I accidentally set up a couples shoot!

[Civvie]

So I am generally a video guy who does tech/gaming content and was talking to a friend about how my portfolio is lacking in pictures with people in them. One thing lead to another and now I am shooting him and his girl friend next Friday.

As you might expect I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING! So I ask what are some pro tips/online resources that I can use to not make myself look bad?

[Aytex]

focus on the people, make the backround blured

 

BAM ur a pro

[don_svetlio]

Use a Remington 860 - nice kickback and low recoil /jk


No idea mate.

[Litargirio]

So I am generally a video guy who does tech/gaming content and was talking to a friend about how my portfolio is lacking in pictures with people in them. One thing lead to another and now I am shooting him and his girl friend next Friday.

As you might expect I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING! So I ask what are some pro tips/online resources that I can use to not make myself look bad?

 

1: Watch a few tutorials.

 

2: Get another friend to allow you to practice with them.

 

3: Watch a few more tutorials.

 

4: Practice, practice, practice.

 

 

Practice makes the master.

[ChasingPluto]

1: Watch a few tutorials.

 

2: Get another friend to allow you to practice with them.

 

3: Watch a few more tutorials.

 

4: Practice, practice, practice.

 

 

Practice makes the master.

10,000 hours and you'll be a master at the craft!

 

Use a Remington 860 - nice kickback and low recoil /jk

No idea mate.

But shotguns solve all problems!

[don_svetlio]

10,000 hours and you'll be a master at the craft!

 

But shotguns solve all problems!

Error 582: Somebody shot the server with a 12-guage. Please contact your administrator.

[ChasingPluto]

Error 582: Somebody shot the server with a 12-guage. Please contact your administrator.

The server was weak. Lead is strong. By adding lead to the server I have made it stronger! Maths!

[Railgun]

Linus would recommend Lynda.com gg

[ALwin]

So I am generally a video guy who does tech/gaming content and was talking to a friend about how my portfolio is lacking in pictures with people in them. One thing lead to another and now I am shooting him and his girl friend next Friday.

As you might expect I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING! So I ask what are some pro tips/online resources that I can use to not make myself look bad?

 

There isn't any shortcut you can take to make up for lack of experience.  Also it is hard to give you tips because of the unknown variables.

• location
• lighting
• scene setup
• props (talking about the furniture, the gaming monitor/tv, gear, etc. that you may need to include in the photos)

And also, are you recording videos or taking photos?  What sort of scenes are you trying to capture?

[AnonymousGuy]

I shall make up for my lack of talent with bravery!

 

-Richard Hammond.

 

Have soft lighting (overcast days if outdoors), and try to capture people being natural and you'll get at least a decent photo out of it if it's in focus.

[Litargirio]

Linus would recommend Lynda.com gg

 

@Civvie

 

That is actually a really good idea. Go sign up for the free 10-day trial at www.lynda.com/wanshow. You can learn many things there.

[ChasingPluto]

There isn't any shortcut you can take to make up for lack of experience.  Also it is hard to give you tips because of the unknown variables.

• location
• lighting
• scene setup
• props (talking about the furniture, the gaming monitor/tv, gear, etc. that you may need to include in the photos)

And also, are you recording videos or taking photos?  What sort of scenes are you trying to capture?

In all seriousness he's right. Photography is an art and requires intuition gained from experience. You can cut some corners like lighting and props by using an outdoor scene but it would help to know what exactly they want

[ALwin]

focus on the people, make the backround blured

 

BAM ur a pro

 

Bam, you're a noob. 

[Aytex]

Bam, you're a noob. 

[ChasingPluto]

I shall make up for my lack of talent with bravery!

 

-Richard Hammond.

POWER! Bigger camera means better things!

[ALwin]

You can cut some corners like lighting and props by using an outdoor scene but it would help to know what exactly they want

 

There will be times when you want to avoid using any direct sunlight for photography and videos.  Hence the use of light modifiers and knowing how to use them.  Even if you want to photograph or film outdoors, you might want to consider using very large soft boxes and large diffusers, artificial lights, etc. to mimic the appearance that the scene is being lit by the sun.

[Epiceleon]

Use a Remington 860 - nice kickback and low recoil /jk

No idea mate.

hahahaha

[Epiceleon]

Linus would recommend Lynda.com gg

Shameless product placement, is shameless.

[ChasingPluto]

There will be times when you want to avoid using any direct sunlight for photography and videos.  Hence the use of light modifiers and knowing how to use them.  Even if you want to photograph or film outdoors, you might want to consider using very large soft boxes and large diffusers, artificial lights, etc. to mimic the appearance that the scene is being lit by the sun.

I have a sneaking suspicion he doesn't know how to use them

[Civvie]

 try to capture people being natural and you'll get at least a decent photo out of it if it's in focus.

 

Pretty much this is about as far as I currently am but yeah I don't expect it to turn out awesome.

Currently I just told them that I want to shoot them in their "natural" environment and expect that'll be a bunch of outside stuff so I'll bring a gear bag+ reflector+diffuser and hope it turns out for the best.

 

I am already running around looking at youtube videos while I am stuck rendering but the lynda idea is a pretty good one I'll check that out as well.

[ALwin]

in their "natural" environment

  You mean when they game at home in their shorts and underwear with piles of empty bottles and chip bags around them?

[dalekphalm]

So I am generally a video guy who does tech/gaming content and was talking to a friend about how my portfolio is lacking in pictures with people in them. One thing lead to another and now I am shooting him and his girl friend next Friday.

As you might expect I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT I AM DOING! So I ask what are some pro tips/online resources that I can use to not make myself look bad?

So let me just understand this:

 

You're a "video" guy. I assume that means that you're an amateur or semi-professional Videographer/Cinematographer?

 

Do you consider yourself a photographer at all?

If not, why are you even shooting them? Do you wish to expand your photography skills?

 

Anyway, I would start by being HONEST with your friend, and let them know that you're not an expert at this type of photography, and that this situation (shooting them - presumably you're doing it for free?) is for educational purposes, and to expand your portfolio.

 

You need to make sure that they have realistic expectations of what the photos are gonna look like when you are done. No need for them to get super pissed at you because you did a shitty (in their mind) job photographing them.

 

I definitely suggest checking out tips and tutorials online. There are a million places on the web for that. Just Google "outdoor portrait photography tutorial" and start surfing.

 

focus on the people, make the backround blured

 

BAM ur a pro

Frankly, this is a great tip. Some people also really enjoy oversaturated images (really vibrant/almost fake looking colours, with really overblown sunlight, creating a "Jesus" look).

 

@Civvie, if your camera supports it, shoot in RAW format, and then you can do much more extensive editing and touchups with your Image Editor of choice - adjusting the colours, etc.

[ALwin]

I have a sneaking suspicion he doesn't know how to use them

 

I assume a lot of people on this forum don't.  Anyway, the No.1 thing he needs to do, apart from gathering knowledge and experience, is to plan how he wants things done.  If he has imagined something in his mind about how the final product should look like, he needs to figure out how to achieve it.

 

Even for professional photographers like Joe McNally, for every final product they share with the world there are at least 9 photos that didn't make the cut.  Professionals appear professional by choosing what they share and what they omit.

[ChasingPluto]

I assume a lot of people on this forum don't.  Anyway, the No.1 thing he needs to do, apart from gathering knowledge and experience, is to plan how he wants things done.  If he has imagined something in his mind about how the final product should look like, he needs to figure out how to achieve it.

 

Even for professional photographers like Joe McNally, for every final product they share with the world there are at least 9 photos that didn't make the cut.  Professionals appear professional by choosing what they share and what they omit.

That's whats nice about photography. You can go out and take 200 photos in a shoot with different techniques and then decide what you want the world to see

[ALwin]

A great example of planning and preparation that goes into a photo shoot.  Did you actually think that the photographer went to a store, bought a few burgers and just took photos of it to make this (see image)