School Teachers

bustersdelight

bustersdelight

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Name
Neil
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Hi

My wife is a teacher and as asked me if I could take a photo of each class teacher for their website.

I'm a bit nervous but up for the challenge, just need a few tips. My kit is Canon 7d, lens choices are canon 17-55 or canon 50-1.4, 430exII flash.

Do I just take head & shoulders? have them stand sideways, sit on a stool.

I have a pop up grey background that I could use.

Any help appreciated thanks

Neil
 
All the above.. natural light if you can...
Probably the 17-55

You can get the full teacher head and shoulders.... perhaps ask for different poses/facial expressions?



Possibly if on location, get equipment that they'd be using in the shot (ie science teacher, bunsen burner plus flask of bubbling stuff...)


Try to put them at ease and take the pics... show them what you've got too.

Good luck!
 
Tip,

Have a look at other school's website to get ideas.

Having background of the specific classrooms would be good. ie. The teachers in their environment. may even be great that if you sit in the lesson next to the window to take some candid shots of the teacher in action.
 
One this is in the wrong forum this is for photos here.. (mod edit: not any more Chaz, I moved it as requested ;))

The first thing I do is ask what the photos are being used for? some work places have ID photos on the entrance, if for this then a simple head and shoulders. if for a web site or publication then more questions need to be asked.
 
Thanks for the info, It is for the ID photo's on the Entrance and also for the website.
 
Just a few thoughts that I have used for similar shoots, but they may help you get started....
As said above, look for useful backgrounds though from my experience, schools often have very busy walls so you may want something less hectic.
If natural light isn't possible then find a white wall and use that to bounce your flash from. Stand 3-5ft away from the white wall, aim your flash at it and have your subjects standing a similar distance away from the wall. Put your grey background a few feet behind them so it fills the frame but doesn't get too much light on it, or use whatever background you have available. Remember that the light from your flash will fall off fast, so any background ought to be fairly underexposed so darkish - look for windows or other sources of light and close off if needed.
A stool could be of use for keeping the pictures all fairly similar as the lighting will be much the same for all the pictures, and head and shoulder shots will be perfect given what they are going to be put to. Try whatever poses you feel will suit but facing them slightly towards the white wall but with faces towards you is a good starting pose. A tripod and remote release may help as it leaves you free to chat, and people are less able to see when you are about to take a shot so it is easier to get a relaxed expression. I use a battery pack to give faster recharging but if you up the ISO a little that will help and allow you to shoot a second shot just after the first which may also help. A reflector (tin foil on card, white card etc) taped to a small stack of chairs or some sort of stand will bounce a little light back into the shadows, or if slightly behind the subject may help separate them from the background.

If possible, try getting it all set up in advance so that you can see exactly what you are getting then you can relax in the knowledge that the technical side is sorted and concentrate on the subjects. Work fast, ask questions and explain what and why you are doing this or that - again, just my way of working but it seems to work some of the time...
Good luck !
 
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