ConorMac Photography

Ebony and the Rat

My “own choice” image from the Baird family portrait project.

ConorMac

The Baird family, shot for my first project of the year, the family portrait brief.

For this brief we were required to shoot a family with at least 2 adults and also a child/children/pets. We used studio lighting within our subjects home and, utilizing the environment in which the family feels most comfortable in, capturing beautiful images of: 1. The family as a group. 2. The child/children/pet/s. 3. The adults (couple shot) and 4. Own choice.

The Bairds proved to be great subjects as I wanted something a little out of the ordinary and the family didn’t disappoint. Halfway through shooting the group shot I was introduced to two of the latest pets: domestic rats. These animals proved to be cuter than I expected and I got some great photographs of the girls playing with them.

After this brief I feel a lot more confident about working with a family, especially after dealing with a fairly big one like the Bairds. Although things can get a bit wild when three young girls are kept still for too long…

ConorMac

Professional Photographers vs Amateurs (The Uncle Bob phenomenon)

The widespread use of digital SLR has created a generation of photography enthusiasts. It seems that everyone knows a budding photographer and often it is these relations that are the first point of call for a family portrait, wedding or engagement shoot, even newborn shoots. These amateurs are referred to as Uncle Bob because of the most common answer to a photography job that needs doing: “Just get Uncle Bob to bring his camera!”

There are a couple of reasons Uncle Bob gets the call before any research is done into other options, the biggest reason being price. The cost of getting Uncle Bob is a fraction compared to what a “professional” might charge. However the results are often disappointing. The photos are awkwardly composed, badly lit, sometimes even out of focus. Why such is there such a drop off in the results of Uncle Bob compared to a professional in the field?

The key differences between a professional photographer and Uncle Bob are:

Education: A professional photographer has some sort of education in photography such as a college degree, workshops and seminars or they could be self taught from books and the Internet. Amateurs with a vague interest in photography are not as likely to have college degrees in photography and although they may take a workshop or two, it’s not anything they are serious about.

Experience: Buying a high end camera and printing some business cards does not make an instant professional. Like all trades, it takes time, effort, study, education and lots and lots of shooting experience. Some aspects of jobs such as weddings or a family portraits only come with experience. Organisational skills, dealing with pressure and knowing what to do when the unexpected hits are all things that come with time and experience.

Professional camera equipment. Professionals only use top of the line cameras, lenses, flashes, etc and keep them in good repair. They also carry backups for everything: backup camera body, backup lenses, backup batteries, backup lighting. They do this because they know that things break, malfunction and wear out and to have a replacement on hand might mean the difference between a great outcome and disaster. Amateurs might have the same equipment, but without the education and experience to know how to fully use them, the difference in outcome can be huge.

Professional relationships with their clients. Professional photographers email, phone and meet with their clients many times before the day of the shoot. This person is always reachable and have answers for any and all questions and concerns of their clients. They have business insurance, pay their taxes and often have an official business entity, like the AIPP. An amateur has no reason to have any of the above, they have no contract, they don’t need to be insured—they are liable for nothing.

At the end of the day Uncle Bob might seem like a great cost-saver, but before you make the call think about what is really important - saving money, or capturing these rare, sometimes unrepeatable moments well.

If you are not concerned with the quality of the photos then it’s not a big deal, but if you are really expecting something special to enjoy for years to come, you should make room in your budget to hire a professional photographer.

The History of the Family Portrait

Prior to the Twentieth century, family portraits were a statement of power and profession. Paintings were expensive and time consuming to produce, thereby limiting subject matter to heads of state, military leaders, royalty or other members of the ruling class.

When photography was introduced, the daguerreotype became prominent in capturing these rich families. In this period, early inventors and photographers were well respected and belonged to the social elite. When the process was cheaper, people began going to photographic studios, usually during special occasions such as weddings where a serious, dignified atmosphere was observed.

The well-respected nature of photography, elegant studio furnishings and the knowledge that a permanent image was being created, caused the atmosphere to be tense and the portraits to appear rigid. Because film speeds were relatively slow, long exposures were necessary which required subjects to remain stationary for long periods of time.