Need suggestions: how to handle photos for non-fiction book

[K1P1]

This question may not make sense unless I explain it completely, so bear with my longwinded introduction.

I'm working on a knitting book. The plan for the "how to" sections is to illustrate them step-by-step with actual photos of hands, knitting needles and yarn demonstrating the techniques. This will be difficult in some cases where it's actually easier to clearly show what's going on in drawings rather than photos.

I am going to be involved in the photo shoots. They plan to use me as the hand model (then nobody but me is to blame if the content doesn't match the text!). In order to make the photo sessions move as quickly as possible, I need to be prepared for each shot.

I'm concerned that, while we're actually shooting the photos, I will lose track of the essential details that must be illustrated, little things that the photographer needs to make sure are visible in the photos. I'm considering taking digital photos of each step now, while I'm working on the text, printing them out with notes and circling crucial details. I'm worried that I will go way overboard documenting the photos that are needed. Also to be considered is the chance that some of this will be cut. On the other hand, if I document absolutely everything, then other people will be better able to set up the shots.

So, finally, here's the question: Does anybody have experience with this sort of photo shoot? Is it possible to over-prepare? Or is being prepared in every possible detail the best way to go? I'm concerned simply with using my time most efficiently, since I also have to write the book and get all the samples knit up for photography.

[Cathy C]

Photographers who do product and model shots understand that a LOT of film or images will need to be taken of each shot. (My husband is a professional photographer.) I think the ratio is like 10 or 20:1 on shots taken versus shots eventually used (of EACH image.)

Most likely, the photographer (if he's a professional accustomed to working with the publisher) will use multiple cameras, and will take multiple images using various filters and "bracketing" (where different F-stops will create different levels of detail, shadows and highlights) and will want you to hold still in a position while shots are taken from every angle. But yes, it would be a good idea to have written notes of what elements of your hand/the needle/the product needs to be included in a shot so they can focus the lens properly. Some elements might be in the foreground on one shot (like the needle position) while the background of the project is fuzzier.

I don't know that YOU need to bone up on photography as much as you need to know what you want to be conveyed to the reading public. Is it more important to the READER to see the stitch, your finger position, the needle position or whatever? Then, just let the photographer do his job. :)

[K1P1]

Thanks, Cathy.

I already know about F-stops, depth of field and so forth, so don't need to bone up on the technical detials of the photography and will be happy to leave those to the professional.

Considering the multiple shots, which I know he or she will do but hadn't really thought about in this context, chances are we will get what we need, but the difficulty will be selecting the shot that best illustrates the technique, rather than the shot that looks the nicest. I suspect that copius notes will be even more useful during the final selection process than during the shoot.

[Medievalist]

I'm considering taking digital photos of each step now, while I'm working on the text, printing them out with notes and circling crucial details. I'm worried that I will go way overboard documenting the photos that are needed.

This is exactly what you need to do; just to give the photographer a rough idea.