So, I shot my first Quinceanera last weekend (May 11, 2013) and I learned a lot. Since this blog is basically about a photographer learning this art, I thought I would share some things I learned.

How Did I Get Into This?

My daughter asked me one day what I would charge to take pictures of one of her friends Quinceanera. She said her friend’s (we’ll call her Cheyenne…because that’s her name) parents said professional photographers wanted to charge $500 just to show up. I thought that was pretty expensive and not really thinking, I told her I’d do it for $100. Little did I know she would text that to Cheyenne and next thing you know I’m set up to shoot a Quinceanera…something I’ve never done before and had no clue what to do. But this is all part of the learning process…right?

So I began searching the web to find out how to shoot this sweet 15 thing. I found lots of information about what pictures to take. These were mainly in a list-type format and although a bit helpful, not really without some examples. Then I stumbled across a photographer in Los Angeles by the name of Roy Hernandez. He has a lot of amazing photos posted of Quinceaneras, plus other things. His photos are amazing and you should check them out.

I noticed in his photo shoots (you can see all his proofs on his website) that he basically offered the following:

1. Pre-Session – Where the young lady is in daily clothes and sometimes wearing her crown or tiara.
2. Getting Ready – Roy goes to the young lady’s house and captures images of the dress and all the accessories (tiara, shoes, invitation, etc…). He also captures the young lady getting ready and preparing for her day.
3. Court Photo Session – This is where he gets great shots of the young lady and her court all dressed up and ready to shine. He gets the full group shot, then just the boys, then girls, then individual shots with the lady. He adds an additional plus by taking a formal photo first, then capturing them in some fun poses where the kids just get to have fun.
4. Church Service – These shots are amazing in amazing cathedrals. These types of shots I think are what make the difference in an entire package. It’s what makes the event bigger than just a reception and dance party.
5. Reception and Dance – This is what the kids are waiting for, and he does an exceptional job of catching the kids in candid moments and just enjoying the night. He captures all the necessary things, such as the cake, gift table, court table, DJ, etc…

So, armed with the information I gathered from Mr. Hernandez’s website, I set off to my first Quince. I asked Cheyenne’s mom if they were interested in the pre-set shots, but they just didn’t have the time as it was a busy time for them. So, we set up a time for me to show at her Grandmother’s home to get some shots before she got ready.  I thought when I showed up, Cheyenne would be apprehensive about some stranger taking pictures, but after a quick introduction and idle chit-chat, she actually was very excited and open to taking any shot I was trying to do. I found this session more relaxing than I thought it would be, because other than my daughters, she was the first person I took shots of in a straight up photo shoot. I was pleased with they way they came out.

We went to the Chinese Tea Garden in San Antonio to take shots because it’s a pretty amazing place to take pictures with a lot of amazing backgrounds. I figured that would be a good place because even if I goof up the shot, the family will at least have a nicebackground. I didn’t pick a good time, as it was 1:00pm, very sunny and hot. So, a lot of harsh light which isn’t smart. I’ve read a lot about how bad it is to take pictures in the middle of the day in harsh light…now, that I’ve experienced it, I won’t make that mistake again. Even with the harsh light, I think the photos came out well (after some post processing of course). I also moved her into some shade and that’s where I think I got the best photos.

This got me on the right track for my first Quinceanera. I had gotten over the initial nervousness of shooting someone I just met, and just started having fun with it. Here are some lessons learned from this part:

1. I need to get better at posing and communicating. I found Cheyenne was in a constant state of smiling which caused some of the shots to look artificial. I think that was because I was not communicating with her and she wasn’t sure if I was taking a picture or not. Constant communication is key and something I need to work on.

2. Shooting in the middle of the day is not a good idea. Luckily there were areas at the Tea Garden that were completely shaded and so I was able to get some really nice shots. The ones in the harsh sunlight…not so much. If I had to shoot in the middle of the day again, I will definitely bring someone to help and hold a big umbrella or something like that to block the direct sunlight.

3. I need to know my camera better. Although I scoped the Tea Garden out and planned my shots, people getting in the way was an issue and we were crunched on time. So, those two issues alone caused me to have to change posing locations and my camera settings often to get the right exposure. I thought I knew my camera, but I found myself pulling away from the camera to see what the settings were and fumbling with buttons. I need to be able to quickly change my settings while still communicating with my subject to keep her engaged. This is something I’ll be working on.

All in all, this first part went pretty well and I learned a lot. The second part of this post will discuss shots at the church and reception. Very difficult and harsh conditions which I was not prepared for. I had to learn on the fly and I think I did pretty well for a first-timer.

I’ve been taking photographs for about five years now, primarily of my daughters sporting events. I felt the investment of a nice camera would pay off and be better than buy pictures from someone else. I invested in a Nikon D90, then after renting the 70-200 f2.8 several times, I invested in that as well. My older daughter plays volleyball, so I needed something for low light situations. So, for years I was trucking along shooting my kids (and other teammates, which I will discuss on a later post) and relatively happy with what I was producing. I think I finally am able to find the right white balance and exposure in most situations. My pictures are a hit on Facebook and another personal site I use to display the photos I take of the team.

With my oldest now finishing up her second year of college and my youngest starting her High School season, I have now begun shooting for MaxPreps. I felt because I have my exposure right, I was confident enough to start shooting other people’s kids playing. Boy was I wrong. This is where I learned the difference between “tack sharp” and “OK for Facebook.” I’ve learned to critically look at my photos at 100% now. Once I started doing that, I found the percentage of usable shots dropped dramatically. Below is a shot from a game back in 2010. I thought looked good back then, but would never use today.

This was a lesson I learned when I first started posting my galleries to MaxPreps. My galleries would get declined and I would have to re-look a the images I posted. Quickly, my galleries would drop from 80 pictures, down to 30-40. I was frustrated at first, but then started to pay more attention while I was shooting. I focused more on my technique and positioning when I shoot. This has made me a better photographer. Now I get many more shots like the one below which are very sharp.

This has given me a new found respect for the big-time professional photographers who are out there. It’s not just about great gear and spraying a game in hopes to get a good shot. It’s about getting your exposure right, and using good techniques and positioning to get a great shot which is “tack sharp.”