Silverrails

Question;
Would it be advisable to Go to Senior Citizen centers and offered FREE Portrait prints for those Resident's to enjoy and share with their families & Grandkids.
This would provide some good practice for an "Advanced Beginner" in Portrait Photography.
Your opinions will be appreciated, Thanks

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

That might be an idea, but it has some potential repercussions. The folks receiving your photographs, their portraits, are going to be expecting a professional leaning result. This is in spite of you informing them of your "advanced beginner" status. I'd rely on family or close friends at first. They are people who know you and are comfortable with posing, and aware of your status.

Once you feel confident with them, then expand your source of subjects.
--Bob

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Along with rmalarz's comments, I might drop the "advanced" part of your title as it's confusing and invites questions as to what that means. You would also need to meet with the paid staff to find out if what you wish to do is permitted (I volunteered at a city-run senior recreational center for a year, but you use "resident" so maybe you mean nursing homes/assisted living) and to arrange times, location and advertising (in their newsletter or how?).

And you probably want to make it clear what kind of print you are offering for free (such as a single 4x6?) but would provide the digital file at no charge - emailed to the senior or kin - if more or larger prints are desired.

out4life2016 Loc: Bellingham, Washington

It would be good practice but you may want to look into the legal issues. Some may not want their photo taken and some may but the family doesn’t want it done and may have power over they individuals decision making. I worked or volunteered at one for a while and we as a staff would not allow portraits or photography to be done unless it was in one private room. And only that person lived in so room

Haydon

If you require further suggestions, I'd recommend including if natural light is to be used, whether the images are to be taken inside or outside. You need to list more variables for real help here. Camera, lenses artificial light, single portraiture and/or group? I'd recommend practicing prior to the actual shoot as others have suggested.

hassighedgehog Loc: Corona, CA

Senior Center or senior community? One is not residential the other is.

buckwheat Loc: Clarkdale, AZ and Belen NM

When my wife came out of retirement to be nurse educator at a nursing home, she suggested that I do the same as you. I cleared it with the activities director, and the administrator and they were all for it. I shot in a corner of the dining room, used mostly available light with only a key light to clean up shadows, and a background light to eliminate them. Almost all were wheelchair bound, so there weren't a lot of options in posing. When I was finished with all who wanted photos, I shot some other activities and the staff. I had 4x6 prints made at Costco, and gave everything to the activity director, along with a thumb drive. She passed them out to the patients. In a short time, a couple of them died, and their families were overwhelmingly grateful! All in all it took me about eight days of shooting about two hours at a time. It turned out to be more fun that I thought it would be.
I should add that while I was in college (50 years ago) I shot church directories, so I had some experience. I say go for it, it will be very rewarding!

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

BB4A

Your question raises a question from me. Do you want to become a Professional Portrait Photographer? If you do, I would recommend hiring one or more Professional Portraiture Models, or attend one or more Portraiture Workshops in your area. If you join a professional agency (e.g. Model Mayhem), then you will have a choice of both Models and Workshop opportunities.

This will get you up to speed more quickly, and most importantly, will allow you to practice and refine every aspect of your working skill set, from Concept all the way through to Closure, in a professional and supportive atmosphere; the Workshop Organizer and/or the Model(s) want you to succeed in your chosen genre, as your References for their work are VERY valuable.

You should expect to be paying for the Models and/or Workshop Organizers time and environment management (in the US around $100-$150 per hour), but this will definitely help you put the polish on your portraiture skills, so you can progress confidently to Client commissions. At that time, you might want to reconsider "giving back to the community" in the charitable work direction you are proposing?

Silverrails

Enjoyed your reply.
I am 68 years old and have had friends in Nursing homes and Retirement hones, some with family, seldom seen, others with no one. Just wanted to bring some cheer in their lives, showing an interest. I have kids and grandkids and many close friends, others are less fortunate than I 😊

WDCash Loc: Milford, Delaware, USA

Great advice. Just do it as a service. Don't mention anything about getting experience. Normally the staff at Manny "home" are grateful for alt ideas as something new and entertaining.

Bill_de Loc: US

I have never done this myself, but knew folks who did this years ago. If there is an activity director coordinate with them.

They got a lot of pleasure from it. Since you are doing portraits there really is no problem with people who do not want their picture taken. Do a few at a time and go back on a regular schedule. That way you will make adjustments each time to improve the results.

Don't let it go to your head when the old folks tell you how good you are.

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sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

Not all residents are able to give legal consent to be photographed. It could be a sticky wicket.

Bill_de Loc: US

In general you don't need to get consent to photograph somebody. You may need to get consent based on how the photograph is to be used.

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ngrea Loc: Sandy Spring, Maryland

I was asked by the activities director of the nursing home section of my retirement community to do portraits of a specific size. She had the residents decorate a frame to give their family for Christmas. On the back of each photo I put a sticker offering an electronic copy. Because I have a volunteer (unpaid staff) relationship and the copies were given only to staff they did not require model releases beyond what residents sign at entering.
Another project I did was portraits of residents in the independent living section (houses and apartments) for a guessing game. We covered up all but the eyes to see who could identify the most people, then later revealed the full portraits. I gave each person their portrait when we took them down.
I love photographing older faces because they show more personality. I usually have a helper who engages them in conversation to get the expressions I want in the eyes and to get them to relax and be more natural. If possible I pose them with a window by their side to get a softer light that gently shows the character lines (AKA wrinkles) they have earned. I have learned to clean their glasses befor shooting or I have to spent a lot of time cleaning up the spots in PP.
Often when a resident dies the family uses a portrait I’ve taken in the memorial, which I think means they like my work.