New portrait business

[AnitaMargaretPhoto]

Hi all
I just started my own small photography business, and already have 8 shoots scheduled so far this month I'm super excited but also a little nervous obviously! Any tips on shooting indoors with no lighting equipment, or a DIY technique you've used and been successful with?
I'd appreciate any advice or tips you have, even if it isn't anything I have mentioned on this thread.

[autofocus]

Originally Posted by AnitaMargaretPhoto

Hi all
I just started my own small photography business, and already have 8 shoots scheduled so far this month I'm super excited but also a little nervous obviously! Any tips on shooting indoors with no lighting equipment, or a DIY technique you've used and been successful with?
I'd appreciate any advice or tips you have, even if it isn't anything I have mentioned on this thread.

what do you have in the way of gear?

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by AnitaMargaretPhoto

Hi all
I just started my own small photography business, and already have 8 shoots scheduled so far this month I'm super excited but also a little nervous obviously! Any tips on shooting indoors with no lighting equipment, or a DIY technique you've used and been successful with?
I'd appreciate any advice or tips you have, even if it isn't anything I have mentioned on this thread.

What sort of shoots do you have scheduled?

I'm curious how you've started a business, yet are asking for tips on how to shoot with no lighting equipment?

[candleman]

see more Gifs

[Mike367]

Originally Posted by Jim Poor

What sort of shoots do you have scheduled?

I'm curious how you've started a business, yet are asking for tips on how to shoot with no lighting equipment?

Yeah sounds like the cart before the horse.

To answer the OP's question:

Large north facing (in northern hemisphere) windows. Sheer white curtains can make nice diffusers.

Reflectors.

High ISO and fast lens.

Tripod and remote release.

Even though your camera doesn't move, people are not statues; shutter speeds slower than about 1/15 second will typically show motion blur.

If you use artificial light, make sure all your light is the same color temperature.

Set a custom white balance and shoot in RAW.

I have successfully used a bunch of halogen work lights bounced off of white walls and ceilings, but these are a different color than daylight, use one or the other. Be advised that 1500 watts of halogens put out as much heat as a 1500 watt space heater.

[mshockley]

I would be very nervous if I were you: 8 shoots scheduled with no lighting equipment? And your in Wisconsin I see, so I'm not far and I know "location, outdoor shoots" aren't gonna happen anytime soon! What will you do if you have a client that needs to have an evening appointment?


So, you need to plan well for the first couple shoots your doing, hope for great natural light, and the minute you have some cash in hand I would spend the money on at minimum a decent studio flash/umbrella/stand, and then a big reflector to place and bounce some of that light back onto your subject.

[Biomech]

I'm curious to know what shoots they are too - people portraits?
Find out if they have spot lights in the room, I've used ours for lighting recently:

[Niresangwa]

Originally Posted by autofocus

what do you have in the way of gear?

See her accompanying/overlapping thread here

As others have mentioned, all of your other problems aside (of which there are many) your big issue is going to be lighting your shoots properly. I don't shoot Canon, so I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing those are entry level lenses? If so you're going to have an awful time shooting indoors because they're not going to be fast enough.

Its all very well to say "go by a window" but are you really going to do every shot in every shoot by the window? If you're working with kids, they move fast, and i don't just mean run around the place, they're just not going to sit still and look at your camera, or hold that cute candid while your slow-a$$ lens tries to figure out whats happening.

Having a 'good eye' is virtually useless if you don't have the equipment to capture what you're seeing. Having a 'good eye' and 'good equipment' is also useless if you don't have enough light to fuel the shot.

Don't expect anyone to really pat you on the back here.

Not because we don't care or we're callous, but because the truth often isn't easy to deliver, much less hear. It's not just because we're afraid for the clients of yours, but more because we're afraid for you hamstringing yourself and your reputation - you're judged by your work, and if your work is junk, so goes your reputation.

A great many people who come and ask these questions in these situations get all sassy and think it's personal - it isn't. They give a few parting shots about 'old, jealous insecure grumpy pro's' and disappear.

If you can withstand the initial barrage of criticism however, you will get some great help from this forum. You need to admit you're out of your depth, grow a thicker skin and tough it out, as much as it sucks.. but you will get some great advice and help if you do it.

Right now it's just going to be survival mode for you. Try and learn as much as you can, and avoid F'ing it up too badly until you get your feet under you.

If you can give the situation on the type of shoot you have coming up in as much detail as possible, you'll find plenty of people here who will give you some good advice.

[BigFuzzy]

Originally Posted by Niresangwa

See her accompanying/overlapping thread here

As others have mentioned, all of your other problems aside (of which there are many) your big issue is going to be lighting your shoots properly. I don't shoot Canon, so I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing those are entry level lenses? If so you're going to have an awful time shooting indoors because they're not going to be fast enough.

Its all very well to say "go by a window" but are you really going to do every shot in every shoot by the window? If you're working with kids, they move fast, and i don't just mean run around the place, they're just not going to sit still and look at your camera, or hold that cute candid while your slow-a$$ lens tries to figure out whats happening.

Having a 'good eye' is virtually useless if you don't have the equipment to capture what you're seeing. Having a 'good eye' and 'good equipment' is also useless if you don't have enough light to fuel the shot.

Don't expect anyone to really pat you on the back here.

Not because we don't care or we're callous, but because the truth often isn't easy to deliver, much less hear. It's not just because we're afraid for the clients of yours, but more because we're afraid for you hamstringing yourself and your reputation - you're judged by your work, and if your work is junk, so goes your reputation.

A great many people who come and ask these questions in these situations get all sassy and think it's personal - it isn't. They give a few parting shots about 'old, jealous insecure grumpy pro's' and disappear.

If you can withstand the initial barrage of criticism however, you will get some great help from this forum. You need to admit you're out of your depth, grow a thicker skin and tough it out, as much as it sucks.. but you will get some great advice and help if you do it.

Right now it's just going to be survival mode for you. Try and learn as much as you can, and avoid F'ing it up too badly until you get your feet under you.

If you can give the situation on the type of shoot you have coming up in as much detail as possible, you'll find plenty of people here who will give you some good advice.

Holy shit, that's the most well written response to this type of question I've ever seen, and so true. I will likely copy/paste this for the next 100 questions similar to this in the future if you don't mind!?
Well done, and OP, I think many here share the exact same opinion, just Steve put it in the most constructive way I can think of!

[Jim Poor]

Originally Posted by BigFuzzy

Holy shit, that's the most well written response to this type of question I've ever seen, and so true. I will likely copy/paste this for the next 100 questions similar to this in the future if you don't mind!?
Well done, and OP, I think many here share the exact same opinion, just Steve put it in the most constructive way I can think of!

Agreed! Well said Steve.