Portraits
Jul 21, 2022 06:18:27 #
sheldon minsky
Loc: iron mountain michigan
Thomas902 wrote:
Trying to be helpful here... br If you do not have... (show quote)
Spot on as always.
Jul 21, 2022 06:26:03 #
billmck wrote:
My understanding has always been that church directories are typically done at no cost to the church by a professional organization that makes their money by selling photo packages to those who have their pictures taken. The only reason for a church to ask a member to do the directory is so the congregation doesn't have to deal with the pressure to purchase a photo package.
Bill
Bill
Exactly. Our church engaged the services of one of these (national) organizations and after the actual photography session, there was a very hard sell to buy packages. Some members were offended by “photographer” following them out of “studio” area set up in the church, saying their income depended on the sales of the packages. Several years later, when we were creating an updated directory, we had two rather experienced, but by no means professional, volunteers take the headshots which met the needs of the congregation. I agree that professionals would have done a better job, but the church had no budget for that.
Jul 21, 2022 07:57:16 #
Don't buy a thing! I've done much more serious assignments with much less than you have right now. Even if you think your lighting is insufficient, just up your ISO two stops, that Canon can handle it and your photos won't look any different! 105mm is not too short for a directory, I did most of my portraits with an 85.
Jul 21, 2022 08:12:56 #
My thoughts on this. It is a great idea to raise the ISO as suggested but it is also a great idea to do some testing to make sure the lights will be enough for the portraits. I fully agree that the 24-105 should be good enough for the shooting, my old Nikon 28-105 has served me well in that respect.
I agree with Thomas, if you do not have the experience to shoot and pose portraits do not expect miracles because you have "the best camera in town." I am assuming you will be shooting head and shoulder portraits only.
Your light setting in my humble opinion calls for a hand held meter, incident light type unless you know already what aperture to set. I would set f8 since the background for studio portraits is usually flat. If you are not going to be moving the lights around a simple reading will do for all your portraits, assuming you have the incident meter because, otherwise you will need a gray card reading with the spot meter of the camera.
Right now, if you proceed on planning for the shooting, your best bet is to make some tests to make sure you will have the correct exposure.
I agree with Thomas, if you do not have the experience to shoot and pose portraits do not expect miracles because you have "the best camera in town." I am assuming you will be shooting head and shoulder portraits only.
Your light setting in my humble opinion calls for a hand held meter, incident light type unless you know already what aperture to set. I would set f8 since the background for studio portraits is usually flat. If you are not going to be moving the lights around a simple reading will do for all your portraits, assuming you have the incident meter because, otherwise you will need a gray card reading with the spot meter of the camera.
Right now, if you proceed on planning for the shooting, your best bet is to make some tests to make sure you will have the correct exposure.
Jul 21, 2022 08:29:12 #
--Bob
burkphoto wrote:
Does an "irreverent lighting kit" make sense at all for church portraits? 
Jul 21, 2022 08:29:14 #
StanMac
Loc: Tennessee
Plieku69 wrote:
Background is I take pictures indoors in a small s... (show quote)
If your not doing group shots, the 105 is an ideal focal length for head and shoulder portraits. Not too short to introduce distortion and not too long to flatten the subjects features excesssively.
Stan
Jul 21, 2022 09:00:33 #
Retina
Loc: Near Charleston,SC
Thomas902 wrote:
Trying to be helpful here... br If you do not have... (show quote)
I agree when it comes to paid assignments from people you do not know. This situation is different. Do some serious studying and practicing first just to get you in the ballpark of how a portrait session should go and what the results should look like. With digital this can go at your pace. Since these are not expected to be professionally done, you might practice with the help of some willing members or families. Don't even talk about your equipment as it will have little or anything to do with the results--this is all about you, not your expensive camera. Be prepared to get the results out quickly, and perhaps offer prints for the price of a donation to missions or another cause. Your donation will be your time and printing expenses. I am confident your project will be successful with some good preparation. Thomas is correct, but he works at an entirely different level. As an analogy, how often do your church musicians sit in for the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra? If they do at all, chances are there is a professional portrait photographer in the congregation willing to give you lessons. They won't be cheap, or he would be doing the job himself.
Jul 21, 2022 11:20:14 #
allanj
Loc: New York City
Peterfiore wrote:
Take a look at IRS rules. It could save you an uncomfortable headache down the line.
Is Volunteer Work for a Church Tax Deductible? Like with volunteer work for a charity organization, you can write off expenses incurred that are related to volunteer work for a church, but not for the actual volunteer time.
Is Volunteer Work for a Church Tax Deductible? Like with volunteer work for a charity organization, you can write off expenses incurred that are related to volunteer work for a church, but not for the actual volunteer time.
No deduction for value of volunteered time is correct. And (believe it or not) no deduction for the value of volunteer time makes sense. The value of one's donated time is not included in income. Therefore, deducting the value would give the taxpayer a double benefit. Saying it another way -- a consistent approach would be including the value of volunteer time in income and then deducting the same amount as a donation.
Allan (a retired law professor who specialized in federal income taxation)
Jul 21, 2022 11:46:59 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
burkphoto wrote:
Does an "irreverent lighting kit" make sense at all for church portraits?
It must be sanctified first.
Jul 21, 2022 12:16:41 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
burkphoto wrote:
The J.C. Penney studios were run by Lifetouch when... (show quote)
Got my start as a studio photographer with Lifetouch in the senior portrait division. Have moved many a classroom desk in order to have room for our setups. We were the sole survivors of the "X" districts.
Jul 21, 2022 12:17:53 #
Alafoto
Loc: Montgomery, AL
Najataagihe wrote:
Thomas, I can’t BEGIN to tell you how impressive that portrait is.
Good on you, mate!
Good on you, mate!
It's a fantastic portrait, as are all Thomas' works.
Jul 21, 2022 12:23:54 #
While no one seems to have mentioned it, in addition to 24-105 being an excellent range for portraits, the Canon zoom lens that starts at 75 is one of their inferior lenses.
Jul 21, 2022 12:41:15 #
Jul 21, 2022 12:56:52 #
Jul 21, 2022 13:04:26 #
There are lots of good suggestions here.
My own take is that if you are inclined to accept, you should do it. A 5D4 and 24-105 are fine.
You do not need elaborate lighting for nice portraits of this kind. If you have a Canon Flash that you can bounce and a large white reflector, you should have no trouble.
You might be able to find a location in the Church that is suitable for a 'Location' all you need is a white wall, or any simple background like an archway or closed door ---just nothing busy or distracting.
If there is a level of ambient lighting, you can let it be your 'fill' and bounce a flash for a 'main light'
If there is nothing to bounce off , bring a 3'x4' piece of foam core tape it to a single light stand- above and behind your right shoulder. This is a place to start.
The most important thing is to practice before the Gig. Practice in the space you will shoot in, bring a couple of volunteers and dial in your setup. Then shoot everyone in the same space.
Don't get roped into shooting in 10 different locations, or shooting outdoors. The light will always be different and it is much more work.
This is a free gig. Make it easy on yourself, and at the end you will know how to take a nice simple portrait
The most important reason you want this control, is so that you can concentrate on THE PEOPLE. Talk to them make them feel at ease. Tell them in advance,.....This will be easy, we are going to relax and take a half dozen pictures to be sure you get a nice one.
Shoot Loose so you can crop appropriately. Think of the plane of focus going through two sets of eyes for couples.
Some people might want more than two, your 24-105 is perfect, don't move the camera or change the lighting, just zoom out a bit.
The more ready you are, the better the pictures will be. People hate when photographers fiddle with stuff. Smile, keep is fast and light hearted, don't over shoot. The goal is a small picture in a book, and Maybe a 5x7 or 8x10 you have tons of resolution. Put spike tape on the floor, shoot at f/5.6 or so. You will be a champ
Good luck
My own take is that if you are inclined to accept, you should do it. A 5D4 and 24-105 are fine.
You do not need elaborate lighting for nice portraits of this kind. If you have a Canon Flash that you can bounce and a large white reflector, you should have no trouble.
You might be able to find a location in the Church that is suitable for a 'Location' all you need is a white wall, or any simple background like an archway or closed door ---just nothing busy or distracting.
If there is a level of ambient lighting, you can let it be your 'fill' and bounce a flash for a 'main light'
If there is nothing to bounce off , bring a 3'x4' piece of foam core tape it to a single light stand- above and behind your right shoulder. This is a place to start.
The most important thing is to practice before the Gig. Practice in the space you will shoot in, bring a couple of volunteers and dial in your setup. Then shoot everyone in the same space.
Don't get roped into shooting in 10 different locations, or shooting outdoors. The light will always be different and it is much more work.
This is a free gig. Make it easy on yourself, and at the end you will know how to take a nice simple portrait
The most important reason you want this control, is so that you can concentrate on THE PEOPLE. Talk to them make them feel at ease. Tell them in advance,.....This will be easy, we are going to relax and take a half dozen pictures to be sure you get a nice one.
Shoot Loose so you can crop appropriately. Think of the plane of focus going through two sets of eyes for couples.
Some people might want more than two, your 24-105 is perfect, don't move the camera or change the lighting, just zoom out a bit.
The more ready you are, the better the pictures will be. People hate when photographers fiddle with stuff. Smile, keep is fast and light hearted, don't over shoot. The goal is a small picture in a book, and Maybe a 5x7 or 8x10 you have tons of resolution. Put spike tape on the floor, shoot at f/5.6 or so. You will be a champ
Good luck
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