Average for photoshoot?

[NicoleScraps]

I had an amazing but busy day. I did three practice photoshoots. They were all different but so much fun. I feel like I learned a lot (like how to properly use a reflector, how to bribe a 3 yr old to sit still, and stuff like that).
Anyways, the maternity shoot, I took about 30 photos and ended up with 6 really good ones. The family shoot (with an uncoorperative 3 yr old) I took about 90 photos and ended up with about 18 good ones. And then I did a shoot with a 14 yr old boy. I took about 30 of him and ended up with 8 really good ones.
Does this all sound about right as far as averages? The ones that didn't make the cut had problems with facial expressions, focus, and metering (very over or under exposed ie: not fixable).
How does it generally work for you? Do all of your shots turn out well or do you have to ditch some?

[sk66]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

Do all of your shots turn out well or do you have to ditch some?

HaHaHaHaha ha.....
Of course we all have to ditch some...In fact, on a shoot my "average" is significantly worse than normal because I am taking an excessive number of shots trying to catch that "special moment"..it's amazing the difference a split second can make between very good and great.

I'd say your averages were good, probably a bit light on the number of shots taken (except the family shoot).

The golden ratio of good photos to junk photos will always be

42:1

Any higher and you aren't being "experimental" enough and any lower than that and your just slacking it hardcore.

Good luck achieving your numbers!!

~Eric

[sk66]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

The golden ratio of good photos to junk photos will always be

42:1

~Eric

42 good to 1 junk!? On a shoot?

You're a GOD!

[SusanH1970]

Originally Posted by sk66

42 good to 1 junk!? On a shoot?

You're a GOD!

LMAO!!!

Anyhoo...back to Nicole. On average, I take anywhere from 125 - 200 at a session and end up with 20 - 40 proofs for the client.

[andyw]

Originally Posted by NicoleScraps

I had an amazing but busy day. I did three practice photoshoots. They were all different but so much fun. I feel like I learned a lot (like how to properly use a reflector, how to bribe a 3 yr old to sit still, and stuff like that).
Anyways, the maternity shoot, I took about 30 photos and ended up with 6 really good ones. The family shoot (with an uncoorperative 3 yr old) I took about 90 photos and ended up with about 18 good ones. And then I did a shoot with a 14 yr old boy. I took about 30 of him and ended up with 8 really good ones.
Does this all sound about right as far as averages? The ones that didn't make the cut had problems with facial expressions, focus, and metering (very over or under exposed ie: not fixable).
How does it generally work for you? Do all of your shots turn out well or do you have to ditch some?

Hmmm, I would say that if you are getting shots with bad focus and metering then your ratio of bad is way to high.

I don't shoot that sort of stuff but I would hazard that (except for the young kids) the only ones which should be rejects would be those with eyes closed or the like.
The maternity and teen shots should be spot on on focus and metering as you should be totally in control of those things.
For the "terrible twos " (or threes) then apart from nailing them to the floor then your ratio of bad will always be higher purely because of their movement and lack of attention.

If you only got 6 out of 30 for the maternity shoot then that would definitely be to high.
Yes there may only be 6 which you consider "really good" but that is only because you should be highly critical of your own stuff, I would say there should be more like 75% of "usable" shots.

As I say though, this is not my field (except for personal/family shots) so I bow to others if I am way out on what I say.

[Jim Bryant]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

The golden ratio of good photos to junk photos will always be

42:1

Any higher and you aren't being "experimental" enough and any lower than that and your just slacking it hardcore.

Good luck achieving your numbers!!

~Eric

What??????????? You get a bad photo? I'm surprised.

[oldwolf]

Originally Posted by maxharvard

The golden ratio of good photos to junk photos will always be

42:1

Any higher and you aren't being "experimental" enough and any lower than that and your just slacking it hardcore.

Good luck achieving your numbers!!

~Eric

Originally Posted by sk66

42 good to 1 junk!? On a shoot?

You're a GOD!

Exactly! 42 is the answer to everything to include the meaning of life.

Just search WolframAlpha:

the meaning of life - Wolfram|Alpha

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by oldwolf

Exactly! 42 is the answer to everything to include the meaning of life.

Just search WolframAlpha:

the meaning of life - Wolfram|Alpha

Bwwaaahahahaha!! My husband LOVES that movie!

[NicoleScraps]

Originally Posted by andyw

If you only got 6 out of 30 for the maternity shoot then that would definitely be to high.
Yes there may only be 6 which you consider "really good" but that is only because you should be highly critical of your own stuff, I would say there should be more like 75% of "usable" shots.

Okay, with the teen and the maternity, I had a lot of nearly identical shots and just picked the best of the best as far as facial expression. So yeah, you are right with what you said. I was being critical.
With the family shoot, the 3 yr old was the problem. Once we got him situated then the older kids were bored looking. I need to come up with a bribery strategy to use in the future.