How fast is too fast? 2 shots/min

I see some photographers promoting 30 minute sessions and promising 15 finished images.

That averages 2 minutes per image. (Just for taking the photos.)

I know I'm kind of methodical in my approach, and am not the fastest gun in the west, but a good photo every 2 minutes doesn't seem reasonable to me. It doesn't allow for the occasional closed eyes, out-of-focus shot, the model moving at the last second, etc.

Is there something I'm missing here?

Yes, the other shooter's lack of talent and experience. Amazingly, some will be perfectly fine with the results of that type of session. There's a level of sophistication for every client.

photoguy6405 wrote in post #19219577
I see some photographers promoting 30 minute sessions and promising 15 finished images.

That averages 2 minutes per image. (Just for taking the photos.)

I know I'm kind of methodical in my approach, and am not the fastest gun in the west, but a good photo every 2 minutes doesn't seem reasonable to me. It doesn't allow for the occasional closed eyes, out-of-focus shot, the model moving at the last second, etc.

Is there something I'm missing here?

I volunteer for family portrait sessions of first-time guests at my church for Thanksgiving and Mother's Day (yep, this weekend). I'll be taking family portraits at the rate of 2 minutes per family. Maybe three minutes if there's six or ten members in the family. I'll usually get three or four shots, then I'll edit them in the camera to deliver a card of JPEGs to the staff that will distribute the digitals. I will usually do about fifty families during the morning.

It's a cattle stampede, and I long ago gave up trying to be creative with each family. I have a standard methodology for handling people quickly, and the only lighting change I'll make is to swing my main light from one side to the other. It's pretty high-pressure for me to make it low-pressure for them. Kind of like speed dating.

They get more than they expect, and it's free. The pastor loves the program.