Avoiding Shoot Day Nightmares

The greatest day after a photog starts his business is when he actually gets a paying gig. Although, technically this is not my first photography business (I closed a successful Keystar Photography business around 8 years ago. Long story for another post...), I got the same chill up my spine when the phone rang to schedule an on location shoot. This particular client is definitely upscale, and providing my best work is not only a must for them, it could really give my business a boost with referrals. 

In order to get a feel for the client, I planned to do some event shooting of them prior to our scheduled shoot. This helps me identify their mannerisms, which side is their good side, what is their true persona, so I can work to bring about all these amazing attributes in a stunning photograph. This is where I have unfortunately received inspiration for my post!

Photographers use technology to make their job easier all the time. We are quick to try new things when we have found that our current workflow has some sticking points. For instance, some have sworn by EVF technology, allowing them to see exposure before the shot. And most have dumped light meters and depend on camera body exposure, or simply use the LCD display and histogram. I have tried EVF tech way back when I first bought a Minolta Diamage 7, and it worked great, when scenes have a low dynamic range. I have also dumped light meters and color meters are the way of the Kiwi with RAW file formats. I was excited to get the opportunity to use the +Peak Design capture 2 system to improve the carrying experience of my camera when I needed my hands free. Excited really isn't accurate, as stoked would be more fitting.

Capture Clip 2

The Capture 2 clip (they had a previous version...) is designed to quickly secure you camera with a quick release mechanism to any strap or belt. This is invaluable when trying to adjust light stands, reflectors and clients during a shoot. When you try to do this with your camera strapped around your neck, it will somehow find a way to swing like a medieval ball and chain clobbering, equipment, people and itself in the process.

Now I used the capture clip previously when I first received it. That ended with my gear crashing to the floor! WTF!?! Of course, I blamed this on my error (which it was) and corrected that and never had another problem. Until Sunday. So now, I am shooting at this event, and there was a prayer before the event started. So its time to put the camera away, since the system makes it so easy to holster right? Click, the camera is secure. I am praying with everyone else when I could feel my camera launch itself from my hip, carrying my Sigma 17-70 along with it! $%#@%! Oh my God, I'm in church, and this brand new technology almost made me say F#@K out loud!

Thank GOD, it landed on very plush carpet and no damage occurred. Did I have it secured properly? Yes. Has this happened before? Yes, but it won't happen again! I have yet to discover what caused this to occur, but I just can't trust thousands of dollars of photo gear to a clip that has failed on me twice. It's quite possible that I just have a faulty unit, but more than likely, I did something wrong. Peak Designs team is an awesome company, and I am confident they did their level best when their engineering this product to prevent the very things I experienced. Either way, I won't be using it during my upcoming shoot, no matter how much I'm in love with the concept. 

Youngnuo YN-622C

This customers shoot requires the use of radio triggers. The distance between the strobes and I are too great to use optical triggering, and I also need to incorporate my YN-500ex hot shoe flashes with my studio strobes. It's great that I have three YN-622Cs as they should fit the bill nicely. They give you up two 100 meters of range and provide TTL flash metering for Canon compatible speedlghts as well as dumb triggering for studio strobes. Perfect right? Well almost.

The triggers work really well with the YN-500ex speedlights, but the range is far from 100 meters. Matter of fact, the range is only about 50 feet! Luckily, that is about all I need for this shoot, even though if I had not tested this capability beforehand, I would have been in a world of hurt!

Go With What You Know

Until you can prove a new work flow extensively, integrating it into your process is a risky endeavor.  Everything will have limits, and you must work until you can instinctively find the boundaries and know that everything within them will work in your situation. New tech that many photogs get into and should test to death include:

• Radio Triggers: Make sure you test the heck out of these so that you know their maximum range and that they work with your strobes. And when I say your strobes, I mean your personal strobes as RFI (radio frequency interference) may cause either you triggers you strobes or both not to work as expected. On more complex triggers like Pocket Wizards, Radio Poppers and the Youngnou YN-622C/N triggers, this testing is a must.
• Tripods and Heads: The newer tripod systems that have individually adjustable legs and turn into monopods or invert their center column for macro shots are great. But the simplicity of these great tools often require you to RTFM (read the freakin manual)! 
• Photo Backpacks: This is the greatest thing ever invented! A backpack designed especially to hold all my gear perfectly and in a flash have it ready to use. Or, this could be a backpack that dumped all my gear in the Grand Canyon because I didn't RTFM!

Surprises are for birthdays, not shoot days. Using the heck out of your gear before using it on paid gigs keeps your blood pressure low, and your customers happy.

Off to the races...

So you finally got the bug! You go to bed late at night because you were taking long exposure photography somewhere off in the woods. All your friends can count on you to be the annoying one at every barbecue taking pictures of everything they do, and I do mean EVERYTHING! You shoot birds, bugs, cats, dogs, sunsets and sunrises and people if they don't already have a restraining order against you for, you guessed it: Taking too many pictures! 

You have this burning feeling in your heart that won't go away that leaves you no other options: You must start your own photography business!

So you have started your photography business, congratulations! Let me also say: You started a photography business, my condolences! Why such grim news? Well its not that I predict your business to miserably fail, although it could if you're not careful. It's that the moment you make this a business because you love to shoot, you soon realize, there are so many things you have to do that have absolutely nothing to do with photography. So here are a few things that you have to do outside of take great pictures.

Build a brand

Now that you are doing this for money, you have to create a brand so potential customers can recognize your work. This means creating a nice logo, letterhead, website, Instagram account, Twitter feed, Facebook page, Google+ account and maybe even a blog. Very few are like +Ted Vieira who shots are to die for and can also make killer websites. Because of this you either have to spend some money, get the website done by professionals, or bite the bullet and try to create one yourself. The latter decision can end you up in the same boat that I currently find myself, as I am a software engineer by day, web technologies are secondary (thus a small learning curve), and worst of all I am picky as hell, hence, when you go to www.luxshots.com, all you get is a coming soon with my Logo! After all these branding things are complete, now you have to keep them up to date, and this takes valuable time from other core skills you need to hone such as Photoshop and creating a file management system.

Keep it straight with Johnny Law

Now you are a business and you want to make money, so what is your business formation? You have a few to choose from such as sole proprietor, Limited Liability Company, partnership and corporation. Each has its pros and cons, and your best bet is to go to your states government website and find out more details. This is one of the most important decisions you have to make, as it effects your tax structure, liability in case of suit and a slew of other things that can truly make or break you personally if you are not careful!

Put the Camera Away

What! I just started a photography business, and you want me to put away my camera? Most small businesses first get clients from their friends and family, and as business grows they will get work from total strangers. But if your friends see you take pictures like you breathe air (fancy way for saying all the time), it actually may devalue your services. Who wants to pay you your sitting fee to shoot their son in his football uniform when you took all those shots for free just prior to the game last week? Until you grow outside of your small natural market, you have to show that your work takes effort that deserves monetary compensation.

Where has the Love Gone

So you are off to the races! You have taken your hobby to the next level. If you still love to shoot with all the other things that come along with making a formal business, then this is for you. Whatever you do, don't lets the business side of the game take your passion for the shot. If it does, shut it down. Nothing is worth the passion of the shot!