When an open date becomes available I am willing to rearrange our own family events (if it doesn't interfere with anything major) to accommodate since I recognize their participation in my project is completely optional for them, and I strive to make it as non-intrusive as possible into their family feng shui.
So sometimes that means I won't have any shoots lined up for a few weeks, then multiple shoots all at once! And that has been my most recent experience as within week and a half I participated in 4 major shoots.
PROCESS:
My photo sessions are not the kind that you just meet up and take pictures-
•First: because storytelling is key, wardrobe is very particular. So I don't even approach the families until I have all the props and wardrobe pieces secure. Beg, borrow, steal. Ok I don't steal.
•Next- location matters: For some special needs I make sure I can shoot where is the safest and most familiar to the child, usually their own home, but that means I need to make special preparations to know that their home environment and background base for my image will coordinate, usually by altering one or the other.
•Pre- compositions: for composites I typically have a good sense of the goal final image, usually in the form of a rough pencil drawing. I have to know exactly what pictures I need, what angles and distance, and I have to keep the lighting consistent. Working with kids, I have learned there has to be flexibility in poses and expressions. They will give what they will give and the image becomes more natural this way.
•3rd party involvement: sometimes a shoot is in a public or business location and third party arrangements need to be made. The third image below was taken at the local fire station. This meant coordination with the fire chief, moving of trucks and other items, and having the whole fire station on alert of the situation in case of a call-in. They also arranged to have a back up truck brought in, so they wouldn't be short one truck in case of a large emergency. THEY WERE AMAZING TO WORK WITH! I mean, really, I brought in 9 KIDS and 2 DOGS and they didn't bat an eye.
Here are some screenshots of my sooc files. Each has a story attached, and a tableau to create, and I can't wait to get into editing of each. Because my editing is such a labor intensive process it will be quite a process to get to them all.
These are just the tip of the ice-burg of course. There are many more images to examine, sort, and then compose together. Combined with coursework and final major project research, (not to mention summer life, and business) having so many pictures in queue = STRESS!
I just keep thinking-
one thing at a time,
one thing at a time.
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