Destination Sessions Explained
Me packing light for team headshots…
I used to be absolutely uncomfortable having to explain why destination portrait and headshot sessions have add’l fees. Portland traffic being what it is these days most of my clients understand the simple notion that it’s costing me shooting time to brave the freeway, nevermind packing, parking and return times. It’s usually cheaper for me to commute, than to cost an entire staff to do so.
What most people may not consider is the gear that’s needed to create studio-lit images offsite. I used to get pretty close with pocket strobes, but “good enough” is not in my vocabulary. Once I, ahem, saw the light, there was no going back!
I’ll spare you the comparison photos and specs on guide numbers vs watt seconds, but in sum - a 200 watt-second strobe is significantly more powerful than my last investment on a pair of Canon 580EX Speedlites … roughly 2.5 to 3 times more light output and MUCH faster recycle time. A huge factor in capturing micro-expressions. Those in-between looks that can make or break an authentic image - let alone fast blinkers like me!
Packing for location headshots anywhere in Oregon.
I now only pack those 200ws lights as backup to my 600ws and 400ws lights. (Yes, you too will see the light! : ^) This is not to impress or intimidate, but has allowed me to be calm and flexible when that one-in-five client says (on arrival) “We changed our mind, could we do these outside instead?” I pack like MacGyver, ready for for a happy “Yes, let me grab the big guns…” (and then hope that I threw in the C-stands so I don’t have to convert a human into one…)
In most cases I work with professionals that have already tried the “natural light photographer” who now understand that it takes a strong fill light to prevent white-sky-backgrounds (on a blue sky day) while preventing racoon eyes (darkened eye sockets with no detectable eye color.) I want to feel comfortable when you tell people that I created those images. People are too nice to tell us when our fly is open, odds are they will not tell you “Umm… you are really much better looking than your headshots - who on earth did these!”
All things being electronic, I load carry backup lights, camera and batteries… Driven into me by my 80’s mentor who sarcastically animated “Now hold that pose while I run back to the studio for my other...” I’m guessing you’ll agree that the photographer should just take all of their gear with them.
In the spirit of showing vs. telling - this video of a recent shoot should justify the added fee for guaranteed quality - and why I show up 30-45min early of a shoot.
