Beach Portraits---ahhhhhhh

[1downfall]

hey all fellow members!! I have a dilemma. I shoot mostly my kids and sports and fun stuff. I have decent ability in this area.....i would say! However, one of my Soccer moms has seen my soccer pics and thinks they are good. So, now she has asked if I could help her out and shoot her and her 2 kids at the beach. I would love to!! BUT....I am not a portrait picture taker that i think I could sell. Maybe I will do it for free......
Could you please provide me with some links or feedback as to how I should go about this?
should I invest in a portrait book real quick? thanks all!

[daduls]

Looks like you have enough gear to do whatever you want.

I would suggest you pack your bags and use this as an opportunity to drag your significant other to the beach and take some pictures, or your kids no less.

Snap away and takes notes of time, weather conditions, and camera settings and voila, you have your own how to guide.

If you're really worried I would say this is the safest way to find out what settings to use. Don't forget to do some flash work.

Also, it's up to you but your time is worth money.

Just my $0.02

[fishingjts]

Ok... I've spent a fair amount of time in the sand this summer with our 2 and 4 year olds... I've learned more about fill flash than I ever imagined! LOL!



As far a portrait taker and getting an pics that would sell, well... how old are the kids? Perhaps you just let the kids be kids and go for the candid shots? I know when I'm going through my pictures and I'm ready to hit "delete" my wife smacks me and says "Don't delete that! It's a Kodak moment!"

for example... My wife really likes this picture... hardly a "portrait"



and here is a boring snapshot, completely ignoring the rule of 1/3rds... but again the wife loves it!



But really for me the key this summer was learning to use my 430EX! (and i did that with lots of practice! LOL)

[1downfall]

those are very cute pictures!! love them! ty for the feedback. I will most likely get something for my work! I think I will try the wife and kids approach! ty!

[JasonRussell]

Are you in the hampton roads area? If so check out the website in my sig. We usually try to get together every once in a while and are actually planning a beach meet up.

Its always nice to have people close by willing to help

[1downfall]

Originally Posted by JasonRussell

Are you in the hampton roads area? If so check out the website in my sig. We usually try to get together every once in a while and are actually planning a beach meet up.

Its always nice to have people close by willing to help

Awesome! yes i am in the Va beach area. I will check out the site! ty.

[Cherryetie]

Consider the following subjects for the photos instead of simply having the kids standing looking at or away from the water:

making a sandcastle, focused on the task
same... looking up - get them to smile
writing in the sand
walking hand in hand along the beach with Mom
all feet pointed to the water, just feet
same, at writing in the sand

etc.

the potential for interesting photos is endless

[Littlejon Dsgn]

Originally Posted by Cherryetie

Consider the following subjects for the photos instead of simply having the kids standing looking at or away from the water:

making a sandcastle, focused on the task
same... looking up - get them to smile
writing in the sand
walking hand in hand along the beach with Mom
all feet pointed to the water, just feet
same, at writing in the sand

etc.

the potential for interesting photos is endless

Wow you brought that one back from the dead

[ChunkyDA]

Originally Posted by Littlejon Dsgn

Wow you brought that one back from the dead

Maybe that's why there is no website in the sig. I need to check the dates on some of these ancient dredgings.

[Ephur]

Well, was good advice, and now that summer is officially underway with all my kids out school gave some good tips that I wasn't looking for on capturing our summer lake and beach trips!