STICKY:  How to photograph a high school Senior

BoneJj wrote in post #12171412
I've run into a few situations that have resulted in the parents not being able to make it to the session but the "child" was able to make it. I have a strict rule that a parent or guardian must be present for anyone underage for myself. I'm not going to deal with any possibilities of any issues to arise. Now if they are 18, I don't care. I get a number of seniors that have just turned 18 and I have no issue with them coming on their own as long as I know that mom or dad will still be taking care of the payments.

If in doubt, just don't do it... IMHO. I don't want to leave any room for anything.

To date I have only done one underage person without the parent present and that was only because I am really good friends with the mother and the rest of the family.

With ya 100% on this statement. It is our policy as well. Parent or friends of the student must be present at the session at all times. Period end of conversation. And if its a glam session, Parent must be present, end of conversation.

I get my cheater books out and show MOM, this is the look i was thinking about. Whats your thoughts? You will know instantly where that line in the sand is.

If you are a male photographer,do not under any circumstances work alone with a minor in your studio. You are asking for trouble. Parent always works best.

JakAHearts wrote in post #12171283
I also dont get the implied topless? Couldnt it be implied tube top? :LOL

No visible clothing. Not exactly "senior portrait" material.

Good, even awesome, in any other context though.

umphotography wrote in post #12171666
With ya 100% on this statement. It is our policy as well. Parent or friends of the student must be present at the session at all times. Period end of conversation. And if its a glam session, Parent must be present, end of conversation.

I get my cheater books out and show MOM, this is the look i was thinking about. Whats your thoughts? You will know instantly where that line in the sand is.

If you are a male photographer,do not under any circumstances work alone with a minor in your studio. You are asking for trouble. Parent always works best.

your cheater books. Are these bought or made by you. I could use a couple cheater books myself to help people to know what I want them to do. Mostly what I have been doing is just putting up a photo on my phone and telling them that this is exactly what I want you you to do.... It works really well. granted I have to do some minor instruction after they "try" to do the pose but it really does help in shortening posing time, doesn't matter who they are.

I would like some books that I can just set out on my coffee table for them to look through.

BoneJj wrote in post #12172196
your cheater books. Are these bought or made by you. I could use a couple cheater books myself to help people to know what I want them to do. Mostly what I have been doing is just putting up a photo on my phone and telling them that this is exactly what I want you you to do.... It works really well. granted I have to do some minor instruction after they "try" to do the pose but it really does help in shortening posing time, doesn't matter who they are.

I would like some books that I can just set out on my coffee table for them to look through.

Bone - you *can* start with the link in my sig - it is a posing PDF. I have it hotlinked from the original person who posted it. Unfortunately I have long since forgotten who that was but I "met" them on here I think.

The other thing that a lot of other togs do is when you see a photo online, right click->save as into a "inspiration" folder on your computer. I cannot tell you how many of Phams, Tonys, Tiffanys and Michaels images I have in mine. If you see a shot you like in a magazine, clip it and put it into a 'photo album'.

I am sure that there are published books out there, but if you do all of the above, you wont really need them.

wow.. such a discussion about a glam shot..

mother was present at the shoot at the spa.. so it all ok..

but i understand both sides of the arguments..

---------------

Megan Senior ~ The Golden Spring Flowers

Working on Senior photos for Megan..

she is a straight A student and will be going on to get her degree in the Medical Field..

mother held the quadra with the deep octa about 5 feet camera left

CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperturef/4.0
Focal Length85 mm
ISO Speed100
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashOff, Did not fire

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/5596989508/

Pham

are you using a bee with that deep octa ?? Kacey makes an adapter for the bees. gonna wait and see if i get busy enough to justify one. They look awesome.

great dynamics in that shot pham.... cute but sexy at the same time with the pose. keeps the young woman aspect to the photo.

I think I need to start a garden in the back yard so that I can have an easy place to do photos, lol.

umphotography wrote in post #12173712
Pham

are you using a bee with that deep octa ?? Kacey makes an adapter for the bees. gonna wait and see if i get busy enough to justify one. They look awesome.

kacey?

I just got the Einstein a few weeks back and have been loving the hell out of it.....

I'm going to be using it on an upcoming shoot with the 47" PCB octa. I also have the 22" H.O.Beauty Dish. I've been so happy with the test shots I've been doing lately with friends, great soft light. I also just got a Manfrotto 1005 stand, loving that. really supports the light like I need.

@ Mike and BoneJi

i use the quadra on the alum pole with the kacey adaptor...

the quadra is very light weight. almost lighter than a speed light. but 8 times the power

now putting an alien bee on the pole is a bit much, i would say that would be way too heavy for mothers to hold for me.. unless you have a good assistant..

i don't use the alien bee with the deep octa at all...

I'm still trying to find out what this kacey adapter is, I've searched a few sites now with no worth while results.

BoneJj wrote in post #12176626
I'm still trying to find out what this kacey adapter is, I've searched a few sites now with no worth while results.

http://www.kaceyenterp​rises.com/?page_id=447

I just made one, it basically is a threaded paint pole adapter that on the other end has a male adapter that fits our lights.
what I did was to purchase a paint roller that had the plastic handle and a roller frame that was metal, I cut the roller off and left a 1/2 inch of the metal next to the handle, then I took a 1/4 -20 threaded die and threaded the metal.

once I had the metal threaded, I simply attached one of the brass studs to that, for less than $5 and 10 minutes of effort I had one.

Works great

phamster wrote in post #12176564
@ Mike and BoneJi

i use the quadra on the alum pole with the kacey adaptor...

the quadra is very light weight. almost lighter than a speed light. but 8 times the power

now putting an alien bee on the pole is a bit much, i would say that would be way too heavy for mothers to hold for me.. unless you have a good assistant..

i don't use the alien bee with the deep octa at all...

Actually AB800 on a kacey pole with vagabond mini is quite light setup. Easier to manage than two speedlites on kacey beauty dish. I started with shorter shurline pole but now got a longer pole where one end is on the ground, so no more weight issue except keeping the pole in position where I like it.

bbeck4x4 wrote in post #12176732
I just made one, it basically is a threaded paint pole adapter that on the other end has a male adapter that fits our lights.
what I did was to purchase a paint roller that had the plastic handle and a roller frame that was metal, I cut the roller off and left a 1/2 inch of the metal next to the handle, then I took a 1/4 -20 threaded die and threaded the metal.

once I had the metal threaded, I simply attached one of the brass studs to that, for less than $5 and 10 minutes of effort I had one.

Works great

That's a pretty good idea right there. not bad.

I however need to find an adapter that will hold my paul buff octa and take the weight off the einstein. I'm going to be getting some other modifiers and I want something that can support the weight instead of having my einstein support all the weight.
_______
thanks for the link on the Kacey stuff


.

mother held the quadra with the deep octa about 5 feet camera left

CameraCanon EOS 5D Mark II
Exposure0.004 sec (1/250)
Aperturef/4.0
Focal Length85 mm
ISO Speed100
Exposure Bias0 EV
FlashOff, Did not fire

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/-phamster-/5599538312/