Julie - Basildon
SHOOT FEEDBACK (Friday 13th September 9.30am)
Mum/Dad/Toddler - Emma’s Diary Shot.
Welcomed in - lovely rapport with client, discussed the plans for the shoot, and warmed to the child brilliantly. Laid out plan for what she wants to achieve in shoot, while asking them what they want which was lovely.
Proceeded to set up studio ready for the shoot, and measured using meter which is great.
I’d recommend getting the studio ready before the client comes in, including testing lighting/metering and doing a test shot, so you’re absolutely ready to go before you start shooting.
You don’t waste any time that way.
Nice and relaxed with clients, and explaining the process.
With the first family set up, I’d advise feathering the light slightly more to the inside, and power up a little to soften shadows and even lighting.
Turn the lights slightly inwards, as if the light is wrapping around rather than directly onto the subject.
On family sat set up - bring legs to the side rather than forwards to create a nice triangle.
When carrying out the tummy shot, invert the mum and the dad so they swap sides.
I liked the way you handled the child to allow them to rest on the tummy, shows confidence and builds on experience.
Lovely variation during first sat shots and tummy shots of looking at the camera and interactive shots.
My advice after the tummy shot, would be to get a tummy shot of mum with the baby. She is already on the floor so I’d make the most of that opportunity that would be hard to get again. Remember to flip!
You moved onto splits with great direction, showing how to position over the shoulder and on the laps.
Continued building rapport with the dad asking what he does for work etc.
Nice natural flow going on in the shoot, mum and dad both very comfortable.
With your shooting technique, I’d advise sometimes moving in toward the child, and back to get attention, feet can be quite planted.
Sometimes waiting for the shoot in one spot can take longer than stepping forward and getting their eyes onto you and then backing away. Go in and out, and be the entertainer!
I noticed with the splits of mum and dad (lighting and sitting) toddler is on the same side twice.
For variation later on in composites, I would switch the toddler around so there is a shot with him on the right, and one on the left.
You directed dad great during splits, and explained the balance and use of these split shots to mum when he sat which is brilliant.
Expanding on that, point at the walls whenever you do this at this point of the shoot to show how these shots will play out later on. Explain how they can be used together while visually demonstrating it.
15 minutes - in you have sat shots/tummy shots, and two sets of splits. Now you’re going for the individuals, setting up the beanbag and blanket ready. Clients are really enjoying it, and you have their attention fully.
In regards to shooting moving forward, I would aim to cement this 15 minute time window with the white background/laminate floor as your first set of shots to get the content required to fill a shoot. Aim for Family shots x 3, splits x 3 and individuals x 3 in this window.
An extra family shot and split each in this case, and two more individual shots.
With your individuals, lights are safe and not over the baby’s head.
In regards to the tummy set up of the toddler looking at camera, I would advise putting a small pillow under so his head is higher up and not struggling to lift. I’m sure you have those with your newborn props? If not let me know and I’ll get one sent.
On the first shot of Alfie on his tummy, this is where you can mix the lighting up a little.
I’d turn the backlights around and close the barn doors on your subject to do more of an impact shot.
The way you did it is fine, but will appear much more flat than if you were to turn the backlights around and create a more 3 dimensional space around Alfies head.
I’ve attached images here to show you the process, just make sure it’s metered correct on him from the beauty dish with honeycomb.
Once you have your individual shot of the toddler, to add content, I’d do the same shot now with the mum, then with the dad, and then with both.
That’s an extra set of splits and a family shot in the bag with no real hassle.
Notice how these splits are reversed, always pay attention to that as you never want a repeating shot from split into family.
When/if the client comes behind you, I’d always try advise them not too unless you’re struggling (it shows professionalism and also stops them just looking into space above camera), but if they do always encourage them to come super close to you and just above camera level so subjects eyes are into camera as best as possible.
Chatted about the burger van which is great, I hope you’re on commission with them!
Back lights are now turned off. Baby is getting changed.
It’s been 30 minutes, and content wise we have a sat family shots, a sat tummy shot of the family, two sets of splits with mum/dad and alfie, and an individual tummy shot of Alfie.
We’re now doing head shots from above of Alfie.
My technical advice here would be to use a beauty dish above for cleaner lighting with a more purposeful catchlight.
Careful not to place the light directly over head, but at a 45 degree angle will give you a nice cleanly lit headshot with a beautiful catchlight like above.
Then we did another tummy shot of Alfie on his own, a third single set up, but the blanket is on his head. I quite like this set up, and never thought of it before. One to add to the bank!
At this point I’m thinking you need more variety, so will be interesting to see what else you add on.
35 minutes in and moving onto the black background. Nice rapport, very relaxed, maybe I’d like more sense of urgency if I was being particular. You’re doing a great job but I’d want more content at this stage moving forward.
In my estimations I’d want a few more family set ups, and splits. You could utilise the beanbag for this as mentioned above, or go back onto the white/grey/black background and do a few family shots.
This is where I’d also possibly move on to edge lighting shots.
With the black background, we have more individual shots, and he’s leaning over the chair for a nice supported peeking headshot.
We’ve now got a family shot on the black background. I’d also use this opportunity to get a split each with Alfie which you did!
Both lighting styles, white/grey and black will be slightly flat due to not having any sort of edge light behind. Moving forward I would experiment firstly at the point of the individual shots of the toddler on tummy/sat on beanbag to create a shot where the backlights are edge lighting. Turn this then into a series of splits and family shots.
Content wise 45 minutes in; sat shots, tummy shots of the family, two sets of splits, and an individual tummy shot of Alfie. We did headshots laying on beanbag, standing on the chair and side on black background. Then a family shot and a split on the black.
Overall
3 x family shots. 2 white background/one black background 3 x splits. 2 white background/one black background. 4 inviduals. Tummy, sat, black background.
Post session chat is fantastic.
You discussed the voucher and what was covered. ‘Anything else beyond that…’ bridge was used.
Payment methods covered. 10 months option covered (‘which most of our customers do’).
Difference between framed and boarded prints covered (‘budget wise can be more attractive’.
Benefits of the digitals and your own flexibility.
Tied it all nicely together showing collection 3/4.
All while holding the 24inch boarded print which gives a visual representation,.
Excellent post session chat.
Just be careful in terms of body language and reading the room, as mum was changing baby as you were pointing at the walls and not paying attention.
Dad was taking in all the information, but mum will likely be the decision maker.
You did a great job in coming around with mum at the end to finalise the process and make it memorable for her too. Great awareness there.
Moving forward I’d also keep the guide in your hands and write the date down that they’re booked in on and hand just as they’re leaving.
All wrapped up in exactly an hour.
Overall feedback Summary.
Your chat, demeanour and rapport are fantastic. Client clearly very comfortable in your presence and baby very receptive.
Pre session chat was great, and captured some lovely sellable content.
Excellent post session chat, clearly presented, slowly explained in bite sizes with key points covered along with the visual demonstration.
I’d work on improving these things next; Content in the shoot, timing, energy and lighting styles.
There are a few opportunities for more content.
Remember the 15 minute mini session -
After your tummy shot of the family, get a tummy split shot of mum whilst there with the baby, and then get one of dad.
Don’t forget to reverse these set ups as above to add variation from your family tummy shot.
You could also do a family over the shoulder shot, and one sat on the shoulder along with the splits.
Speed up the process with a little more energy as you work through these first few set ups to get within the time zone. You’ll find it will flow nicer and improve the experience for yourself and the customer, and keep babies attention better. You’ll also have time to experiment with other lighting setups.
Secondly, something I’d want you to start including in your shoots would be the ‘impact’ lighting technique.
You’ll need to use the beauty dish with a honeycomb attachment in front of your subject at a 45 degree angle for the catchlight.
Then your back two lights are turned inwards, barn doors closed to create a small opening for the light to catch the back of the subjects head.
This can be used for the single shots and for a set of splits or family shots, and add a new variety of shots in your shows.
Great job overall, and just a few little adjustments based on what I’ve seen so far to expand on what you’re doing during shoots.
Well done, keep trucking!
Monthly Show Scores - Julie - Basildon
I’ve chosen three shows at random from September to feedback the following out of 10, this will give you an overall score each month to work on. 60 points maximum per show, highest possible of 180. If any of these areas you need help with or are struggling on, reach out to me and I’ll give you some direction to help.
170 -180 = Perfect
155 - 170 = Excellent
135 - 155 = Great
120 - 135 = Good
100 - 120 =. Okay
80 - 100 = Poor
60 - 80 - Very Poor
Content / Positioning / Lighting / Balance / Expression / Edit
Shoot 1 - TA1237 Jordan Hopkins
Content - 7
Positioning - 7
Lighting - 8
Balance - 8
Expression - 8
Edit - 7 = 45
Shoot 2 - TA1269 Ella Green view
Content - 7
Positioning - 7
Lighting - 7
Balance - 7
Expression - 9
Edit - 9 = 46
Shoot 3 - TA1279 Laura Mosquera v
Content - 7
Positioning - 8
Lighting - 9
Balance - 6
Expression - 9
Edit - 10 = 49
140 / 180 - Great!
Content is good throughout, aim for more set ups to push towards excellent scale.
Positioning is good; I’d work on focusing on more interactivity with your set ups to push to excellent.
Balance is good, remember to vary and mirror for composites to push score higher.
Expression is great throughout with lots of smiles and variation, increase this score with the interactive and get parents expressions also natural and rich.
Lighting and edit both very clean and excellent, continue as you are with that and add in impact lighting for perfect score.
Well done!