Why do people like studio portraits so much?

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joescrivens

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I've gone through a stage where I considered the white background or other coloured background portraits for our family or shots of my daughter, and even done a few.

But I've come to the conclusion I really dislike them. I find them so arbitrary and uninteresting. How come they are so much more popular than on location portrait shots.

when I compare shots of my daughter over the year I much prefer this:

IMG_3868.jpg


to this

4292263781_5053d7f98e_z.jpg


So am I the only one who doesn't get studio portraits? Obviously when it comes to doing photography for artistic purposes or commercial I understand where studio photography fits but I mean for personal family type shots.
 
they're easier to arrange, weather doesn't affect anything and in the past used to look more professional ala venture and high key, they're also reasonably neutral for hanging on walls in homes that are generally becoming more modern

it's just a trend that is swinging back to the natural look as we speak :)

it's also down to what has been offered in the past... people buy what is being sold :)
 
I guess most people could get a shot similar to the 1st with a good p&s or consumer dslr, although would the sharpness or dof be there? A white backdrop people could try with a sheet but the cameras built in flash would be rubbish.

I am on the fence. I love some of the posed white background shots but also like the studio look.
 
You're not alone Joe. I feel exactly the same. The only advantage to a studio is It's less dependant on the weather!
 
I think Simon is right - in the first image, joe public says 'yeh, but I can take my child to a nice woods and get that shot...' - joe public has not heard of dof, or bokeh, and doesn't realise that the reason shot 1 looks so involving is because the rest of the shot is oof, nor does he realise that he actually couldn't get that shot.

The second shot has a lot more WOW! to it...not saying better/worse, both nice captures, but the pop you get in the studio is cracking, imo.
 
You can moan about the white backgrounds, but it's just a trend. Twenty years ago it was cloudy blue
 
EdinburghGary said:
The studio experience has a lot to do with it. I strongly believe the experience itself will increase the spend MASSIVELY, if done right,

Gary.
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Couldn't the same level of customer service and 'royalty' treatment be done on location? Clearly amenities aren't as easily applicable - toilets, comfy sofas, refreshments - but if you presented shots with standard backgrounds against on location shots do you think the customers would be more likely to choose the studio ones still?
 
Byker28i said:
You can moan about the white backgrounds, but it's just a trend. Twenty years ago it was cloudy blue
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actually I'm not moaning about the white background. I'm talking about any false background no matter the colour vs a real background
 
I agree with Simon and Dan, it's all about it being obvious that you paid money and went to a studio to get the shots taken. A white background screams "professional photoshoot" to the general public. It's interesting how these trends and perceptions are formed and lost.
 
ryanyboy said:
You're not alone Joe. I feel exactly the same. The only advantage to a studio is It's less dependant on the weather!
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has anyone in the world produced a 'studio' thats actually outside with a controlled 'centre parks' type environment so they are less dependent on weather but can offer the natural look.

I image it would be hugely expensive, but i wonder if there would be a market for it?
 
joescrivens said:
Couldn't the same level of customer service and 'royalty' treatment be done on location?
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Not in my opinion. Comfy seating, big WOW pictures on the wall, a buzz of staff running around keeping it all going smoothly, the previous family leaving with smiles on their faces, the next family arriving as our clients are finishing. The hot drinks, kids toys, big TV and viewings taking place, hair and make up being done for make over shoots - it all happens in the studio, and people lap it up. We have people in all day back to back, they all chat, they all share what just happened with the next group, and they all have a ball. I would have ZERO chance of replicating that on location.

Gary.
 
EdinburghGary said:
Not in my opinion. Comfy seating, big WOW pictures on the wall, a buzz of staff running around keeping it all going smoothly, the previous family leaving with smiles on their faces, the next family arriving as our clients are finishing. The hot drinks, kids toys, big TV and viewings taking place, hair and make up being done for make over shoots - it all happens in the studio, and people lap it up. We have people in all day back to back, they all chat, they all share what just happened with the next group, and they all have a ball. I would have ZERO chance of replicating that on location.

Gary.
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ok, how about a second visit. They've had the experience of the celeb for the day and they've left with their photo that they've had on their wall to look at. Once the fad of the service is finished on a second decision to get more photos done at a later date do they value the finished product over the experience more the second time round or are they wanting the same experience and similar product again at the end of it?
 
As said, it's all about being able to control the environment to a higher degree. Initially, the first shot does look better as a whole, but if you just look at the subject the second one is much better I think with more lighting effects going on with the face - not to mention the eyes which are very striking!

:)
 
gman said:
As said, it's all about being able to control the environment to a higher degree. Initially, the first shot does look better as a whole, but if you just look at the subject the second one is much better I think with more lighting effects going on with the face - not to mention the eyes which are very striking!

:)
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yeah I was looking to find a different example - I think the shots don't really show the potential of what can be done. The top shot had no fill flash for example - I could have easily sourced some more talented peoples work on here to show what I also preferred, but since it was personal to me I thought I'd link to my own.

By the way shot two wasn't in a studio - just in daisy's nursery with one bounce flash speedlite on the camera. But it's the studio type shot I was trying to convey. I could get that zing in the eyes from outdoors as well. You can see better examples of that from someone like audrey woulard
 
joescrivens said:
Couldn't the same level of customer service and 'royalty' treatment be done on location? Clearly amenities aren't as easily applicable - toilets, comfy sofas, refreshments - but if you presented shots with standard backgrounds against on location shots do you think the customers would be more likely to choose the studio ones still?
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New business opportunity for someone there.
Get a bus like bands use to tour in, pick your client up from home and drive them to a dramatic landscape backdrop and photograph them.
Bus could be set up with a viewing room and maybe even a small studio area inside it too.
 
I think the best kind of studio shots are those where very good and creative lighting is used.
 
joescrivens said:
ok, how about a second visit. They've had the experience of the celeb for the day and they've left with their photo that they've had on their wall to look at. Once the fad of the service is finished on a second decision to get more photos done at a later date do they value the finished product over the experience more the second time round or are they wanting the same experience and similar product again at the end of it?
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I have had a few clients come back recently, and one of them wanted the on location shoot in the park to compliment the studio shots. Luckily, the park is literally over the road :D

G.
 
EdinburghGary said:
I have had a few clients come back recently, and one of them wanted the on location shoot in the park to compliment the studio shots. Luckily, the park is literally over the road :D

G.
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An interesting example, I wonder which shots they like most? Or perhaps they like them both equally.

For arguments sake - if your studio wasn't in the town and out back you had an orchard for example so the people could come in and have the same experience with the sofas, refreshments, makeup etc but then opt if they had the photo outside or in the studio what would you guess would be more popular?
 
Joe,

I have to say I much prefer the second picture to the first. I can see the technical qualities of the first, shallow DOF, controlling exposure etc, but someone with no experience of photography will see it as a snap simple as. The second ones looks more "professional", the detail is much more defined, eyes really pop and obviously because of the lighting background/backround looks alot different to a snap in a park.

Of coruse what is see as professional will change so you never know..... cute kid by the way.
 
I think that a studio environment also helps customers appreciate and accept the cost of the photos that they are shelling out for. The fact that the studio is full of expensive gear -cameras, lights, computer(s) along with the decor (clean, tidy and sample images on the display).

Take the customer out into the "wild" and the experience is completely different. You're probably going to have a lot less gear. The weather may make it uncomfortable, even rushed. Privacy may also be an issue.

I'm not saying that I prefer the studio look vs natural, but in terms of overall convenience, I imagine that the majority of customers would be much happier and comfortable in a studio. And happy customers hopefully means larger orders.
 
Have to say I totally agree with Joe. Studio shots on a bright white background just leave me totally cold. I thought they'd have died a death by now.

That's not having a pop at the togs who do it though in any way, each to their own, and I think EG's point about the whole experience and WOW factor for the client is spot on (if the studio is good). And from making cash point if view it can obviously be great.
 
joescrivens said:
An interesting example, I wonder which shots they like most? Or perhaps they like them both equally.

For arguments sake - if your studio wasn't in the town and out back you had an orchard for example so the people could come in and have the same experience with the sofas, refreshments, makeup etc but then opt if they had the photo outside or in the studio what would you guess would be more popular?
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99.99999% would ask for on white.

Gary.
 
Donki said:
Joe,

I have to say I much prefer the second picture to the first. I can see the technical qualities of the first, shallow DOF, controlling exposure etc, but someone with no experience of photography will see it as a snap simple as. The second ones looks more "professional", the detail is much more defined, eyes really pop and obviously because of the lighting background/backround looks alot different to a snap in a park.

Of coruse what is see as professional will change so you never know..... cute kid by the way.
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Yeah I didn't do a great job of picking the two subjects to discuss to be honest. I'e never actually had any studio shots of daisy so I wanted to put forward the best example I could that I had taken like it to do it justice. I have other outdoor shots which are better than this one but this was the closest pose etc I could find for the comparison.

For a better example I prefer something like this:

http://www.audreywoulardblog.com/images/content/ACF2DA6.jpg

over this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leticiamr/424731529/

is that a better example?
 
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Of course a studio doesn't have to be white, you can have all sorts of backgrounds, props, furniture and other setups. It could be a barn with haystacks! lol
 
EdinburghGary said:
Not in my opinion. Comfy seating, big WOW pictures on the wall, a buzz of staff running around keeping it all going smoothly, the previous family leaving with smiles on their faces, the next family arriving as our clients are finishing. The hot drinks, kids toys, big TV and viewings taking place, hair and make up being done for make over shoots - it all happens in the studio, and people lap it up. We have people in all day back to back, they all chat, they all share what just happened with the next group, and they all have a ball. I would have ZERO chance of replicating that on location.

Gary.
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I know I am a hopeless idealist and this is why I'll probably never make any decent money out of photography, but I'd rather let the pictures speak for themselves than have to try and sell people an experience. Not a criticism at all btw.
 
Remember the client will probably only have one studio shot done so it is special for them for all the reasons mentioned above. The photographer will be doing them all the time (and other photographers see them all the time) so they might get to be "same old-same old". The photographer looks at the bokeh and wants a variety of backgrounds in their portfolio but he customer just wants a pic of their child and often the background is irrelevant.

Personally I like #2 more too. Not because it is a studio shot but because it looks clean and would fit in any frame on any wall. #1 has a (nice but) messy background with loads of colours that might clash with decor.
 
Joe, I know where you are coming from, I shoot both in the studio and on location.

1. You can't rely on the weather, that is the main factor.
2. My aim is to make the studio shoot an enjoyable experience and fun for all the family. Word of mouth is my main advertising method these days.
3. Families do seem to love the high key images though, I do use black backgrounds but 95% choose the white background.

Having said that I prefer my own kids portraits more natural or outside and candid. I shoot pre school portraits individual and groups, for the leavers during the summer, outside when the weather allows and the parents love the candid shots outside. They are popular.

At the end of the day we have to offer what the clients want, that is rule number 1.
 
I shot outside last sunday. Imagine being asked to shoot a family group of 6, outside, somewhere nice - in the middle of October. It was the only date the whole family could get together. It was a cold dull grey day, really flat, the people get cold and that's before you start with rain etc.

They'll always be nice outdoor shots, or a genre of shooting that suits it, but for portraiture the studio really is king. It's controllable, repeatable and you want to be concentrating on the model rather than outside influences.
 
Adam_K said:
At the end of the day we have to offer what the clients want, that is rule number 1.
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If you're a family portrait tog you've hit the nail on the head there sir.

To play devils advocate though (As I don't do that type of photography) you could argue that the clients only want that as that's what they assume they'll get, and it's still 'the fashion'.

Don't you think it's time for a new wave/ style? To me it feels like everyone is just copying what Venture started years ago...
 
studio`s give you full control of all asspects , light , background ,and distractions ,(eg pople walking into pictures. in studios it is more clinical , so models may not relax and just pose.

i prefare the natural not studio . just because i have got some natural looking candids.
chhers Steve
 
Dangleman said:
If you're a family portrait tog you've hit the nail on the head there sir.

To play devils advocate though (As I don't do that type of photography) you could argue that the clients only want that as that's what they assume they'll get, and it's still 'the fashion'.

Don't you think it's time for a new wave/ style? To me it feels like everyone is just copying what Venture started years ago...
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Totally agree Dangleman that is the reason I also do location shoots. You have to please the paying public, but not that popular in the UK, I guess trends. America seem to have embraced this idea, but then again they have the weather. Venture don't go there everything they do I try to do the opposite, no hard sale or finance options here sorry.
 
the argument that the conditions etc are easier to control is surely the photographers reason for offering the studio white backgrounds though and not the customers choice right?

The average customer doesn't realise how important lighting conditions are to a good photograph - surely they assume a professional will take an amazing photograph of them no matter where they are?

I doubt any laymans choice to have a white background or other forced background shot is because they want the lighting conditions to be more controlled so is it a case of whats offered to the customer is skewed heavily towards the studio backdrop due to the photographers themselves realizing the restrictions of shooting outside? Or does the public just want the studio shot because they like it more?

if EG is right then even when offered the studio experience with the choice of natural or white 99.99999% still would choose white - they must then want that over natural - which is where my confusion lies, but perhaps it's just personal taste on my part and I'm in the 0.000001%
 
The last two studio sessions have resulted in the client asking if I do location shoots. I think some want the clean studio look because it's expected but then they also want something less clinical.

Any client that comes to me and asks for the white - I ask them if it is really what they want or are they asking because it's what they've seen. A lot of the time you can steer them towards different ideas as long as you can point out the benefits - ie location shots look more natural and relaxed and you can always work with the background colours to make them compliment any decor the customer has.
 
they want white because it's what they've seen 1000 times before everywhere else
 
joescrivens said:
Yeah I didn't do a great job of picking the two subjects to discuss to be honest. I'e never actually had any studio shots of daisy so I wanted to put forward the best example I could that I had taken like it to do it justice. I have other outdoor shots which are better than this one but this was the closest pose etc I could find for the comparison.

For a better example I prefer something like this:

http://www.audreywoulardblog.com/images/content/ACF2DA6.jpg

over this

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leticiamr/424731529/

is that a better example?
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Joe,

I see where your coming from now, I really like the out doors one there what would be needed for that... flash, reflector? Im still learning lighting.

Have to say that studio shot is really poor really lacking pop.

I like both styles and at the end of the day I would say most pro photographers, the ones I know would probably happily do an out doors shot for a client if they asked. I like both if done well.
 
grum said:
.........but I'd rather let the pictures speak for themselves than have to try and sell people an experience
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If some people are not involved in a particular group clients can sit on the comfy sofas while I shoot the kids, singles etc, they can change their outfits, use the toilet etc etc. There is nothing worse than trying to make a 3 year old (or 75 year old!!) smile when he is busting for a wee! None of these facilities are as comfortable on location in the park, woods etc so I think the experience IS important.

I can shoot 8+ sittings in my studio on a Saturday, but I have never managed that many back to back portraits on location, so from a financial perspective studio makes sense.

I have a large garden and sometimes suggest some of the shoot outside...... almost all decline saying they want a modern style! (white background or moody low key)


Many people feel they can take good portraits of the kids at the beach/park/woods with their own cameras and we find sales of outdoor portraits usually return lower averages, yet take more time, than studio shoots.

As others have said many times, it seems to be the photographers that are tired of the white background, but most of MY clients are not!
 
Donki said:
Joe,

I see where your coming from now, I really like the out doors one there what would be needed for that... flash, reflector? Im still learning lighting.
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according to the photographer she never uses flash - jury is out on that one but I'm sure a big ass reflector would nail that shot 9 times out of 10 - not an expert in lighting myself
 
joescrivens said:
according to the photographer she never uses flash - jury is out on that one but I'm sure a big ass reflector would nail that shot 9 times out of 10 - not an expert in lighting myself
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Be intresting to see what some of the pros made of that there is pretty strong catch lights in her eyes and a whole lot of pop.
 
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