Help from the experienced needed....

[NicolaB]

Thank you Essy & Eileen! It is great to receive such lovley comments as at this stage I only see what I have done wrong! Not a bad place to be I guess as it will make me better quicker (I hope!)

I always laugh a bit when someone sayd "I only use natural light" as it's simply saying "I don't understand flash".. it's not a criticism

Grrr you are on to me - lol! I have so much to learn, I have not ventured into flash at all. Also after purchasing a new camera, two lenses, Photoshop then upgrading to CS5, buying a new Apple (both of which I need to learn) - our bank account is feeling the pinch (ouch!!!)

So in order to make money, you're going have to spend money

How true Jim, how true!
I will be 'only using natural light' for as long as I can manage to - I hope that means I will be able to do these training sessions in the winter months here in Blighty with my shiny new reflector - or is that not going to be at all easy?

NEVER EVER just show up and decide to ONLY wing it.. you'll waste time and look like an amateur if you sit around wondering "hmmm, what should we do next"... in those periods when winging it fails, fall back on your pre-planned ideas that way you're always shooting.

Oh heck! I don't want them to pose. I want to get images of them being them. I am going to see a friend to do the four of them tomorrow as she has kindly volunteered them as guinea pigs! I have a feeling I will be 100% in with you after that! Everyone who has enquired knows I am not experienced - but I don't want to look a total plonker. I will surf tonight to get some more ideas - thank you ;-)

Sometimes it is hard to see the woods for the trees when there is so much to remember. It just feels as though I am being thrown head long into a business that should evolve over many months - not all in time for xmas. I love a challenge!

Apt made to see accountant to get all above board - not that there will be any profits for a couple of years (see Jims point) !!!

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by NicolaB

Oh heck! I don't want them to pose. I want to get images of them being them. I am going to see a friend to do the four of them tomorrow as she has kindly volunteered them as guinea pigs! I have a feeling I will be 100% in with you after that! Everyone who has enquired knows I am not experienced - but I don't want to look a total plonker. I will surf tonight to get some more ideas - thank you ;-)

I'm all for letting them be them... but even then you can be prepared. Make sure if you tell them to run around, that you're in a good position (like at their level not shooting from above) etc etc. I believe in "planned freestyle" meaning that I like to let things flow, but when needed I nudge the shoot back on track with some planned or thought-out shots (I didn't mean to say posed, just planned shots)

Also, sit back and watch them for a bit, you'll see some tendencies coming out. Plus, let them run around like crazy for a bit, they'll tired down a bit and be easier to photograph.. plus make sure you have a pretty high shutterspeed!
And get lots of rest BEFORE the shoot haha.

And bring props or have the mom bring them.

[NicolaB]

Thanks Al, you're a star. :-)