Shalonda from Chubby Cheek Photography is back with another insightful contribution. Her previous article on Photographing Your Own Children is one of the most popular with our readers, and I’m sure you’ll find this one on photographing kids birthday parties equally helpful and inspirational.

Shooting Some Sugar – Photographing Kids Birthday Parties

From Chubby Cheek Photography:If you have visited my blog before you know that i have a love for all things frosted and glittery…basically I LOVE KIDS BIRTHDAY PARTIES!!!! I have recently had an explosion of inquiries for birthday party shoots, and have come to the conclusion that the rest of the world must share this affection for children’s parties! While i am no wedding or event photographer, I AM a child photographer who loves capturing kids being kids and what better place to do that, than at a kids birthday party!? Birthday parties are truly fun for all and believe it or not, are a child photographer’s dream come true, I promise! Why you ask? Well it’s essentially the easiest form of lifestyle photography combined with fun because no one really notices you they are all too busy enjoying the party, so capturing real life is a piece of cake (hahaha pun intended). It’s also a great way to gain an even bigger following of possible new clients. ding ding ding!!!! Most of the people attending the party have a child near the age of the birthday boy/girl and usually at least half live nearby that child as well, isn’t that the type of client we all want?!?!

Tips for Shooting the party:

1. Capture the “before”
Make sure you arrive at least 30 min early to the party. If a client is hiring you to photograph the party then there is no doubt they have invested blood sweat and tears into making it perfect (or at least hired a party planner to do so). Therefore it is vital that you capture ALL of the little details before the guests with teeny tiny messy hands arrive. Plus you can use this opportunity to get creative with your shots, candy jars from above, bundles of balloons, etc.

2. Move toward the light
Don’t be afraid to ask the client to open blinds and curtains for indoor parties or even move “main events” such as the cake eating to the shade for outdoor parties. This is another reason to arrive early to the party, you can scope out the best light, make a plan and ask to move things around if need be. Clients hired you to capture the crucial moments of this important day, therefore they will trust you, just ask!

3. Follow the fun
Follow the party girl/boy! See and capture the day as they are experiencing it. Sure its necessary to get the shots with grandma and birthday party girl/boy, etc but the ones my clients always love the most are the ones that capture the moments they didn’t even see. If he/she is sneaking cookies or a lick of icing, capture it!

4. Get the guests
This is where that whole “possible new clients” thing comes in to play. You don’t need to say a word to the parents they will probably ask; but, if they dont no worries…just interact, have fun and capture the children, just do your normal child photographer thang! I personally include digital files in my birthday party package and by capturing the child guests this allows for the mom of the party girl/boy to print off a pic and toss it in the thank you card for the guests. One thing leads to another and bam possible new clients’ interests have been peaked and maybe just maybe they will call you when they need a photographer next!

Remember to cover your basics, such as pricing yourself right and setting up a time limit upfront…photographing child birthday parties can be a fabulously fun and heartfelt option to offer your clients that they will be happy they had!!!!

// By Chubby Cheek Photography // Follow on Facebook // Wholesale Party Supplies

Tips for photographing families — a  Top 10 List from Kate Craft, natural light custom photographer based in Duluth, MN/ Superior, WI.

1. Go with the flow. I like to have an idea of what poses and setups I want to use, but sometimes you have to let preconceptions go and just go with the flow! Not every family is the same so not every session will be the same…and who wants to shoot the same over and over!!
   
2. Provide plenty of time for breaks and horse play especially if the kids are younger. It’s easy for them to burn out fast. I like to set the camera down and play from time to time.
3. Get to know the kids make them comfortable with you. Tamara Lackey says “for 2 hours we are not raising moral human beings.” I like to tell parents let them be. As long as the children are not 100% out of control it’s all good.
4. Get your safe shots. For me, these are the posed smile at the camera portraits. Then, let your creativity fly free. Get in close, snap away as sand is thrown and twirling is happening. Capture moments that you as a mom or dad would love to have someday!
   
5. Shot the in between!! I like to have Mom and Dad tickle or everyone make funny faces and catch the in-between moments. The giggles and smiles are true and real!
   
6. Gage the kids’ personalities when you arrive. Some kids love to run free right away, others are more reserved. If the kids want to stay close to Mom and Dad,  do the group shots first.
   
7. Take in to account children’s ages and personalities when planing locations. Ask the parents if their children are runners or good listeners, etc. and explain why you need to know. Taking a wild child to a busy urban location with heavy traffic may not work well. Scout a quiet corner and bring a ‘kid-wrangler’ along if Mom has her heart set on an urban setting.
8. Keep it professional. I have a detailed contract that explains my expectations and requirements which EVERY client must sign before their session. I am all for fun and games during the session, but I want everyone on the same page as far as expectations and delivery of goods and services. When I know all questions have been answered, it makes me more at ease which plays into my next point…
9. Let yourself be there mentally and emotionally. You need to be interacting and present to capture true emotion. You also have to get out of your head and move beyond the the technical and business aspect of the work.  This means practice, practice, practice before you take on clients. The technical process must be second nature.
10. Under-promise and over deliver!  This is a motto to live by and keeps everyone happy :)=20

Bonus tip : Be sure to tell Mom and Dad “just keep looking at the camera no matter what happens” when trying to get the kiddos to look at you for that group shot with everyone smiling at the camera!

Thanks Kate! Be sure to check out Kate’s work at katecraftphotography.com or on Facebook. What are your favorite tips and tricks when photographing families? Leave your comments and questions below!

The following is a guest post from Marianne Drenthe of Marmalade Photography and Professional Child Photographer FAQ. Marianne’s article is a tough but important examination of pricing for emerging professional photographers. I urge you to read the article, leave your comments and questions below and check out her workshop: See The Light.

Check Yourself : Profit Is Not A Four Letter Word

When I started the See the Light Workshop in 2008 I set out to create an all-inclusive program for photographers seeking to improve not only their art but their businesses. My main goal was to help photographers gain the insight to price themselves appropriately and run legitimate (and profitable!) businesses. Frequently I am quoted as saying “profit is not a dirty word” because it is my feeling
that too many people start out as photographers thinking it’s all fun, passion and do not structure themselves as having a business first.

However we all know the point of being in business is to do one thing and one thing only: generate PROFIT. So please, repeat after me:

“PROFIT IS NOT A DIRTY WORD!”

In the years since I started my photography business: Marmalade Photography , I admit that I’ve been pricing sensitive. I have seen talented photographers with SO MUCH to offer give away the farm for free or even, more heartachingly so, paying THEIR clients with their time, energy and talent.

I know that the costs of running a business vary from person to person and my deepest wish for everyone starting a photography business is for them to succeed in a way that produces profit for them and supports the industry in a positive way. To that end I have created a sort of self-evaluation checklist for you to use in determining what your costs of running a business are. In the following “fill in the blanks” checklist I ask that you use it over the course of several sessions and monitor the time you spend doing each of the following tasks. Then I ask you to consult your tax paperwork and figure in what you are paying in out of pocket/out-of-profit costs and take a good long look at how you are running your business. This is for self evaluation and this eye opening experience will help lead you to creating a profitable business that will succeed in the long term. This checklist is meant to be an inventory of your time so be explicit in what you include. It is available as a download from the See the Light Workshop site here:

I see a lot of the following: current pricing by new (upstart) photographers ranges from $250 (or less) CDs with all images retouched and finished to $50 Groupon Specials for session + disc of retouched images to shoot & burn photography that doesn’t include post processing. The excuses may range from “Well I’m new…”, “I don’t want to rip people off…” to “I think photographers are too expensive…”.

I’ll be frank, the types of pricing models as follow do not make business sense, especially when you take all the factors in that are associated with appropriate pricing.

Let me as you a question: are you running a business or a charity? If you run a business, defined as working to generate profit, WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO WORK FOR FREE? Read More | Comments