Dealing with family

cdifoto wrote in post #16571362
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.

I might of worded it wrong. I didn't mean gift in a bad way just gift as in I appericate them for helping. I'm not being ungrateful because I want to take pictures of my family and learn as I go. My first post was a rant but I now know people want something for their time as well.

I'm glad you ordered the prints and I hope your family like them.

Count your blessings. My family is relentless about me bringing my camera to every stupid gathering.

I take my camera with me everywhere as I still trying to master the craft of photography. So far, it as taught me a lot, even if POTN is a better teacher.
But people know that the photos I take are often learning tools and don't expect anything in return, but I generally take at least a few of the shots and process them for the subject to have. It costs very little to get something printed and sent to them.

If I needed to practice, a baby is not what I would practice on first.

do you know correct exposure? Correct white balance? what it is and how to get it? Lighting patterns and how to implement them? Much better to find someone to practice with than impose on family. JMHO.

I'd pack the props in a bag, make (or buy) some ready to eat food for them, call and find out when it would be a good time to come over. Bring the prints and if you get the feel that things are calm and the parents aren't too stressed, mention you have your props and what they think about doing some more shots. Forget about portfolio, think about them and what they'd like to see, use feedback you get from your prints gift. We were zombies the first weeks with our kids, 3am walking up and down the hall trying to remember nursery songs, 2pm sleeping on the couch, eating when ever, etc. It's exhausting. Having them come to your house or studio is a lot of work for them, much easier if you bring your stuff along, set up in a spare room or corner. Maybe you can even leave things in their guest room etc, make it easy for them.

Also, if it's their first, they are probably overprotective, thinking the baby might break any minute like a china doll. Get a feel for how they're doing and fit in.

My friends just had their baby and I'm itching to take photos, but on their time, when ever they feel rested enough. Especially for infant photography, you have to be very flexible, set aside a good amount of time, and not pout if nothing comes from it. Babies are unpredictable, parents are tired, stressed, worried, exhausted, elated, all at the same time. Mom might deal with post partum depression, who knows. Having a baby is completely life changing, more than having to adjust to a missing limb. Be gentle, fun, helpful, I'm sure you'll get some great pictures the parents will love and with some luck, enough great ones to add to your portfolio.

good luck and congrats to the parents!

Ever thought about getting into Landscape Photography?

phantelope wrote in post #16591588
I'd pack the props in a bag, make (or buy) some ready to eat food for them, call and find out when it would be a good time to come over. Bring the prints and if you get the feel that things are calm and the parents aren't too stressed, mention you have your props and what they think about doing some more shots. Forget about portfolio, think about them and what they'd like to see, use feedback you get from your prints gift. We were zombies the first weeks with our kids, 3am walking up and down the hall trying to remember nursery songs, 2pm sleeping on the couch, eating when ever, etc. It's exhausting. Having them come to your house or studio is a lot of work for them, much easier if you bring your stuff along, set up in a spare room or corner. Maybe you can even leave things in their guest room etc, make it easy for them.

Also, if it's their first, they are probably overprotective, thinking the baby might break any minute like a china doll. Get a feel for how they're doing and fit in.

My friends just had their baby and I'm itching to take photos, but on their time, when ever they feel rested enough. Especially for infant photography, you have to be very flexible, set aside a good amount of time, and not pout if nothing comes from it. Babies are unpredictable, parents are tired, stressed, worried, exhausted, elated, all at the same time. Mom might deal with post partum depression, who knows. Having a baby is completely life changing, more than having to adjust to a missing limb. Be gentle, fun, helpful, I'm sure you'll get some great pictures the parents will love and with some luck, enough great ones to add to your portfolio.

good luck and congrats to the parents!

Great ideas. Just to add another one to the mix . . . I was desperately in need of help around the house when our little one was just born. If someone had volunteered to wash dishes, do the laundry, or clean the bathroom, etc. I would have been so appreciative I would have agreed to just about anything.