Photo shoot faux-pas

[slugger]

I did my first paying family shoot last night. It was for someone I've recently met...so we don't have much history. I was really super nervous. So I thought I had planned EVERYTHING even having the space heater on for an hour before hand (wanted some nude shots of the 7 month old baby). But once we got going, I realized that I hadn't really mentally prepped myself. So....is it bad that I ended up taking 230 pictures and only giving them 28 proofs to look at? I nearly hit the floor when I saw how many I took....but they wanted candid shots.
And when they want candid shots....should I be placing and posing them to get a candid looking shot?
They were really preoccupied with getting the baby to smile....but some of the best pictures were of the baby with her natural expression (although mom and dad had goofy faces trying to get her to smile)....so how do you tell the proud parents that it's cuter when their kid doesn't smile??

THANK-YOU all in advance for your help!! I love this site!

[OsmosisStudios]

Its impossible to get candid shots in a studio setting. They contradict eachother.

As for your ratio: a > 10% ratio is actually not bad. I cant imagine how many pictures I've taken vs the amount I actually LIKE.

[private]

You can get candid shots in a studio session...

and

I think what they may have been looking for is natural shots. Not the "cheese" smiles. Its unfortunate that the parents got in your way. I picked up a trick from a seminar and it was to give the parents a refelector and tell them that you need help with y our lighting. Make sure the reflector is held over their face and far enough from the subjext to NOT distract you. I've only had to do this once...

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by private

You can get candid shots in a studio session...

and

I think what they may have been looking for is natural shots. Not the "cheese" smiles. Its unfortunate that the parents got in your way. I picked up a trick from a seminar and it was to give the parents a refelector and tell them that you need help with y our lighting. Make sure the reflector is held over their face and far enough from the subjext to NOT distract you. I've only had to do this once...

These aren't candid shots-candid shots are where the subject is unaware they are being photographed-Ken

[slugger]

Thank-you for the suggestion Starry Night.

[private]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

These aren't candid shots-candid shots are where the subject is unaware they are being photographed-Ken

IMO - Candid means un posed...

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by private

IMO - Candid means un posed...

Candid means unaware-remember "Candid Camera?"

[BryanC]

Originally Posted by kencaleno

Candid means unaware-remember "Candid Camera?"

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary...

Main Entry:can·did
Pronunciation:\ˈkan-dəd\
Function:adjective
Etymology:French & Latin; French candide, from Latin candidus bright, white, from candēre to shine, glow; akin to Welsh can white, Sanskrit candati it shines
Date:1606
1: white
2: free from bias, prejudice, or malice : fair
3 a: marked by honest sincere expression b: indicating or suggesting sincere honesty and absence of deception c: disposed to criticize severely : blunt
4: relating to or being photography of subjects acting naturally or spontaneously without being posed

From Dictionary.com...

can⋅did  /ˈkændɪd/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [kan-did] Show IPA
–adjective 1. frank; outspoken; open and sincere: a candid critic.
2. free from reservation, disguise, or subterfuge; straightforward: a candid opinion.
3. informal; unposed: a candid photo.
4. honest; impartial: a candid mind.
5. Archaic. white.
6. Archaic. clear; pure.

–noun 7. an unposed photograph.

From Wikipedia...

Description
Candid photography is best described as un-posed and unplanned, immediate and unobtrusive. This is in contrast to classic photography, which includes aspects such as carefully staged portrait photography, landscape photography or object photography. Candid photography catches moments of life from immersion in it.

Candid photography is opposed to the stalking involved in animal photography, sports photography or photographic journalistic intrusion, which all have a focus on getting distant objects photographed, e.g. by using telephoto lenses. Candid photography's setup includes a photographer who is there with the "subjects" to be photographed, close, and not hidden. People photographed on candid shots either ignore or accept the close presence of the photographer's camera without posing.

The events documented are often private, they involve people in close relation to something they do, or they involve people's relation to each other. Candids are the kinds of pictures taken at children's birthday parties and on Christmas morning, opening the presents; the pictures a wedding photographer takes at the reception, of people dancing, eating, and socializing with other guests.

[mariedylan]

baby is really difficult to get shoot!
I feel you, like shooting my baby girl...
I guess i got 1000 shot to get 20 good looking shots. hehehe

that is good for start.