I think Im in a slump!

[corrim]

I had another senior portrait session last night. Although the mom and

daughter were overwhelmingly pleased with the resluts, Im feeling that all my

photos are beginning to look the same. I have no "creative" insight.

 

What can I do to "spice" things up? This one individual wanted no props, which

is fine with me. Im not a fan of "props". But as I said, I feel that each

session mimmicks the prior. I have posted the link to last nights session. I

dont mind constructive criticism on the photos, but what I am looking for is

ideas to mix things up.

 

http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/3209185#177050715

 

Thank you in advance!

 

Corri<div></div>

[elnoralouisa]

Somebody recommended this guy's site once, you might want to look at it for some ideas. He does seniors and models. http://www.timschooler.com/main.htm

[Matt Laur]

Change of venue. Sure, a very different place to shoot is SORT of like using a prop, but then, that tree is a prop, right? So... got a kid that's looking forward to travel? How about an airport backdrop, or a roadside? Don't know what your local environs are like, but there's probably some slightly "edgier" (ugh, I dislike that word) settings in which your subject's OWN creativity might come out. Certainly industrial areas, etc., can seem like a bit of an affectation if they overpower the subject, and thus the images - over time - may seem a little goofy. But as you've said, you're already running that risk with the more pedestrian poses anyway. So, if you can't get arty with props or poses, per se, get arty with PLACE, and just see what happens. Rooftops? At a diner? An interesting stairwell? Not in place of all your other standards, but just, as you say, as some sauce to freshen things up. Good luck!

[elaine marie]

The in studio shoots are rather boring and stiff but your outside shots on the creek and by the building are fun and refreashing. I say get out of the studio and as the poster above said find new and fun places that you will find exciting also.<P>Elaine

[corrim]

I should have stated that I live in a very small town. Our areas of interest are a creek (or crick as the "locals" say it ) and a gas station. I was thinking outside of the school...brick building and all, but if the "student" is from another local school that would be an Outrage!! :0)

 

As far as studio goes..what do you do to kick it up. Make it a bit "edgier" (not fond of the word either...doesnt look right).

 

Thank you for responses so far. Much appreciated. More sessions next week and I would like diversity.

 

Corri

[paul swenson]

Corri, one area you might consider toying with is not so much your poses, but your

lighting. It seems to me that your lighting, though good is generally flat. Perhaps it is the

tantalizing drama of the light that you are missing from your pictures.

 

Outdoors turn that fill flash way down, or off. Shoot just before sunset for that magic light.

The location may not be so critical as the time of day you are shooting. More modeled

light.

 

In the studio, let the light fall off more in your background to separate your subject. Try

using one main light only and a reflector for more dramatic effect.

 

Granted, this is just what I get from looking at the one gallery.

[anthony_r]

Think smaller and more local. Remember, you are only fitting a sliver of the environment in

anyway. Maybe make an exercise for yourself only using an area of 20' x 20' and taking it

from there. Shoot a teddybear or something and just move it around the area and see what

comes up. Light variations are always good also.

[nicola inglis]

I'm working my way through 'How to have creative ideas' by Edward de Bono (I bought it because I was saying pretty much what you are saying) and one of the exercises (the first one in fact) is to start with your task. In this case it would be 'New ideas for senior portraits'. Then you get a radom word (from the random word table at the back of the book, but you could equally open any book and point blindly till you got a noun)...and then you use the word to stimulate new ideas for your task. Sometimes it seems like they are so unrelated as to useless but infact it is surprising what does come out. If nothing else it is encouraging you to connect ideas in new ways and that has to be good, right?

 

The other thing I'm doing is the G.O.Y.A. project which I found somewhere on here. It stands for Get Off Ya A**...as in get off your butt and take some photos, for your own self, on random topics...the main thing is to start the journey of a thousand miles rather than sitting around thinking about it. You can check mine on my blog, I'm only on day 4 but I like how it's extending my thinking. Hope this helps.

 

The other thing that's worth remembering is that people who feel the slump sneaking up on them long before other people notice (and do something about it) never really fall into it.

[corrim]

Ok...So my daughter, who is 17, thinks its awesome that Im getting advice from Matt Lauer (No..Im not telling her ). I love the whole GOYA idea as I think thats my biggest problem. Afraid to venture out and try something new and different. I guess I have this idea that the subject is going to look at me and say "you want to to stand where and do what?" I took a drive around town, about all of five minutes, and started to look at things differently. In small segments instead of big pictures. I was actually excited about some of the prospects. I have a few mores sessions coming up soon. I pland on using my "new" venues. I will post some so you can let me know what you think.

 

Feel free to give more advice..Im like a sponge these days.

 

Corri

[josh_ross1]

I can't believe in all of the responses only one person said to work on the lighting. The location stuff is all great and the GOYA advice is good too but your going to find that to get shots that are really above the standard it's all in the lighting. One thing I would try is playing with hard light. All of your shots have nice even soft light. Great if you want to play it safe but if your asking how to find the creative spark it won't come from being safe. Learn how to use hard light. It's not safe but when you nail it looks so much better. Try out a beauty dish, a ringflash, bare bulb, light from lots of angles at once, overpower the sun in full daylight, etc... The other thing only one person mentioned [i didn't find Tim Scholar impressive at all] was looking at other photographers work. Find work you really like then learn how to duplicate the look and once you can copy it stop copying it and integrate it into your own style. These are some links that I like. http://www.manipulator.com/ http://www.thefstopmag.com/ http://www.timtadder.com/ http://www.snapfactory.com/ http://www.timtadder.com/ http://www.davehillphoto.com/ http://www.michaelgrecco.com/projects.php http://www.mullerphoto.com/ http://www.patrickhoelck.com