shot with all those kids, dogs, and parents…. I never could pull that off!!!!!
You must have to tape the heck out of your power cords etc! You must be glad you got better light stands; I know I’d be real nervous about a dog bumping the light stands. Don’t you wish you could mount them on tracks!!!! That would be awesome!!
Keep it up. I think you’re doing great.
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Re: My pet portrait fundraiser
[Re: Tony Bynum]
#5655
11/13/06 01:55 PM
11/13/06 01:55 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
TN
Julie
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OP
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Joined: Jun 2005
TN
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I had 6 minutes per client. The room was full of cats, dogs, and I had an annoyingly bossy and counterproductive person running the show. She would bring the next clients into my area as I was shooting
It was good to get ears and the animal to stay still. PJ style wasn't an option. Most owners had no desire to be in the shots. They wanted pet photos only.
If I had a relaxed atmosphere and plenty of time, I would have done things differently. What I did have was a gymnasium full of animals, a pit bull fight, cats so freaked they peed themselves and helpers who did their best, but really didn't know how to help.
If it is a male, its got a penis, in a 6 min span with owners wanting 2 to 3 backdrops, you get what you can get. Hard to get really good lighting when you don't have time to adjust it. Well, Friday my lighting was just *bad*. Flat is ok with me, as long as it isn't BAD.
I am not used to working under these conditions. I really probably bit off more than I should have tried to chew. People seemed happy and all went pretty well considering.
It was a great experience and I learned quite a bit in many areas this weekend. Though, I have to kinda laugh at trying to get PJ style shots under those conditions. The dogs were very very stressed. I don't know what was making them so keyed up, but not a one wasn't panting. It wasn't hot in there either.
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