Author Topic: Family portrait  (Read 3737 times)

econberkeley

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Family portrait
« on: March 30, 2013, 08:16:42 AM »
We want to have a family portrait with our 3 month old baby. Based on my initial search, we have to pay at least $150 for a cd with pictures. What is the mustachian way get this done?

DocCyane

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Re: Family portrait
« Reply #1 on: March 30, 2013, 10:12:17 AM »
Perhaps you know someone who enjoys photography as a hobby and would do some photos at little to no charge. I can't imagine paying for portrait photography in the age of the digital camera.

prosaic

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Re: Family portrait
« Reply #2 on: March 30, 2013, 10:40:57 AM »
Our absolute favorite family photo was of our family when our first two kids were 3.5 and newborn (we've gone on to have a third). An acquaintance came with her camera and took a ton of shots outside (this was early May, Easter time), positioned us in various ways, and took the "baby on a white blanket" and closeups of the baby's feet.

She then gave us the photos and negatives. I think we spent $75.

No studio, no screaming kids from other families, no other moms saying "Quit crying and smile!" through gritted teeth to their kids in the booth over, no packing a baby in the car and worrying about spit-up, no baby overwhelmed and overstimulated by the noise and stress.

For $150 you can have the same old, same old studio shots everyone else has and all that hassle. I suspect for less you can find someone who will come to your house and do some nice, customized shots.

sol

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Re: Family portrait
« Reply #3 on: March 30, 2013, 11:42:50 AM »
IF you just walk into the photo studio at JC Penny's you'll end up paying a lot less than $150, unless you order a ton of prints.

swick

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Re: Family portrait
« Reply #4 on: March 30, 2013, 12:33:00 PM »
Prosaic has great advice :)

The whole industry is moving away from "Studio" portraits and such for families. It is always easier to get more natural shouts in either a familiar setting (your home) or outdoors or in a place that is significant to your family.

You could contact your local collage or even Community Arts Council and inquire about local photographers who do "location" portraits. They might have some suggestions for young photographers who are trying to build their portfolio.

Also there might be an option to barter services or goods, especially with photographers who want to set-up a business (sometimes the left brained business stuff is a challenge) Maybe they would just be grateful for some home cooked meals.

Once you have the photos (make sure you get them on disk and a decent file size) you can turn to Groupon and take advantage of their online deals and create yourself a photobook, canavas print or any of the 100 other products out there.

All that being said, as a professional photographer, it does hurt to hear things like *I can't imagine paying for portraits in the age of digital cameras* There is a lot going on besides simply pressing the shutter. A good photographer will know proper framing, composition, what you should wear to get the best look, styling, specific photography techniques, lighting, be able to direct and instruct you, make you feel comfortable. Plus have a wider variety of equipment and editing capabilities and get those amazing shots that someone just pressing a shutter won't be able to do.

Good Luck :)

 

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