How many 35mm rolls in a portrait shoot?

[KenD]

How many rolls of 35mm do you shoot in your average portrait shoot? Assume 36 exposure, please convert if you shoot 24 or other exposure rolls.

 

[johannielscom]

Most of the time, I shoot close to a 100 shots. So, I'm mostly done halfway the third roll.

On average, 15 shots from a session like that get my final approval (with a new model it might be less, with someone I've worked with before I might get 20 to 25 good shots). These shots I happily put my name to. Sometimes I reluctantly add two or three if the model likes them a lot and I can agree with them. But, I never shot a model the whole session. The model has to accept I'm the photographer and I make the first selection.

 

[danielnorton]

2

2

I said 2, mostly because I would never just shoot one as the lab could screw it up etc. More rolls would be possible depending on the nature of the shoot - shooting action shots or kids, large groups that might blink.

 

[Frank Petronio]

I usually do 3 or 4 frames lol

 

[Jamie123]

Too many when shooting medium format so I usually shoot digitally. With digital I'd say a few hundred frames depending on how many models, clothes and/or lighting changes I do.

 

[Dave Wilkinson]

Surely - there are too many variables - to answer this?

 

[MartinP]

I voted one or less because I'd be using medium-format. I don't do that sort of thing as a job so it would depend on location and gear. Going up in multiples of twelve, but would typically be two 120 rolls I suppose.

 

[vdonovan]

35mm for portraits? The thought never occurred to me.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Rolls of 35mm? None.

2 to 8 sheets of 8x10.

(Sorry. Couldn't resist out-snobbing the anti-35 brigade).

Cheers,

R.

 

[drewbarb]

For a true portrait I typically shoot 4x5 film, not 35mm. Sometimes I'll only expose one frame; sometimes many more. For model portfolios, if I shoot film, it's usually medium format; though more often these days it's digital. I love 35mm, but I don't really use it much for work beyond shooting weddings- mostly I just use it for street/carry-around, documenting/sketchbook type shooting. When I get a great idea for a picture, I often go back and shoot it with LF if I can.

Anyway, the number of frames I shoot depends upon a lot of variables; I don't have a set number in mind. I work until we're done- either we're out of time, or the subject is tired, or the moment has passed, or we know we have the shot we want, or any one of a thousand other things that let me know the shoot is over. When I set limits for a job, it's on my time, not frame count.

 

[payasam]

Seldom more than a quarter of a roll in each of two cameras.

 

[Benjamin Marks]

It has been my experience that somewhere between the 36th and 100th exposure the subject relaxes sufficiently for a winning portrait. When I was a poor student in the days of film, I'd leave my camera empty for the first 40 clicks of the shutter so that the subject's unease could start to wear away. No longer necessary for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is that digital has reduced the additional "cost-per-click" to near-zero.

Ben Marks

 

[johannielscom]

Rolls of 35mm? None.

2 to 8 sheets of 8x10.

(Sorry. Couldn't resist out-snobbing the anti-35 brigade).

Cheers,

R.

😀 😀

think my rate will change, I'm moving to MF. Easier to catch expressions, light, pose, etc.

In time my rate in 35mm will drop as well as a result of that, I suppose

 

[KenR]

2 shots if its an interesting looking person on the street who has given permission for a photo. Otherwise, 2-3 rolls of medium format for a "formal" session.

 

[Morca007]

I seldom end up making more than four frames in a single location when I'm shooting 6x6, and rarely more than six in 35mm.

 

[semilog]

Make it count.

Make it count.

Rolls of 35mm? None.

2 to 8 sheets of 8x10.

(Sorry. Couldn't resist out-snobbing the anti-35 brigade).

Cheers,

R.

Elsa Dorfman: "I make two exposures and the client chooses one of them."

 

[35mmdelux]

3-5 with my Leica or Mamiya 6. 3 with my Technika 4x5.

 

[Trius]

As many as it takes. One frame is enough if it's the right shot.

 

[kkdanamatt]

It depends...

It depends...

As many as it takes. One frame is enough if it's the right shot.

I just shot a portrait for a CPA's website.

1. I told him to shave very well before the shoot because he has a heavy Richard Nixon type 5 o'clock shadow.
2. Wear a medium-toned shirt, no stripes. Darker tie, no stripes. Dark suit, no stripes. Remember, he's a CPA...CONSERVATIVE is the word.
3. His wife combed his hair and eyebrows, adjusted the shirt and tie and jacket.
4. I shot 36 shots with the following variables, smile, no smile, slight smile, face 3/4 left, face front, face 3/4 right. Slight variances in shadow detail using fill flash with hot lights.​
5. I was done in 1/2 hour.​
6. The whole shoot depends on how well you have prepared.​
7. BTW, he selected the 36th shot for the website.​

 

[easyrider]

Depends whom you are shooting. A headshot of a man with some full-length shots maximum two rolls. If you don't have it then, you are not going to get it.

A female in show business may have costume changes and different lighting setups. As many rolls as it takes.

Actually, before asking the question, the situation should be described -- i.e. studio? available light? B+W or color? etc.