first "real" gig

[r6isnum1]

A guy in my office came across some of my old photos, on what else but myspace, and asked that I do some group shots for his band (spanish religious group). I was a bit iffy about it first as I've never done any group photos. I reluctantly said yes and was a bit excited as this was the first time I myself was asked to do a paying job. I've helped out other friends and they compensated me for helping but this was just me.

I was not completely satisfied with the results but I think I got a few keepers. Here are the first couple I've done for them. C&C welcome of course.

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/MAGNUStm/Grupo%20Legacy/GrupoLegacy003copycopycopy.jpg

http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/MAGNUStm/Grupo%20Legacy/GrupoLegacy078copycopy.jpg

[Vio1]

looks good. What is that machinary in the bottom picture? That would be an interesting subject matter just by itself.

Where was that taken?

[r6isnum1]

looks good. What is that machinary in the bottom picture? That would be an interesting subject matter just by itself.

Where was that taken?

Thanks. Not real sure exactly. I think it was an old tractor or something. It was at some business for water management I think. They office looked like an old farm home. They had a windmill, the barn looking bridge, and the tractor thing by it.

I'm Dallas btw.

[Nickcanada]

Lookin' good man! congrats on the gig!

[Vich]

Really like #1; it blends unposed individuality with symmetry of even spacing. Like the barn idea.

[JMWallace]

Yep, looks like a winner...HEY any time you get paid for gig it's a winner!!

...What is that machinary in the bottom picture?

Actually, I believe that is an antique hay bailer.

[griptape]

Speaking as a musician, if someone handed me the first shot, I would have no use for it. I wouldn't be able to recognize a single person, let alone the group. 7 people is a big band, so you couldn't have done much better without it looking very posed, but to use as promotion, it's pretty useless. It's just a nice picture, but you could put any other combination of any 7 people in it and I'd have to stare at it for a while to tell if they were different people or not.

[r6isnum1]

Speaking as a musician, if someone handed me the first shot, I would have no use for it. I wouldn't be able to recognize a single person, let alone the group. 7 people is a big band, so you couldn't have done much better without it looking very posed, but to use as promotion, it's pretty useless. It's just a nice picture, but you could put any other combination of any 7 people in it and I'd have to stare at it for a while to tell if they were different people or not.

I agree its not the best for promotion. this is just one that I liked. I tried the shot a few different ways, with the close ups, I myself liked the wide angle look. Like I mentioned before this was my first attempt at a group, which I explained to them, but they seemed to like them. As long as their happy I'm ok.

Yep, looks like a winner...HEY any time you get paid for gig it's a winner!!

haha. So true.

[FLiPMaRC]

:cool: Very nice shots! All you can do is learn from experience :)

Or just keep learning. Quick Google search for "taking group pictures" (http://www.google.com/search?q=taking+group+pictures&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a)

1st link that comes up:
http://digital-photography-school.com/blog/how-to-take-great-group-photos/

[Nickcanada]

Speaking as a musician, if someone handed me the first shot, I would have no use for it. I wouldn't be able to recognize a single person, let alone the group. 7 people is a big band, so you couldn't have done much better without it looking very posed, but to use as promotion, it's pretty useless. It's just a nice picture, but you could put any other combination of any 7 people in it and I'd have to stare at it for a while to tell if they were different people or not.



Do you have a myspace account?

I do know what you are saying but I think there is still a place for shots like that one posted above. It gives us an idea as to what to expect from the band. We may not know what they look like from that shot but I can imagine what they would sound like.

r6isnum1, do they have a myspace account or web site so we could hear what they sound like?

[r6isnum1]

Do you have a myspace account?

I do know what you are saying but I think there is still a place for shots like that one posted above. It gives us an idea as to what to expect from the band. We may not know what they look like from that shot but I can imagine what they would sound like.

r6isnum1, do they have a myspace account or web site so we could hear what they sound like?

There website is under construction. Not too sure about MySpace. I can't access it from here (work). You can try and look them up, el Grupo Legacy or maybe just Legacy.

[24Peter]

These work for me. I think you did a good job. What did the band say?

[bakerbrand]

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=323236426

That is the link to there myspace page, and great job with the shot and congratulations on your first gig.

[griptape]

Nope, no myspace Nick. I generally play WITH bands rather than IN bands these days. It's just a hobby now, so I only play a show every couple months or so.

And I'm not saying these are bad pictures in any way at all. They're very nice. I would just be confused as to who all these people were unless you specifically told me they were a band, and even after you told me, they're too small for me to see.

[r6isnum1]

These work for me. I think you did a good job. What did the band say?

I had shown those two to the guy i worked with and he liked them. I gave him a cd with all the pics to show the rest of the group yesterday. Got word that they really liked them. Felt good to hear it too. I'll be sure to post more up as I go through them. I definitely want to hear ya'lls comments and critiques.

[FLiPMaRC]

:cool: Awesome. At the end of the day, all that matters is how happy your client is :)

[zmikers]

Congrats on the gig. I really like #1. I think if it was used with other photos it is perfect. I can understand the comment of it being hard to recognize any of the band members, but that's why if there were a few close ups aswell in the set, then this is a very nice pic to go with. Nice work. I would love to see more when it's ready.

[Mark_48]

Good pics !! I played around with #1 a bit cropping it down and it still conveys the covered bridge and puts more emphasis on the musicians. I'll post it if you say it's OK.

If you do another shoot there is it possible to get a shot of them looking out one or two the bridges windows (without falling in a river or whatever the bridge spans). If the windows have old looking wood like the end of the bridge, might look good using the windows to frame them.

You going to get a chance to shoot one of their playing gigs?:D

[r6isnum1]

Good pics !! I played around with #1 a bit cropping it down and it still conveys the covered bridge and puts more emphasis on the musicians. I'll post it if you say it's OK.

If you do another shoot there is it possible to get a shot of them looking out one or two the bridges windows (without falling in a river or whatever the bridge spans). If the windows have old looking wood like the end of the bridge, might look good using the windows to frame them.

You going to get a chance to shoot one of their playing gigs?:D

Yeah man go for it... Another perspective is always good and sometimes needed. Not too sure about shooting a gig. I haven't discussed anything like that with them. I think I would do a lot better with that type of shoot.

[Mark_48]

Cropped version of #1

[r6isnum1]

Looks good. I thought to try it a few different ways when I shot it so I did get a similar shot. Here are a few more.

another wide
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/MAGNUStm/Grupo%20Legacy/GrupoLegacy013copycopya.jpg

the close up
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/MAGNUStm/Grupo%20Legacy/GrupoLegacy010copycopya.jpg

At first I didn't like this one at all but I did what I could to try and save it. They ended up really liking it.
http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee204/MAGNUStm/Grupo%20Legacy/GrupoLegacy026copycopyaa.jpg

Thanks again everyone for the comments.

[Nickcanada]

Yeah! I like that last one too! And I think I like the close up shot the most out of that set. Good stuff man!:D

[griptape]

I really like that last one too. It holds my attention long enough to actually look at everyone. The panoramic crop works really well too.