can i have some feedback on some pics please?

[Jeni]

im currently doing a business course at college and one day hope to start my own photography business. our tutor has been going on about a 'unique selling point' for weeks and this week (thursday) we have to present our sales pitch/business. anyway, i was thinking about a 'unique selling point'. everyone does photos of children on white backgrounds, and people will buy them, but what about on fantasy style backgrounds?

do these work? is there anything obvious ive not done?

its probably the first time ive attempted something like this. the backgrounds have been bought online so they can be used commercially and as ive not got a lot of time ive used some old photos that i did a while ago and fitted them to the background rather than setting the lighting up to match a background.

http://www.tog247.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/Paige_in_a_Meadow.jpg ('http://www.tog247.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13521') http://www.tog247.com/gallery/data/500/thumbs/james_toadstool.jpg ('http://www.tog247.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=13520')

[Pipeman]

This is how portraits were done many many years ago.Jeni - I have photographs of my grandparents taken against backdrops, mainly of posh sitting rooms.

People might well buy them - I can see the attraction and hope that they do - but I never would! Sorry.

[Jeni]

thanks Ron. i know they wont be to everyones liking, but as you said, some people would buy them. i wouldnt, but that doesnt stop me making the image in the first place.

[flook]

my wife tells me this sort of thing is already big in america, or at least what I believe to be something like this, where photographs are used in a sort of digital scrapbooking way to create composite images

Is it my sort of thing? no

is it commercially viable? possibly

[Jeni]

thanks Colin. all feedback is good feedback!

[Marvin]

As you said Jeni, you hadn't matched the lighting but it is quite close.

I think a tad more fill lighting direct on the face could make these already good pix fantastic.
You always tend to get more all-round lighting outdoors.

[Pipeman]

....., but that doesnt stop me making the image in the first place.

Certainly not Jeni - if you think that there's a market - go for it and give them what they want!:top:

[Jeni]

thanks Nigel :)

Ron, exactly! i know i need more practice, and i have loads of friends with kids that i can ask (bribe) but if there is a market then why not!

btw, you will have seen both of the pictures of the kids on here before lol, one was 2009, the other 2010 lol!

[Paul]

I really like the idea and I'd have my baby in there.

Not the meadow one cos that's too realistic and can be done for real but the toadstool one definetely. Reasons being as Clem said. Hope this helps :top:

[badbadman]

I know someone in the USA who does christmas cards in this fashion, peoples dogs posed with a Santa then added to a christmassy backdrop.

She does alright at it too.

Not sure if it will do as well in the UK, used as an option for the customer it would add another string to the bow but think standard portraits would do better. :)

[bryan]

As a usp, you need to go 1 step further, my adding in costumes etc adding to the reality and believability ,
You need to make it more than just a picture but an experience, why not have a full set with a foreground, midground and background. And not just a photographer with a background!

[kooky]

I think it could work Jeni, and as Bryan said making more of an experience, and could quite easily snowball;)

[Jeni]

As a usp, you need to go 1 step further, my adding in costumes etc adding to the reality and believability ,
You need to make it more than just a picture but an experience, why not have a full set with a foreground, midground and background. And not just a photographer with a background!

cost and room.

atm im planning on working from home. these are images that have been placed onto a digital background. props is a definite, but again, cost is an issue atm. these images ive done are to give an idea and to get some feedback on whether it will work or not. the plan is hopefully to be able to offer them alongside normal portraits etc. so far, the feedback ive had has been mostly positive.

thanks for all the comments and advice on this, its really appreciated :D

[bryan]

In my opinion, a truely unique USP is the reason why clients come to you, not something you offer when they just turn up, so something like this needs to be sorted in advance and props etc all ready to go. You could hold days in a rented community hall where all you offer is elves and fairies etc.

Have a look at this article for inspiration and look how stunning the pictures are.
http://www.swpp.co.uk/professional_imagemaker/living_with_faeries.htm

[munchycarrot]

IMO, i don't like them as portraits. I'll try & be as tactful :o as I can...

We are meeting a client at a lake about 5 miles from us at the weekend as she wants pics with water in the background...no idea why but hey :confuse: I guess it's something she has seen & likes it. With Ben's PS skills, we could photo the lake, or d/l a lake & put them in but i don't think the lighting & ps work would ever do them justice in a way that I'd want to put my name to.

I'd be thinking more along the lines of what is viable for traveling & going unique in that way.

Of course, as you said... you are getting good feedback so until it proves to be a non starter, go with it if it's what feels right for you

[benjiblanco]

I dont see the connection as far as a USP is concerned. Like Ron replied, selling portrait pics on a fasle bg has been done for years., just cos the pic is PShopped and not just shot infront of a painted backdrop is not unique :)

If the photoshopping is 100% perfect then i think they can look ok, but anything minutely sub standard, the pics fall into the tacky/naff category to me. (not saying it cant be done)

The man hours involved become immense and I think it would be hard to make a 'business' out of it, perhaps that's why it could be unique?

[badbadman]

The use of a Chromakey green background would help with the PS work, can be had for around £60ish at Karlu for a Lastolite 6x7ft one. :)

[Marvin]

I have friends who swear they dream in color...It's just a pigment of their imagination.

No it isn't. They just sleep between Chromakey green sheets. :rofl:

[badbadman]

No it isn't. They just sleep between Chromakey green sheets. :rofl:

Now there's an idea. :D

They do them in blue and red too for those who have an aversion to green.:top: