elaine marie

<p>Hi Melissa,<br>

2 continuous hot lights with a 2, 3 and 7 yr old running around would spell disaster for me.<br>

besides trying to get them to stay in one place in front of the lights....well good luck with that!</p>

<p>If you have a fast lens say at least a 2.8 I would say go for a natural light session.<br>

This is how I shoot, which may not be your style, but that is what you need to determine.<br>

I started out hauling my lights around (HUGE HAssle) until I discovered the beauty and ease of<br>

shooting natural.<br>

Put them all on their couch, their bed, their floor. Just get some natural poses of them being a family.<br>

You can still do the wraps with the mom and put her by the window or on her bed.<br>

Check out my maternity on my site. If you have any questions feel free to email me.<br>

Note that all of my sessions are done with Natural light ONLY.<br>

http://elainemariephotography.smugmug.com/Maternity-Birth-and-Babies</p>

 

<h1>what do I need?!</h1>

<p>SUNLIGHT!<br>

Katie if you are trying to find your niche maybe start out with the free sunlight and give it a try. When I first started I bought all the fancy studio lights and umbrellas. They now sit in my garage. Once I discovered what i could do with some fast lenses and the light that God gave us that was the end flash. Now, I am not saying that there is not a time for flash. Dark reception rooms, dark evenings outside...but I am not at all a fan of flash.<br>

If you are set on doing studio work then yes you needs some nice strobes and I am sure that someone on here will come along to help with that.But maybe give the natural light a try. Check out my site ... all of these babie sessions were done in their homes with only window lighting. http://www.elainemariephotography.smugmug.com/Maternity-Birth-and-Babies</p>

<p>Get lots of detail shots! Close ups and wide angles! Get a group shot of everyone that is there surrounding the mom. Gift shots! Afterwards I always arrange all the gifts on a table or wherever you can and get a shot of all the gifts. It's fun to arrange them all here is an example.<br>

http://elainemariephotography.smugmug.com/Family/Ashleigh-and-Chads-Baby-Shower/8494613_xdUcY#558934834_wWHAt</p>

<p>Kristin,<br>

I just rented wall space in a newly opened childrens resale store. The rent is very reasonable and I have control over what prints and how I hang them. I will keep it well stocked with cards and flyers.<br>

Like Jon said I doubt that Gymboree or any big corporate stores would be able to help you out.<br>

Look more for the private owned and resale boutiques.<br>

Elaine</p>

<p>Shae,</p>

<p>I would remove it and respect her wishes. If you are wanting it up because you want to show it as part of your portfolio then ask her if you could possibly show it to perspective clients only instead of just anyone that might view your site.<br>

Elaine</p>

<p>Even funnier though is the divorce entrance that was a spoof on the first. Google it!</p>

<p>Thanks Aimee that's what I had in mind! Thanks for the tips also.</p>

<p>Elaine</p>

<p>I am meeting with a local florist to develop a network relationship with her. Was wondering what kinds of creative ideas you have been able to put into use to benefit your business with other wedding industry vendors?<br>

I know she is in need of some nice photos of her work for her site. Do you offer them for free in exchange for advertising on her part?<br>

Your thoughts and ideas please!</p>

<p>Thank you,<br>

Elaine</p>

<p>Get rid of the flash, open the drapes and let the sun shine in!<br>

Natural light will amaze you once you work with it.<br>

Check out my maternity and baby proofing site on my web page.<br>

All done with only natural light. Once you do it you won't go back to flash.<br>

Email me if you have any questions.</p>

<p>I just read one photographers way around this is that after one year they lose the album if they have not ordered it yet. It's in their contract. So maybe stipulate a time frame.</p>

 

<p>If you click on her blog she explains how she edites her pictures. I bet if you scroll through older blog she explains a lot of her techniques. Usually photographers that share info like she does are more than happy to answer email questions.</p>

<p>I don't believe there is one BEST lens for anything. I use a wide variety for each situation. I love my 35 1.4 for group shoots and group dancing. I use the 85 1.2 for the couples dance and I love to zoom in with the 70-200 during the ceremony from the back. I say ,switch it up and use them all. Each one gives you something differant.</p>

<p>Elaine</p>

<p>Also check out this amazing natural light photog AudreyWoulard. http://www.audreywoulardblog.com She has a natural light studio plus she shoots 100% natural light on location. Read her about section on the blog.</p>

<p>For on location shoots I say ditch the lights. It's to hard to get set up and try to chase a two year old around with them or make them sit still in front of them. My suggestion is to invest in some fast lenses instead and use natural light in their home. Check out my site http://www.elainemariephotography.net I use all natural light for my maternity,birth,and newborn sessions.Lights have a place if you are going to set up a studio and have the clients come to you but on location I say go natural! When I first starting out, I bought the whole light set up with soft boxes and umbrellas....they are somewhere in my shed.<br /> Elaine</p>

<p>Amanda,<br>

If you don't have a black back drop go to walmart or fabric store and buy a few yards. My piece is pretty narrow so sometimes I have to clone the black in some areas of the background. Not a biggy.I have a huge black backdrop which is way to much hassle sometimes so the piece of fabric works great when I need it.</p>

<p>Amanda,<br>

I do all natural light newborn sessions with window light and a piece of black velvet. Here is a link to some that I did of my daughter and her husband. These are in there bedroom,velvet hung on wall with side window light.<br>

http://elainemariephotography.smugmug.com/gallery/7095363_pS6LP/1/211700660_B52FN#454854581_Z4Jr7</p>

<p>Natural Window light. Amazing isn't it?</p>

<p>http://elainemariephotography.smugmug.com/gallery/4754962_gs7n6#282949125_H5VBp-X2-LB</p>

<p>I Believe that Heather is a natural light photographer like myself. In the begining I bought all the light set up also but soon realized that I can achieve beautiful natural lighting with window light. if you want to look on my site at www.elainemariephotography.net and go to the client proofing under my maternity birth and babies. All of these are done with natural light either inside or out. The ballerina baby under the very last gallery on the page baby Kyleena were done outside on their front porch with a black piece of velvet hung in the background.The ones with her parents were done on their couch in a very dark room with only one window light but a very fast lens. Anyway not sure if this is the same look you are after but none of my pics use flash except for inside wedding receptions or dark church weddings.<br>

Elaine</p>

<p>There are tons of amazing baby photographers out there. I do maternity, birth and babies if you want to check out my site that is listed on my profile page. Click on the website gallery to see a slideshow or search the client proofing for newborns. Good luck. Babies are lots of fun but always a huge challenage with feeding,burping,changing,fussing. Plan to spend a good amount of time to get some quality pics. But then again you may luck out and the babie may sleep like an angel. I have had both!<br>

Elaine</p>

This might be a stupid question but when using the mono or tripods are you hand tripping the shutter or using a cable release? If using a cable can you recommend a good one for canon.

Thanks,<P>Elaine

Steffi,

 

<P>One more thing. If you get the focus dead on it is so sharp that you can crop the pic to almost nothing and it's still clear and sharp. So even some of those closeups were taken with the 35 and cropped.<P>

 

Elaine

Steffi,<P>

 

Yes, on my website listed on my portfolio page if you go to the client proofing and click on the engagement gallery,almost all of the first 2 engagement sessions Erica and John and Jamie and John were taken with that lens. Also under weddings the Amanda and Titus wedding was mostly shot with the 35. If you are thinking about it....do it ! You will be happy you did!!! I used to shoot mostly with the 24-70...it now sits on my shelf and will up for sell soon.<P>

 

ELaine

Ooops, just realized you are talking the 24 1.4. I opted for the 35 as I love that focal length for just everyday shooting. The 24 would me more of a special occasion lens for me.But that's just me.<P>

Elaine

Jackie<P>

 

I have both and love both. At one point I was going to sell my 16-35 because I just don't use it that much. A few weddings back though I had a huge family group to do and was glad I had it in my bag.I shoot most of my weddings with the 35 1.4 on one camera and the 85 1.2 on the other with my assistant shooting with the 70-200 the 3rd. I love this combination of focals and it covers pretty much everything for me.I love shooting with my primes and would never be with out my 35 but sometimes you will need the extra wide of the 16-35.So if you could only pick one I guess I would suggest getting the 16-35 so that your covered on the wide focal.

 

<P>Elaine

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.<P> I have taken to heart something from each and every one of you. I need to step back and rethink my whole business approach and my own attitude.

Thank you!!!<P>

Elaine