heather_claypool

It's all in the interaction . . . Some people just don't relax in front of a camera and parents don't usually make it any easier. I often suggest that somebody "think of something funny". This usually a pretty natural, easy smile. Try to make sure that you aren't putting pressure on them to perform for you. Just make these nice, easy, relaxed, unimportant, sessions. Not easy. I know.

 

In this image, my guess is that she is trying to be helpful by smiling but that doesn't make it anywhere near natural. I have the same problem with my two sons but my daughter, the youngest, is pretty natural.

 

That's not Cherokee High School, is it?

Nope, Grove City HS in Grove City, Ohio! :)

I'm new-ish here (returning after an extended absence), so if I'm not posting this in the correct place please let me know. I have been shooting weddings, seniors, sports teams, etc for 17 years and never have I had the kinds of problems I have with my own two kids forcing the cheesiest looking smiles. They've both had braces, but think their smiles are crooked so they try to force the smile to show their bottom teeth (see attached). My question is this: Has anyone out there ever had a similar situation and if so, what did you specifically say to the client to get them to smile more naturally? I hear people say "tell a joke", "make them laugh", but are there any specific directions you've ever given?

Sorry, Rachel! You posted your response just as I was typing mine! Sounds like your friend did the best thing... Now I'm

dying to know which blog it was! ;).

I had a similar sutuation about a year ago. Wedding planner asked for a few photos to put in her blog collage (with photo credit).

She used them with photo credit given but a few days later she had a big Facebook announcement to "check out her new logo" by

XYZ Photography. The logo was made using MY photos, not XYZ's! I commented that the photos looked familiar hoping she would

realize what she had done, instead she commented back that XYZ was her cousin in Kentucky who was starting her own photography

business and that I should "check her out" (smiley face).

But back to the issue at hand... You could always go back to the blog publisher and ask for a retraction or correction to be made.

You could also write a letter to the second shooter and his wife outlining the specific section of the Uniform Commercial Code he's in

violation of (there's a section that pertains to intellectual property), and that they cease and desist use of the images. (assuming you're

in the US). No attorney required... Unless they fail to act, and then you could go there.

Next time, make sure a contract is used, outline the terms of the contract with them, and don't make any exceptions.

Best of luck to you!

Thanks, everyone. Your responses have been helpful. My knee-jerk reaction when this has happened has been to

think, "What? You think I don't have ideas?". But reading your posts is helping me to see I am overreacting in a big

way! Thanks!

I don't neccesarily take offense... I'm not sure exactly how I feel about it. And no, no photographer's block.

Background: it's happened four times (twice from the same person). The first time it was from a woman who just fond

out that was what I did and she offered up her friends website. I did check it out, but when I did I quickly realized this

Photographer and I had very different styles (heavy photoshop and "special effects" aren't my style). The person that

did it twice just showed me a photo from Pinterest that she thought I might like... It was actually a newborn shot that

I've done before, then yesterday she sent me an e-mail with a link to her friends maternity photos (because she

"knows I have one coming up"... I've done many maternity shoots). The funny thing is that the link she sent was

actually to a a photographer that's a friend of mine. The 4th time was my uncle, which I can kind if let slide.

I'm usually a very confident photographer, but when this happens it makes me a little less so.

Recently, I've had a few acquaintances (who know that I'm a photographer) tell me something to the effect of, "my friend does

photography too. Check out her website, it might give you some ideas"! I'm sure these people mean well, and I try to just brush it off,

after all, I have my own "ideas" and have a few places I go when I feel like I need some inspiration... but I'm curious to know if others

out there have experienced the same thing... Anyone? How do you handle it? Laugh it off? Make some sarcastic remark about

how you don't tell them how to do their jobs, so quit suggesting how you do yours?? :).

<p>Very nice job.. esp. for a first wedding! Excellent job on capturing the emotion! <br>

I would just echo some of the other's comments about DOF and cropping (try to leave the a little space around the shoulders), but would also add watching your backrounds. There as a nice shot of a man and an older woman that was nice, but the backs of the couple behind them was distracting... same with the nice shot of the table all set up with a car in the backround. Sure, you can remove those things in Photoshop, but it would take a lot less time to get it right in-camera. <br>

Keep up the great work! </p>

<p>If you buy carpet, do you expect it to be instaled before you pay for it in full? Absolutely not! Not that I'm comparing photography to carpet, but you get the idea. I expect a $100 non-refundable deposit at the time of the booking. This allows them some time to decide on what they want to include on their package as well as allows me to know that I have a sincere booking for that date and can then turn away any future inquiries for that date. Then I ask for half at the time they decide on the package and the other half two weeks before the wedding. If asked, I'm happy to split it up over more instalments, but that's the norm. I have (once) agreed to shoot the wedding with only 50% paid, but advised I would not edit or deliver anything until the remainder was paid. <br>

As far as the album design goes, I tell my clients upfront that I will create an album pre-design from the photos I think would tell the story well. It's nothing they have to stick with, and they have ultimate control over the images that are selected, but with 800 or so images to choose from, some couples find it overwhelming to sift through those to come up with 50 or 60 to put in the album. I post the pre-design online and then they can comment on each page and list any changes they would like to make. I'll do that a handful of times until we arrive at a design that they are happy with. So far, this system has worked out really well for me. Before we start with any revisions, I also give them a few pointers on the overall design too. <br>

I would hesitate to have them rush on the album so they have "incentive to work with you better". Just produce a quality product, listen to your client and that will be their incentive. Sounds to me like you may be rushing them so you can get paid faster, no?? <br>

6 weeks is a great turnaround time... if they are ready. I've had clients wait over a year from the time I send the first pre-design... even with gentle "reminder" e-mails at Christmas and on their anniversary! LOL! It's not a priority for some couples. But if you work with them and have patience to work on their time frame, they will remember that and refer you to their friends and relatives! </p>

<p>A mother's joy...<br>

Canon 5D MII, ISO 2000, f 2.8 at 1/125th. Flash on 1/8th power, black and white conversion done in Lightroom...</p><div></div>

<p>I use jalbum as well, but I have a friend who uses Album DS (<a href="http://www.albumds.com/site/">http://www.albumds.com/site/</a>). It's amazing, but it's a little cost-prohibitive for me right now. Still, it has some great features that might be what you're looking for!<br>

Good Luck!</p>

<p>Canon 5dMII ISO 320, 50mm lens at 2.0 at 1/1250. Sharpened in LR. </p>

<div></div>

<p>They both have very nice, natural looking smiles. They must have been very comfortable with you, so that's a plus! <br>

I do find that the building, the car and the couple are all three competing for attention here. That may have been helped by positioning the couple and the car straight on in front of the building (the arches of the windows would give some structure and an urban backdrop to the shot), and then perhaps instead of the couple looking at the camera, have them looking at each other. <br>

His hand also seems to be placed in a less than flattering spot on her. As a female, I can tell you that we are veeeerrrry sensitive to this area! Maybe next time, make sure she's holding her flowers to help conceal... The color may help to bring some more contrast too! <br>

Just my .02!</p>

<p>Here's mine! From a wedding this weekend... Canon 5DMii, ISO 800, f2.8, at 1/200th. </p>

<div></div>

<p>Lumapix Fotofusion works great! It's all drag and drop, so you can be as unique or as simple as you'd like. It's a little pricey, but well worth it! The only drawback...it's only for PC at this point. <br>

For printing, try Miller's. They even have templates available, so if you decide not to use Fotofusion or something similiar you've got that option. The albums look great, have no center seam and have lots of different cover options. <br>

Good Luck!</p>

<p>This was taken on the beach using Canon 5DmII with 24-70 at 400 ISO, f11 at 1/200th. Used on camera flash with a Lightsphere just for a little fill...</p>

<p> </p><div></div>

<p>Not sure where you're located, but here in Ohio if you are the sole proprietor of a business you may be excused. I got called last Feb. as I was headed to Florida to shoot an engagement, but I was able to be excused. Most of the time, like the OP said the weddings are on Saturdays, but every now and then you run into an unusual situation like this!</p>

<p>Do you usually do at least a few formals beforehand? I'm not sure where you are located, but where I am it's pretty customary to do <em>some</em> portraits before the ceremony to save time afterwards. I get to the church early enough to get my lighting setup all figured out so that I don't have to monkey with it while all the guests and family are milling about...takes up precious minutes during the little bit of time I have before the reception! My setup is simple... two strobes at 45's with pocket wizards. My last wedding was in a very dark, old church. I shot the formals at ISO 400, f 6.3 at 100th of a sec. I shot the pre-ceremony formals, lowered the lights on their stands, closed the umbrellas, unplugged the cords from the outlets and moved them to an inconspicuous corner of the church for the ceremony. During the recieving llne, as the sanctuary emptied, I went back up to the front, pulled out the lights and got ready to fire away! <br>

I would strongly suggest investing in a couple stands for your flash units and going with radio slaves (like a pocket wizard)...IMHO they're just more reliable. If you use regular or rechargable batteries, there's no reason to fear anyone tripping over cords (and in my experience, those involved in the photos are usually seated in the pews awaiting their turn anyway). I'd also suggest umbrellas! You'll get more out of your flash units with them than without. <br>

As an alternative... Many couples opt for the outdoor option these days. Why not discuss the benefits of getting out ot the dark church and finding a garden or a tree-lined area on the church grounds? People seem to be more relaxed when they're outside and not faced with giant studio lights. Plus...it can make your whole transition from the ceremony to the reception a little faster...and more fun for everyone involved! Again, this depends on your location among other things...but it works!<br>

Good Luck!</p>