Have you ever seen the national elementary school photographers in action?
It is quite a sight to behold the system they have to photograph 500-800 kids in a school day. Quite efficient in a factory floor kind of way for getting the little faces in front of the camera.
Often you have a three or four person traveling team that received a couple weeks/months of photo education. At the center you have a trigger person at the camera trying to "shoot" as many kids in as little time as possible so they can move on to the next job which may be several counties away.
First step you have the money taker who gets your cash that is stuffed in the envelopes showing the goofy packages including all those useless microscopic prints they call wallet size. Next is one team member plucking the child from the line of excited and wiggly kids and dropping the little behind onto a stool where it is one photo taken unless the child blinks. Instantly a second person pulls the photographed child off the stool while another confused and often scared urchin is dropped onto the still warm spot.
It's all about speed.
Personality does not matter.
Expression is secondary.
Why bother... try a pro this year for something different...memorable... fun!
peace,
tom s
