Pixtus - Photography Forum, Photographers, Photo Tips

Crashoran · **Lifetouch photography -** 08-08-2007, 09:26 PM

I have an offer from Lifetouch photography to cover the sports/sports portrait part of the business in this area. They basically have me travel to different schools and do team photos and individual photos.

Anybody hear any good or bad things about them?

dcnctx · 08-08-2007, 09:47 PM

Lifetouch did our students several times and may still be. I never heard complaints other than pricing. They did a good job. I think a local photographer may do them now.

Clint_Smith · 08-08-2007, 09:52 PM

I wouldn't. Last time I read a contract from one those types of operation there was a non-compete clause. So if you don't do it next year you might not be able to do it for a couple of years.

besides, have you seen the way they want you to shoot stuff?

lifetouch

Crashoran · 08-08-2007, 09:55 PM

I like the way they do sports portraits

http://www.lifetouchsports.com/gallery/

Anybody have any other ideas for a job?

carrbowl · 08-08-2007, 09:59 PM

My kids had their portraits done at school, last year and I was actually fairly pleased. They were the best school portraits I have seen of kids. Now, take in to account they are school portraits, but how creative can you be after you have dealt with the 854th nasty child of the day??? So it is probably like anywhere chain...only as good as the person running the place. JMO

Clint_Smith · 08-08-2007, 10:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashoran

I like the way they do sports portraits

http://www.lifetouchsports.com/gallery/

Anybody have any other ideas for a job?

I have to say wow at the sight. Lifetouch does everything but sports at the high school I teach at and I can say that it doesn't look this good.

But the stuff on the website is good...damn good.

Crashoran · 08-08-2007, 10:07 PM

I guess everything depends on the photographer

CobyPhoto · 08-08-2007, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint_Smith

I have to say wow at the sight. Lifetouch does everything but sports at the high school I teach at and I can say that it doesn't look this good.

But the stuff on the website is good...damn good.

None of the stuff that you see on the website is stuff that you would be doing. All or 95% of the stuff they have on the website is stuff done in the studio. Not only that, Lifetouch is big...you are looking at less than .5% of the BEST they have to offer on that sight. NOT a real indication of what they really do.

I have to say, I don't have a very good opinion of Lifetouch, and their affiliates. I re-do more Prestige (Same as LIfetouch) sessions each year because the photos suck. They do what I affectionately call "cattle-call" photography. I have a couple of their ads from Monster.com ads that read something like this: "Photographers wanted...NO EXPERIENCE necessary, must have HS Diploma and at least 1 year of CSR Experience.

They are also one of the major supporters of "lock-out" contracts that prevent other photographers from placing photos in HS Year Books. ANd yes, I do think they make you sign a non-compete agreement for 2 years. Lastly, not sure what they offered you, but from what I have been told, they don't pay very well either.

I can't offer you much on how good they are to work for, so just check out the details of the offer they make you and go from there. I know many other photographers that don't think to highly of them either.

CJ

Crashoran · 08-08-2007, 11:29 PM

I feel like giving up

ScoobyRoo20 · 08-08-2007, 11:37 PM

All I know about Lifetouch is that they have been arounf FOREVER. They did my portrais back when I was in elem school.

laawaaris · 08-08-2007, 11:48 PM

i work for lifetouch, but i do High School Senior Portraits in the studio

i like it a lot because of the people that i work with ... a lot of them i have found to be really friendly, very easy and fun to talk to, and of course they are also photographers

from a photography standpoint it is not too bad ... lifetouch has a certain method of portraiture, the cameras are locked down so you can't change the exposure and you're trained to take certain types of shots

because of that, if you're looking for a job that lets you get super creative, then lifetouch may not be for you ... however if you are ok with starting out, getting more experience with photography and learning from others, than it can be a good way to go

Crashoran · 08-09-2007, 12:16 AM

How are the cameras locked down? I don't want to just press the shutter all day long.

PeteQ · 08-09-2007, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crashoran

How are the cameras locked down? I don't want to just press the shutter all day long.

How? f11, iso is set, tape the focus ring, kid stands on the X, camera on the other X, and you adjust the height of the camera until the kids head fits the box outline on the focus screen and "click" or something very close to that. Maybe the folks shooting the seniors get to do a couple of poses, but for the general school pics it's a no-brainer system. Not that if oyu had to shoot 800+ kids in one setting you wouldn't do something similar though....

What Coby said.... They are a big company running around getting all the schools contracts. Word around the 'net is that they give a pretty healthy chunk back to the school in return for their all-inclusive lock-out contracts. Geez, there's a surprise, a school working with someone who will give them a kickback.....

laawaaris · 08-09-2007, 01:10 AM

well the exposure is set, the fStop, the shutter speed and ISO are all set and you can't chang them

i dont know exactly how they do it, but all the cameras have been heavily modified from the out of camera defaults to suit the needs of lifetouch ... they have little masks inside the viewfinder that you have to frame the image according to

it's not a bad thing though ... i've learned more working at lifetouch than i could ever learn on my own ... how to interact and talk to people, how to pose girls and guys, composition, and all sorts of ridiculous lighting (short loop, broad loop, and others)

i have no idea what its like on the road ... shooting sports and all that ... i can ask next time i see one of the road warriors in the studio and let you know

AndrewCCM · 08-09-2007, 02:24 AM

Curious...How are you learning about loop lighting and such if it's all preset? Are you actually setting up the lighting and experimenting or "just pulling the trigger?" If everything is preset, I wouldn't think there would be much in the way of lighting changes.

Regardless, if it's teaching you anything and getting you comfortable with the public in that environment. Good for you.