Dealing with family

The newborn is not my only problem. My other sessions I had planned with my close family it felt like they didn't take my time serious. I know I should of got the shot I wanted the first time and maybe the reshoot wasn't a good idea. I figured I could use family first instead of asking on Facebook. I posted in another forum and the response was that people do want something in return so I should just give them what I got either on print or disc and maybe they will be willing to be my practice subject more. I don't have kids to practice on daily.

OneDeep wrote in post #16559250
The newborn is not my only problem. My other sessions I had planned with my close family it felt like they didn't take my time serious.

You really need to step back and re-frame your thinking on this or else you are going to continue to be frustrated and you are going to damage your relationship with your family.

You are the one who wants pictures, you are the one trying to build a portfolio. Not your family. Of course they do not respect your time.....they are doing you a favor!

You are the one that really needs to respect their time, not the other way around. If you cannot get good shots in one reasonable length session, then you need to get yourself to that point before you start practicing on your family. Use dolls, use paid models.

Acting hurt because people put limits on how much effort they are willing to put in when doing you a complete favor is going to make them not want to help you at all. I'm not sure where you got the idea that everyone owes you to work as your unpaid model, but I can assure you that this approach will leave you with zero models very soon.

My advice... stick to personal training where people will pay you to tell them what to do... it is clear that you somehow think people volunteering their time can be bossed about in the same way especially when you fail to delivet the goods in the alloted time frame.

It also sounds like they might be having some sport giving you a hard time. You might be better off taking the earlier suggestion to hire some models. A note posted on a bulletin board in a coffee shop might net you some willing subjects.

JeffreyG wrote in post #16556931
2) I get the feeling you do not have any kids. Having a newborn can be difficult, especially for a first time mother. The mother may have significant physical recuperation going on from delivery (especially in case of a surgical birth) and she may be a little overwhelmed with a new person that is suddenly dependent on her for everything all day long. Getting up several times a night can be disorienting too.

And here you come, pissed at her for not supporting your portfolio development with her time and her child, who you really just see as another prop (albeit one you do not have to purchase).

This, this, this.

cdifoto wrote in post #16558681
If you want unlimited access to a newborn baby, make one of your own. The cost of those props won't be squat compared to your other expenses...and stresses.

OneDeep wrote in post #16559250
The newborn is not my only problem.

Yes, that's pretty clear, as others have noted.

Also, get an avatar that makes sense, that's not helping with the overall perception.

OneDeep wrote in post #16559250
I posted in another forum and the response was that people do want something in return so I should just give them what I got either on print or disc and maybe they will be willing to be my practice subject more.

You mean you've been asking for their time without even offering any pictures in return?! And you complain that they've lost interest I couldn't find the facepalm smiley or I'd have used it here.

I only shoot for fun but I'm grateful when people are willing to let me practice on them and will always email them the best of the pictures as a courtesy and a way of saying thanks. Why on earth would you not do the same in these circumstances? I know you weren't entirely happy with your photos but I think you should give them the best of what you took anyway.

You still shouldn't expect that they'll be interested in being practice subjects again; they have other things to do with their time.

Newborns are very hard especially for a breast feeding mother. For the first couple months everything is done on the baby's schedule.

These are your relatives presumably you like each other. How about saying..." Hey I missed you the other day. You must be swamped. I'd love to bring dinner over for you. I'd like to try and get some more pictures if he's up for it but I know babies can be unpredictable".

Do this every month. You'll cement a life long relationship. You'll learn the wonder of children and get better at photography all at the same time. Of course it might make you want to have one of your own.

I know you're frustrated because you had a deal and they just didn't show. That sucks. However with a newborn all bets are off.

OneDeep wrote in post #16559250
The newborn is not my only problem. My other sessions I had planned with my close family it felt like they didn't take my time serious. I know I should of got the shot I wanted the first time and maybe the reshoot wasn't a good idea. I figured I could use family first instead of asking on Facebook. I posted in another forum and the response was that people do want something in return so I should just give them what I got either on print or disc and maybe they will be willing to be my practice subject more. I don't have kids to practice on daily.

To be blunt this is the word that comes through loud and clear in your posts in this thread. Personally my response to you on any of it would have been to go pound sand...if I were in a good mood.

These people, especially the ones with a TWO-WEEK-OLD aren't there for you to use. They're barely there for themselves.

J Michael wrote in post #16558676
You learn something new every day. I didn't know that they went bad after 14 days. I always thought it was 2 years. lol.

They just get spoiled early on. They really go bad at about 13.

Unless the attitude changes, your experiences with clients will be most interesting.

ryanshoots wrote in post #16566832
Unless the attitude changes, your experiences with clients will be most interesting.

100% agreed. A "professional" photographer with the same attitude that you have here will not make it. Your business is in client relations and you then happen to take their pictures. If you cant manage that with family good luck with your typical baby/mother, senior, bridezilla, etc...

Overall it sounds like there is much more to work on before you try to build your portfolio.

Well I order some prints from mpix that I will give them as gifts. So hopefully they will like them enough to be more excited for future shots.

OneDeep wrote in post #16571280
Well I order some prints from mpix that I will give them as gifts. So hopefully they will like them enough to be more excited for future shots.

Again with the acting like it's all you doing the favors. It's not a gift, it's a thank-you-for-your-time repayment.

OneDeep wrote in post #16571280
Well I order some prints from mpix that I will give them as gifts. So hopefully they will like them enough to be more excited for future shots.

You're still missing the point. Stop acting like you're somehow Mr. Magnanimous sharing all your wonderous talents. They're excited about their new addition, not about you taking up their incredibly limited time.