Using Digitals in Portrait Shoots?
 

I am considering purchasing either a Nikon 8700 or a D70. Currently I'm using my Nikon classic SLRs (two N60s and an N75) for photo shoots and then finding a one-hour processor, getting the film developed, and then taking it back to the client for selection. How do you accomplish this step with a digital camera? Using one of the new photo printers sounds enticing but could be expensive. And you need to have a printout to pick up small details in expression, don't you?

How do you all handle this?

I have a D70 and am very happy with it.

I shoot hundreds of pictures at each photo session and after that's done I review them on my computer at home, choose the best ones, combine parts if necessary and print out a few 8x10's on my printer at home to show the client.

Then I print out the reference I will be using at the size it will actually be in the painting, modify the color and contrast where needed, and start to work.

Yes, ink is very expensive but I couldn't do without the flexibility I get from digital. I can shoot far more photos than I would with film, I can see what I've shot seconds after the photo is taken, and I can make lots of digital changes in Photoshop. I'll never go back to film.

Michele, thanks for responding! Unfortunately, in working the way I've been, I've found that the clients often choose a very different expression and/or pose than I would because of the way they see the subject and their familiarity with him or her (or them). I always guide them in terms of what would make the best painting compositionally, but I defer to their preferences in expression, and sometimes pose, because the ones I find appealing may reflect an aspect of the subject that they see as problematic. For example, I've heard, "That's the way she looks when she's being shy and dealing with a stranger" or "That's her 'trying to put one over' expression." So I like to let the clients see all the photos.

The one-hour processing is also handy because often I've had a lot of trouble finding a good time to get together with the person, and if I intend to come back within an hour or so we can plan to do it all in one morning or afternoon. Works well for everyone.

Maybe digital won't work for me, because of these factors.

Michelle, just how do you print it out the size you are going to be painting? I can't figure that one out, and what type of printer do you have?

Leslie, I take a bizillion picures, and like Michelle, come home and go through them and then send them the best via email. Up until now everyone has been really happy with this because they can see it instantly and blow up the pictures etc, to see the details. I haven't run into anyone yet that didn't mind having it done that way, I suppose when I come across someone that doesn't like dealing with a computer I will just have the pictures I want to show them printed.

I LOVE having a digital so much I just sold my film camera and highly doubt I will ever have another one.

Leslie, You can still go to the one hour place and have your pictures printed from a digital camera. I do it one of two ways, I either take my card up there and we pick the ones out on the spot to print, OR
I look them all over at home crop them the way I want them to be seen and then email them to the 1 hour place and voila they are ready to pick up the next time I am out.

Not all one hour places have this option (to email them in) but many do.

It is really MUCH more versatile than film, and ends up being cheaper in the long run because you aren't wasting money on film AND printing a bunch of photos you don't want.

Hi Leslie!
 

I've taken to bringing my laptop computer with me right to the photo shoot. If there's time, at the end of the photo shoot, I put the CF card from the camera into the computer... to review the images just shot. Will use Paint Shop Pro on the computer to open up the photographs, that look promising, and zoom in on faces/expressions etc. Use this primarily to satisfy myself and the client that we've got at least a few good shots that we can work with. It also comes in handy when you've got a fidgety kid whose getting tired of having their picture taken... you can ask them, do they want to see what you've got so far? and let them have a look at a few of their pictures. Kids love looking at themselves! Then they're usually more than happy to go back and take some more.

In one case, have actually had the client choose the reference photo right at the shoot. But I don't set up that expectation (it'd be too much pressure and they might choose something that's not ideal)... will usually suggest we just have a look and make sure there's a few they like --we don't look at them all, get a sense of what they like (in terms of expression, etc.,), tell them alright then I'll go home and cull through all of them and send them back a handful for them to choose from. I'll send them back 5 or fewer just by email within a day usually. Maybe it's just where I live, but I've yet to have a client who doesn't have email and appreciate the convenience.

The tools I'm using for this are:

• a digital camera that uses a CF card to store the images.
• Paint Shop Pro, (though assume photo shop would also work?)
• a CompactFlash PC Card Adapter* --this is a flat little case that the CF card slides into so that it will fit into a slot/port built into the laptop computer.
• oh, and a laptop computer :)

* My camera uses a CF (CompactFlash) card, so I've got a CompactFlash adapter, I would guess that there are other adapters for different kinds of camera memory cards?

Terri, I never even knew there was such a gadget as a pc compact flash adapter. I just went to ebay and typed that in and see they are very inexpensive.

They all seem to say for laptop. Do they make them to work with just a regular pc?

Terri, I like your technique; it sounds most workable for the way I function. Except that I don't have a laptop... If I did, I would still go over the shots the same day with the client, and then I'd also have the luxury of retaking something if I needed to know how that hand would work with that pose, or some such. As I said, some of my clients, like mayors and CEOs, are hard to pin down. Since a lot of my portraits have outdoor settings we need to find a time when I'm free, they're free, and the weather's good. I've also had one client bring two sets of grandnieces and nephews in from several states away for photo shoots. So for me it works well to make the decision then and there, and no one has ever shown any signs of regretting their choice. I used to leave a set of photos with the client in case they changed their minds, but they never did. Then it became an issue if they wanted to use the photos for a Christmas card or some other purpose that I hadn't intended, so I started making only one set.

I still have a few clients who aren't internet savvy, but another practice I follow is to put up a preview page, like the one I listed on the posthumous portrait unveiling thread, and let the client know when I've posted an update so they can see the progress of their portrait. If they have internet access they really enjoy that.

Some good ideas, Michele and Mary and Terri. Thanks!

Mary, I also have a compact flash adapter that I use for my regular PC. It plugs into a standard USB port. You can probably pick one up at Radio Shack or Target for $20 or less.

I also plan to take it, along with my laptop, on a very important photo shoot next week. I want to know for myself if I've got good shots, since there may not be a chance for a second shoot in this particular case.

As for how to print out the reference at the size of the painting, here's what I do. I compose and crop the reference in Photoshop exactly how it will look in the painting. Then, under "Image Size" I just type in the dimensions of the actual canvas (30 x 40" or whatever) and Photoshop makes the file that size.

My printer is an Epson R300, great quality, less than $200, but a real ink drinker, as they all are! Since it can only handle standard letter sized paper I digitally "cut" sections of the full size Photoshop image into 8x10" pieces and print them out separately. Then I tape them together on foam core. Voila -- sight size reference!

Thank you Michelle for explaining that. I have done this before with my 16" X 20" paintings, but never thought about doing it with the larger sizes. Hmm, the light in here just got a little brighter! I wish I'd thought of that sooner.

Thanks,

Julie
________
Zephyr/Mkz

Leslie, an alternative to the laptop, but not as good. . .
A lot of the cameras come with cables to connect them to a tv... (like you would connect a video camera)... Before I had the Compact Flash adapter or my notebook, I used these a couple of times to review photos at the client's (on their tv). (Practice on your tv at home first) Generally though the televisions rendition of the images is much less sharp.

Mary, I used to have a similar device for my PC but it was connected with a cable. What I like about the notebook one is no cables it just slides right into the computer slot. Michele how does yours connect to the PC?

My daughter has an old Mac laptop that she doesn't want anymore. If it's color, it might work for that purpose....I think the laptop is the best idea so far if I want to keep working as I usually do. Thanks!

The flash memory reader cable plugs right into the USB port on the computer.