Shoot: Parents Together & Mom Alone
Elena S Blair
Lessons
Class Introduction
10:48 2What is Meaningful Lifestyle Family Photography?
15:37 3Settings for Shoots
10:50 4Light, Composition & Location
10:47 5Settings Q&A
08:54 6Why Connection is Important
15:11 7Connection Q&A
09:36 8Session Experience
10:43Marketing Strategy for Lifestyle Family Photography
09:34 10Family Preparation
14:11 11How to Get to Know Families Fast
12:22 12The Actual Shoot
08:10 13Considerations for a Photograph
11:43 14The Family Session Workflow
07:38 15Shoot: Start Standing
05:49 16Shoot: Money Shot & Siblings
05:08 17Shoot: Time to be Seated
06:41 18Shoot: Portrait of Each Child
02:09 19Shoot: Laying Down
04:25 20Shoot: Mom & Dad Alone with Child
06:50 21Shoot: Movement Poses & Everyone in The Frame
04:07 22Shoot: Parents Together & Mom Alone
04:40 23Additional Shoot Considerations
04:38 24Review Images from Shoot
07:17 25Shoot Q&A
08:23 26Pricing & Business Strategy
21:15 27My Editing Strategy
04:54 28How to Cull Images
03:44 29Outsourcing Post Production
12:53 30Image Gallery Delivery
08:42 31Pricing & Business Q&A
11:00 32Finalize The Client Experience
05:20Lesson Info
Shoot: Parents Together & Mom Alone
So I like to spoil mom and dad at sessions often. They will tell me that they have not had photos taken since their wedding. So I like to do the them. Switch back to my 15 millimeter ... please. And when we're at, you know, out at the location, this is a great time for the kids to have a break again, too. They get to kind of chill and do what they want to do. I'm just gonna put this 50 back on it's a better portrait lens. I don't usually have this awesome helper here that would be really cool. (laughter) Usually it's just me like shuffling the stuff all around. Alright, so we're gonna get mom and dad. And this, we're gonna get a little ... I told them, I warned them about this cause they- Okay so girls you can go hang out over there for a second. Okay so come close, to get, come out like this. Alright so I want you to get together again. I want you to put your knee in between his legs like that, yep, just like that. And then I want you to- Marcy to put your head back, like that. Well s...
he's so beautiful, right, you gotta, I mean- Come on. And then you're gonna kiss her, right here on her neck. Go on. (laughter) (camera clicking) Yeah ... See? How beautiful. Okay now you can look at each other. (camera clicking) Perfect, okay, now stand in front of him, okay, now turn around, yep, back up to him. Yeah, like that. Like a prom pose. No prom, we're not going to prom. You're gonna put you hand out like this. I'm gonna choke her. No don't choke her either. (laughter) We're not gonna choke her and we're not going to prom. I want this hand over her, on her too. Hey hang on this hand ... You're gonna kinda of move yourself to the side a little bit ... yeah just like that. Get your hair out. My hair. I know you're hot, hon, it's hot in here. That's fine. Okay, and then kiss her right on her temple there. Marcy look at me. (camera clicking) Now I want you to tell her something in her ear that's gonna totally embarrass her and make her laugh right now. Go ahead, go ahead. (laughter) (camera clicking) (laughing) (camera clicking) Perfect. (camera clicking) Perfect you guys. You guys are awesome. Alright, nice work, okay. And I will totally embarrass them like that. Sorry, not usually in front of this many people, but. Okay, I'm all about it, guys. This is important, they need to know that they still have each other, right? And then, I will always get a picture of mom. We are gonna die undocumented, us women in this world, because even if we're not professional photographers, we are the photographer in the family, right? We are the ones that are with that camera phone, taking pictures of our family. Our kids need pictures of us looking like this. I, some of my favorite, favorite like family heirlooms are pictures of my mom when she was younger. It's just like, such a treasure and there aren't very many of them, so I take mom aside at every session and I grab a couple shots. She's usually super uncomfortable, when she is I ask her not to look at me. So same concepts, kind of go all through the whole shoot. I love to do this for mom, so come on Marcy. I know you're probably not excited about it. (laughter) Perfect. So just kind of relax and you can do whatever feels good with your hands, like if you wanna maybe cross them or like that. Yeah, no, don't do that. (laughter) So don't be afraid too, like if you do something and it doesn't work then just change it. Like it's no problem, right, it's okay we can be wrong. Okay, so I want you to bend one knee, bending your knee relaxes the body. I'm not like a pro-woman poser but it definitely does. Then look over that shoulder, like that. And down a little bit ... Down a little bit more. With you chin. Yeah perfect. (camera clicking) Now turn actually, turn this way for me. Like that, like that. I love your hair like this. Now look down again. Now kind of come up with your left hand into your hair a little bit like that. (camera clicking) Beautiful. (camera clicking) Okay so go ahead and look right at me. (camera clicking) Now just turn over and look at your family. (camera clicking) Perfect. Alright, there we go. We got it you're welcome. So important to do that. Do it, it will be such a gift. And they're all gonna be like "really". Yes, we're gonna spend ten seconds doing this, I know that you don't wanna, but it's super important. Okay, I hate having my photo taken, too, you guys. Trust me.
Class Materials
Ratings and Reviews
Armstrong Su
is super knowledgable, yet down-to-earth and relatable. I love how he explains the exact gear he uses but also describes ways to accomplish the same look using DIY and less expensive alternatives. The segment where he demos a live shoot in multiple, difficult lighting situations is worth the cost of the class alone! Bonus: He's super funny. He could probably double as a comedian on the side, but I digress. This class was informative, funny, and very practical for any photographer that wants to increase their profit and expand their business into the professional world. He gives all his prices and workflows so you can get up and running in 2 days! :) Awesome class overall, and it's a great sequel to his professional headshot class (which I also bought and loved.)
Sandra Kay Hayes
I am totally in tears watching this, and think that every person going into Photography should watch these. She is a great teacher, and helps us to understand our "why" so much better. I also LOVE that she helps one feel confident with the non-perfect, (or so called) shots, Thank you so much for giving me more confidence to shot what I love and not worry about "rules!!". Best class I've taken I will recommend her to every group I am in!!!
Julia Khris
Elena is a great presenter. Delivers information in a very fun and engaging way. This course would be good for a beginner photographer. She shares the basics, but unfortunately doesn't quite provide advice on the more tricky questions. She shares a lot about her current state of business (10 years in and making enough profit to afford hiring staff). This is great to know what to aim for, however, it would be more beneficial to hear more about HOW to get to this stage. The main idea that I took from this course is: outsource as many processes as you can. Elena doesn't have a very distinctive style (no offence, but there is a huge competition in the style and editing that she works with), I would love to hear her advice on how to win in such high competition, how to convince clients to choose you and pay higher price tag for an equal quality of work. This is a fairly inexpensive class, so I would recommend it to the beginners, but not to the more experienced photographers.