If the parents want the baby taken at this age then do it, I offer a "Baby Grow" package where the parents book me upto four times in the babies first year and we record the child growing up. It's a great hit with them.

Also you say that you want to print the photographs off yourself, I know people will get annoyed with me here, but why would you want to print them on your ink jet printer? The parents will want the photographs to last for quite a long time. Why not send them to a professional lab who can print them for you and they are guaranteed to last a heck of a lot longer than an ink jet.
My printers, who are based in Oxford, charge £2.30 for an A4 print. If you were to charge the clients £5 for this then you will be quids in. Mind you A4 is not a nice sized print for a portrait, personally I would go for a smaller 9"x6" or the larger 12"x8" For a 12x8 think about charging £6

As a rough guide for you, I charge £30 for a 10x8 print and that comes in a strut mount, with a frame I charge £52. The 10x8's are very popular for me, personally I don't like them as they are a horrible size, but if the client likes them then that's all that matters

It's not a problem by not charging to take the photo's but try to make something from your prints. This is your skill that you are using and at the end of the day you don't want to be out of pocket. People will want to pay for something if the photographs are decent and well taken.

Unfortunately I cannot upload any baby photographs that I have taken unless I ask the families involved. I do have signed model release forms but that's for my website only and not for sharing websites such as this. I hope you all understand.

Oh and one more thing, high key backgrounds are absolutely fine for new borns, but it really is down to the parents. I take a white and black sheet with me, set them both up and just flick between the two. Always take a ground sheet and a sheet to cover a prop. I use velvet and/or suede. Also be prepared to wash the sheets afterwards as "accidents" can happen!

Right I'm stopping there as I have been rabbiting on for ages

Paul

Ya know, looking at the amazing handheld shots that you have taken with that lens, it makes me want to have it back

Maybe I should invest in one again....No, no, no I mustn't get tempted.
Really am glad that it went to a very good home and that you are producing such fantastic shots!

Paul

The first wedding I did was so stressful that, at the time, I vowed that I would never do another again.
Now, I do actually really enjoy them. If my clients choose the top package, they get a studio shoot at the end, this is where you get to unwind with the guests and get some amazing shots. Also with printing on the night you can walk away very happy

All I say to anyone who gets a chance to cover a wedding is enjoy yourself. Sounds crazy to say that, but if your client sees you happy then they relax and you get some of the best shots imaginable.
I have only had one wedding where it went a tad pearshaped, but I can honestly say that that was not my fault, but when they received their album, well lets just say that they loved it and they gave me an apology. It turned out great in the end.

Paul

Hello all, like the title says, I should introduce myself.

My name is Paul Lucas, I'm 35yrs old and I have been a member of this site since 5th March 2007 but I have only recently been a regular since the begining of the year. This is mainly because I work from home and have the odd few hours where I have nothing much to do. I also find this site very addictive, and even though I am a professional, I still find myself learning new techniques from fellow Pentax Users.

I am a professional portrait, wedding and events photographer. I have 2 businesses, one which I run myself doing mainly portraits, groups (such as children's organisations), and landscapes & wildlife. My other business focuses on larger weddings and large events & dinners, I run that with my business partner. I am currently working on a portfolio for my licentiateship to the British Institute of Professional Photography (BIPP).

I started in photography at the age of 12 where my father let me buy a Praktica MTL50. Then I bought a Nikon F301 which I loved but found the lenses were so expensive.

I then traded that in for a Pentax MZ50 and have stayed with Pentax ever since. I bought my first digital, the fantastic *istD two months after it came out.
I now own the K10D and the K20D, the K10D is my trusty back up. I did have a vast array of lenses but have now sold the ones that I don't use as much, 2 of which I have sold to members on this site. I am hoping that Pentax do bring out a K30 or very similar in the future so that I can give my K20 a well deserved rest. I shoot mainly in Raw and sometimes in Raw and Jpeg. I make full use of the manual settings as I want full control in all that I do.

At some point I will upload some of my photographs and share rather than make comments about others all the time

I am happily married, have a cat and 2 rabbits and am a voulntary youth worker.
I also tend to rabbit on for ages, just like I have done in this post


Paul

Phew

Paul

Pete, I hope I didn't offend you with my comment about the sensor. If it works for you then go for it.

I tend to hold my breath when I clean my sensor, mainly cos I'm worried about making it worse. My cameras are my life and my job.

No offence meant

Paul

I give all my lenses and filters a good clean every 3-4 weeks. I never touch the lens glass so fingerprints aren't a problem for me.

The sensors on both my camers get cleaned by me as and when...I take it that was a joke when someone said that they breath on the sensors right!

So that is why all my lenses are in a pristine condition.

Blimey, even my Manfrotto tripod gets cleaned, although that's understandable as this poor thing has been plonked in water, sand, mud etc!

My wife thinks I have OCD with all the cleaning hehehe
I just take great care of my equipment, plus I enjoy cleaning it

Paul

If you want to take photographs this way then why don't you set the camera up on a tripod and have it closer to the feeder, that way you can sit in yr chair and fire via remote.

Just a suggestion

Paul

Edited: Spelling mistake

This is going to annoy some people but I really do agree with Nathan on this one.
I can fully recommend a book for anyone to read and that is the "Magic Lantern Guides" isbn:9781600591853
This is a fantastic book and it contains everything you need to know.

Still ask your questions as that's how we all learn, but also read the manuals that are written to train us on our equipment

Paul

I hate it when the postage is whacked up, that really puts me off an item so i end up not bidding for that.