My first paid job! HELP (please)

[Going easy]

So my friend has just asked me to take portraits of him and his fraternity brothers for a yearbook style picture frame, ( so the size is going to be wallet size when printed out) So my question is: how would I go about setting this up? I was think about having a traditional white or black backdrop aka white or black sheet. Obliviously I going to ask them if they want them inside or outside. I also might have the option between my built in flash or a directional flash on the camera. If I can use the directional flash, should I build a DIY Beauty dish for it?

Any advice would help, I have a cannon Digital Rebel XS

[Eastree]

For the prints: What are the dimensions, and how do you plan to go about printing them? Most print places require about 300dpi, though some need 250 or so, and some are flexible down to 100dpi. I'm sure, if you're using a print service, that this will be noted on the web site -- even drug stores with Kodak booths have this listed. Basically, frame the images with cropping in mind, then re-size and crop the image to the size you need for printing.

For the backdrop: Be sure whether you're using white, black, or something mid-toned, that your friend wears something that will not blend in with it (especially if you're going to do a black and white conversion), or that you have the ability to change the backdrop color.

Lighting: you're much better off with off-camera or bounced flash. If you have the means to remotely trigger the flash and have it off camera, do so. If you have a shoe-mount flash and don't want to spend more to have it off camera, bouncing it is about the best you can do. But a flash straight from the camera will yield a very flat image and harsh shadows. I know others here can advise much better than I can.

[AnneWynne]

Don't ask where the brothers want their photos to be taken. Shoot inside where you can control lighting and background. See DIYphotography.net for how to set up a "studio" on the cheap. Check out lighting setups for headshots...you want to make sure your lighting is set up to give depth and definition to the shot, seperating the subject from the background using lighting placement. You don't need a beauty light for this type headshot gig.

You can use inexpensive shop lights (I like to put Ott ligh bulbs in them because Ott bulbs give true colors) and turn off other lights so your light sources do not compete in temperature. A stick in a can (a length of lattice in a coffee can filled with plaster of paris) makes an easy light stand for your clamp lights.

Set up a time and place (probably at the frat house) and run them through like they do for school photos. Don't fret over fancy poses, you will only see shoulders and heads. This is not a senior session where you would want to get fun and funky.

Backgrounds: white, black, grey, or light blue will work well. If you want to photoshop in a different background, shoot against a green screen to make your work a lot easier.

Find out if the brothers want the photos in color or black and white as that might affect your choice in background color. Also, check out previous class photos to see how they were done.

Make sure you get paid something for it. An established professional photographer would probably get between $500-$1000 for this type gig.

Good luck

Oh yeah, make sure the brothers know if they do not show up for the mass session, they do not have their photo included in the session fee. They have to pay you directly to come back, set the studio up again, take the photos, tear down again, etc, etc, etc. Make the additional session fee high enough to cover your hassel factor if someone no-shows. Get this in writing in your contract with the fraternity and make sure you get paid in advance for any additional sessions. If you do not do this, invariably someone will no show then expect you to drop everything and come back for a re-do at your expense. Make sure the chapter president (or whoever you are working with) make it clear to the brothers that they are expected to be there on picture day. You are there to take the photos, not make sure everyone is there.

A tip: If you need to know who you are shooting, take a white board and write the next subject's name on it...have them hold it in front of them (kinda like a mug shot) before taking the real headshots of that subject. That way you know who is who when you are editing and if you can sell enlargements to the brothers. You might want to include a low resolution file with your contact info (ie, greatphotog@mymail.com) as a watermark so when it is posted to facebook, people can see who took the photo.