Would you recommend using continuous lighting for school portraits as well? Or stick with the flash? Another question.. Wouldn't be easier to send a note to the parents via the children and have the parents select the sets they want? And also pay before you take the photos... This way you would only shoot and print the pictures of the kids whose parents already paid for..
Hi Sam, I use continuous and strobe lighting equally. I think that choice depends on you. I will say that strobes are easier to manage when you don’t have a power outlet available, or if you don’t have a portable power bank. My strobes use AA batteries, so I just bring a lot and change them as needed. Packages are another customer-by-school topic. Prepaying would be great because of all the reasons you mention, but some schools aren’t up for it. Some schools want me to print all the images and deliver them to the school and then the pictures go on sale. Of course there’s a lot of cost up front and a lot of waste too. That’s the way most schools I deal with want it. The last option for me is the way I describe in the video. Best of both worlds, bit still not the most popular way to do it. I think it’s up to you. What do you think?
@@RobertHamm Oh I undestand! Thank you so much for the reply.. I'm getting into School photography here in my country, Brazil, and let's just say photography gear here is not cheap! School photos is not something done by a lot a people here... thanks again!
Hi Robert, thank you for the videos. I'm wondering how do you keep track of the students you photograph? For example, do you have them fill out a index card? Take a mug shot before the real shots? Thanks
Hi, FatFro. Good question. For all schools I photograph I make a poster for each class/grade and all the students in it. This poster looks similar to the photographs I displayed in this video- think about a very nice index sheet. I use Lightroom to rename the files with an image number that is sequential. Then, when I print the index sheets, I have Lightroom display the file number for each photo. Finally, when parents view the poster and decide to purchase, they just write the image number down, the package they want, and then supply payment with the order form. It's easy. The nice part is when it's all done the school has a nice poster with all of their enrollment on it. All of my schools have 200 or fewer children. Cheers.
Hi Robert, I have a series of questions. What type of paper do you use to print the pictures on? What website do you use to create your order forms? And what type of paper do you use for the order forms? Also, do you use Lightroom for all editing and to place on the order form? Best regards, Courtney
Hi Courtney. I use a DNP DS80 and use the 8x10 DNP media for the printer. Check it out, it's a dye sublimation pronter- prints in 20 seconds, no ink, high gloss or matte, you wouldn't want an inkjet printer for school portrait applications. I don't use a website to create my order forms, I use Microsoft word and to make the forms. I use Lightroom to edit all my images and to put my watermark and school year on the photos where appropriate.
Robert Hamm thanks so much for the helpful info! Where do you find the order form paper for schools? The kind that have the detachable envelope on the bottom. And do you insert each child’s photo on Microsoft word once you crest your form? I am a new photographer so trying to learn new things
Robert Hamm Photography ok so where do you get your custom backdrops for your westcott xdrop backdrop? How Many kids do you shoot? What's an alternative to to like Google forms? I'm shooting a daycare. 65 kids. Apparently the parents aren't tech savvy. Where can I get that printer you mentioned? Do you have assistance? What ate your packages? With the proof sheets you send the parents an individual cut out in that 3x2 size and that's fine for them? (they don't complain?) how many poses do you do? Thanks in advance.
Would you recommend using continuous lighting for school portraits as well?
Or stick with the flash?
Another question..
Wouldn't be easier to send a note to the parents via the children and have the parents select the sets they want? And also pay before you take the photos... This way you would only shoot and print the pictures of the kids whose parents already paid for..
Hi Sam, I use continuous and strobe lighting equally. I think that choice depends on you. I will say that strobes are easier to manage when you don’t have a power outlet available, or if you don’t have a portable power bank. My strobes use AA batteries, so I just bring a lot and change them as needed.
Packages are another customer-by-school topic. Prepaying would be great because of all the reasons you mention, but some schools aren’t up for it. Some schools want me to print all the images and deliver them to the school and then the pictures go on sale. Of course there’s a lot of cost up front and a lot of waste too. That’s the way most schools I deal with want it. The last option for me is the way I describe in the video. Best of both worlds, bit still not the most popular way to do it. I think it’s up to you. What do you think?
@@RobertHamm Oh I undestand! Thank you so much for the reply.. I'm getting into School photography here in my country, Brazil, and let's just say photography gear here is not cheap! School photos is not something done by a lot a people here... thanks again!
Do you print them yourself and what kind of paper you use and what kind of printer
I print myself using the DNP DS 80 and the paper for it. Check out imaging spectrum dot com.
Hi Robert, thank you for the videos. I'm wondering how do you keep track of the students you photograph? For example, do you have them fill out a index card? Take a mug shot before the real shots? Thanks
Hi, FatFro. Good question. For all schools I photograph I make a poster for each class/grade and all the students in it. This poster looks similar to the photographs I displayed in this video- think about a very nice index sheet. I use Lightroom to rename the files with an image number that is sequential. Then, when I print the index sheets, I have Lightroom display the file number for each photo. Finally, when parents view the poster and decide to purchase, they just write the image number down, the package they want, and then supply payment with the order form. It's easy. The nice part is when it's all done the school has a nice poster with all of their enrollment on it. All of my schools have 200 or fewer children. Cheers.
Hi Robert,
I have a series of questions. What type of paper do you use to print the pictures on? What website do you use to create your order forms? And what type of paper do you use for the order forms? Also, do you use Lightroom for all editing and to place on the order form?
Best regards,
Courtney
Hi Courtney. I use a DNP DS80 and use the 8x10 DNP media for the printer. Check it out, it's a dye sublimation pronter- prints in 20 seconds, no ink, high gloss or matte, you wouldn't want an inkjet printer for school portrait applications. I don't use a website to create my order forms, I use Microsoft word and to make the forms. I use Lightroom to edit all my images and to put my watermark and school year on the photos where appropriate.
Robert Hamm thanks so much for the helpful info! Where do you find the order form paper for schools? The kind that have the detachable envelope on the bottom. And do you insert each child’s photo on Microsoft word once you crest your form? I am a new photographer so trying to learn new things
Do you charge the school to come in do the images or you just make your profit through the packages
+vintage Photography I don't charge the school for taking the portraits. The only money that is made is from picture sales.
I have so many questions
Robert Hamm Photography ok so where do you get your custom backdrops for your westcott xdrop backdrop? How Many kids do you shoot? What's an alternative to to like Google forms? I'm shooting a daycare. 65 kids. Apparently the parents aren't tech savvy. Where can I get that printer you mentioned? Do you have assistance? What ate your packages? With the proof sheets you send the parents an individual cut out in that 3x2 size and that's fine for them? (they don't complain?) how many poses do you do? Thanks in advance.
I like it