First Portfolio Shoot.. How’d I Do?

February 5th, 2009 by ariana

Perhaps bolstered by your support, I have started to THINK about maybe starting a small business doing children’s portraits. Not because I’m so good, but rather because there is a serious lack of competition in our local area.. No one advertising on Craigslist or even in the local parenting magazine!

I figure earning a few extra bucks can at least pay for some of the lenses I’d like to buy in the future. Of course I need a portfolio first.. and it can’t be all Jasper for obvious reasons.

Jasper’s Daycare teacher Chastity just had a beautiful baby boy, so I seized the opportunity to practice some newborn shots:

I don’t usually like black and white with spot color, but I thought it was appropriate in this case for the candy hearts:

I had to stand on a step ladder to get the whole basket in the shot for the first picture in the group which highlights my need for a wider angle lens..

A girl can dream right?

We took these with only the available light and my 50mm 1.8 lens. It was good enough to get the shots at high ISO, but some were a little more “noisy” than I would like.

The shots we tried on the black background didn’t come out, mostly because Ryder was awake but also because the light wasn’t as good at that time. Which underscores that you really need to schedule plenty of time for these sessions to make sure baby has enough “sleepy” time.

Anway, thanks Chastity for lending me your beautiful boy for the afternoon, Jasper and I can’t wait to have you and Ryder back at the center!

Filed under: Photography Links by ariana
19 Comments »

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19 Responses to “First Portfolio Shoot.. How’d I Do?”

Mandy Rose, on February 5th, 2009 at 9:52 pm Said:

Great job! Very impressed! I think you could totally start a side business. Good luck!
Lisa, on February 6th, 2009 at 12:02 am Said:

These photos are amazing!! I wish I lived in your area – I’d hire you!
kari, on February 6th, 2009 at 12:30 am Said:

gorgeous! hope you don’t mind if i forward these over to a friend of mine who lives in your neck of the woods (she has a little boy just over a year old) and might be interested in a shoot. Are you close to E. Norwich???
ariana, on February 6th, 2009 at 12:37 am Said:

Thanks everyone!
Kari, the fact that I don’t know where E. Norwich is probably means its not so close :) Its in CT somewhere right?
Diana, on February 6th, 2009 at 1:51 am Said:

Wonderful photos! Go for it!!! It’s hard to believe you are not doing this for a living. BTW – thanks for the Photoshop tutorials – very helpful and informative. Keep posting photos of Jasper – they are precious!
Angela, on February 6th, 2009 at 3:22 am Said:

I love looking at your photos, you are a great photographer! I would definitely take advantage of your services if I lived near you.
kari, on February 6th, 2009 at 4:18 am Said:

I am not exactly where you are at – i am guessing NY. E.Norwich is in Long Island…
Jules, on February 6th, 2009 at 5:22 am Said:

They came out great! I aboslutely love the candy hearts. I don’t like b/w with spot color, either, but I agree that it looks great here. I am curious, though, why the pacifier in the first few shots?
Sara, on February 6th, 2009 at 3:13 pm Said:

You did a fantastic job! Excellent shots. I love the one of his little feet with the hearts…so cute.
jbhat, on February 6th, 2009 at 5:18 pm Said:

What an excellent idea. Don’t be afraid, just do it.
Beth Crouser, on February 6th, 2009 at 5:19 pm Said:

You are so talented! These are beautiful. I hope your “business” does wonderfully. :)
tryingin2007, on February 6th, 2009 at 6:09 pm Said:

awesome missy! beautiful job!

:)
Heather, on February 6th, 2009 at 8:34 pm Said:

These are so adorable! You could definitely start a business doing this! I’d be happy to volunteer my on-the-go eleven month old boy to boost your portfolio…he’s REALLY cute!
Heather, on February 6th, 2009 at 8:40 pm Said:

P.S. Jasper is really adorable, so you probably COULD do a portfolio ALL of him! I love his name too…it really seems to fit him!
emily, on February 6th, 2009 at 10:05 pm Said:

Awesome! Go for it! I wish you could come and take pictures of me and my husband but I think we live too far away.
ariana, on February 6th, 2009 at 10:17 pm Said:

Thanks everyone! I’m in Rockland County NY.. Heather (or anyone else) if that is near to you let me know :)

Jules, I liked the pacifier because I thought the baby blue went well with the candy hearts. I did take some without though.
Stephanie, on February 6th, 2009 at 10:28 pm Said:

Adorable!
shortcake, on February 12th, 2009 at 3:42 pm Said:

I love that last photo! Note though, that most serious photographers don’t advertise on Craiglist, so checking there might not be the most accurate of guages! Good luck, though!
Dee, on March 20th, 2009 at 4:44 pm Said:

Hi Ariana,
The pics are really good, what are you planning to charge for the portfolio shots? I live in Westchester county and have a 7 wk old baby girl and might be interested in getting portfolio shots of her :) Let me know via email
Thanks