6 Shoots, 1 Week, Amateur. Any Suggestions?

[xolexo]

Friday, I'm leaving for Indiana for a week, and it just so happens that my entire break will be spent on photography. I'm really trying to pursue it, and my friends and family are extremely supportive, so a bunch of people asked me to have photo sessions with them. It's so exciting! The problem is I still feel completely unprepared for this. I barely have any experience photographing people, and I'm still learning an awful lot about this Nikon D5000. I don't want to let them down!

For this reason, I was hoping you all could help me out. I really trust your judgment and would value any advice or suggestions you could give me, whether it be on lighting, posing, technical issues, or anything! They'll all probably be both indoors and outdoors, weather permitting.

These are the shoots I will be doing:

1.) 5 sisters, their significant others, and all of their children. I believe 4 of the children are under the age of 3. They are Mexican, but their skintones range from pale white to dark brown.

2.) At least twice as many people of all ages. It's supposed to be a shoot of two 70+ year olds and all of their children and grandchildren. Extremely huge Catholic family, Mexican and Puerto Rican. One is a newborn, and I'm not sure how many other infants there are, but there is definitely at least one more.

3.) Senior pictures for a short caucasian girl and her tall, indigenous-looking Hispanic boyfriend. Both are very into sports. He has many tattoos and super-long hair. She loves to dance.

4.) Maternity pictures for a beautiful 21-year-old between 6 and 7 months pregnant.

5.) Photos of a 22-year-old mother and her three beautiful children, two girls and one boy. Girl 1: 6 years old, medium length light brown hair. Girl 2: 3 years old, medium length blonde hair. Boy: 1 year old, light brown hair.

6.) Possibly the same situation, but with blonde, short-haired girls aged 3 and 2 and a blonde boy age 1. However, the mother is pregnant with baby number 4!


Like I said, any little bit of input you could give me would be extremely appreciated. And if you could provide a link to an example of something specific you have in mind, I would be even more grateful. I've been looking all over, but one can only do so much searching in Finals Week. If you need a general idea of my abilities, the best bet is to check out my 365 blog.

Thank you!!!

[Happy_Mummy]

I'm fairly new in the technical side of photography, so for lighting and such I can't help you, However I do have 3 little kids and another on the way. Their ages are 4, 3 and 18 months. Getting photos off all of them looking and smiling is near impossible! Also attention span is very low and in particular with my 1 year old I have 30 seconds-2 minutes for a "posed" shot. Things that help are duct taping them in place ;P; giving them something small like a toy, ornament or book then just before you take the photo call their name; another attention getting piece is a small bell that you shake over the camera just before you take the photo (for my sister-in-law's wedding the photographer was overjoyed when I gave them a bell to use and most of the pics have all the kids looking (there were 5 kids all together - 4, 3, 2, 1 and 3 months if memory serves) and even some of them have the older kids looking and smiling!!!); tell the adults not to look at the kids (no comment on how many personal pics I have where the kids are looking at the camera and all the adults are staring at the kids!). Bubbles could also work well to get the kids' (and adults'!!! lol) attention, however it may also cause a stampede to the camera... Depending on how formal/casual they want the pics, bubbles blown by adults in the photo could also work and would help the kids last, however realize that kids want to see where bubbles are coming from, so setting this up could be tricky for the group shots!

When you are setting up the photos skip the younger kids and an adult (or more to watch the kids) so that the kids are "posing' for the shortest period of time and are basically tossed in for a few photos, then they can run off again to come back for another photo.

For maternity pics, but sure to get some side ons as well and facing the front. A cute pic that I have seen is having the Mum or Dad make a heart over the tummy with their hands by putting their hands flat on the tummy, then index finger tips and thumb tips together. Another one is a bow tied around the tummy with a note saying "from god". If they know the gender (or not!) you could take blocks and line them up to write boy or girl (even if they know what they are having I would do both incase there is an ultrasound oops!). You can get lettered blocks at the dollar store for cheap - I think I paid $2 for all the letters of the alphabet. For the Mum expecting #4 you could have the three kids with their heads "surrounding" the tummy. This one might be easier if Mum is able to lie down, that way the kids can be put in the right spot to stay put. I am also considering closer to the end having my kids one me in different ways, but I'm not sure about doing this with younger kids, also not all pregnant women would be willing to hold that much weight, and I'm not sure that I will be able to near the end! lol Anyways, my idea is a side on pic with Cassie (3) on my shoulders, Martin (he will be 22 months when I'm due) "sitting" on the bump and Vanessa (5) "propping" up my belly.

I hope those ideas are helpful and good luck!!!

[xolexo]

Oh my gosh, thank you soooo much! This was really helpful. It just so happens that I went out today and bought some blocks as well as ribbons for those very purposes, and I even planned to do the heart over the belly thing, so it's great to know I'm on the right track and other people enjoy these things! As for the posing of the children on mom, that's an awesome idea I hadn't even thought of at all. They're all very skinny, light kids, so that would work perfectly.

I also bought bubbles today, so that's another thing I find funny! Thanks again for letting me know I'm on the right track. I hadn't thought of the adults using them, though, so I'll have to remember that. A bell is a great idea. I'll make sure to bring one with me.

HAHA duct tape! If my family didn't have issues with adhesives, I'd totally do that. hahahaha

Again, thank you sooo much. You've been truly helpful. Congratulations on your fourth bundle of joy!