Reply To: Common Mistakes? CC

[IHF]

Your age isn’t an excuse it’s an asset.  As long as you keep shooting, keep pushing, and don’t get trapped in a box too long without climbing out, your photography will continue to improve.  To be honest, your photography is already quite marketable.  I understand though when you talk about your consistancy.  Yes, I can take good portraits, and know what works and what doesn’t. And i doubt any one but me even notices, But I know it still doesn’t feel right behind the camera.  I’m still getting some surprise outcomes, and  I don’t quite have a clear direction yet.  Like you, I also click too much per “session”.  I’d like to get to a point where I have a clear outcome to shoot for and it only takes just a few snaps to know i got it.  We aren’t ready yet. People that jump in too quickly get trapped and what a mess, what a place not to be.  I love photography way too much to do that to myself.

Right now, I don’t think you need to invest in a site.  A cheap or free site will just look blah and like you don’t care, and you definitely don’t need an extra expense when you aren’t in business. But, a good paper portfolio may not be a bad idea.  Not only is finishing your work into a photograph a wonderful learning experience, but chosing images for it can also make you think harder about what you want to accomplish with your photography, and how it presents itself and changes.

Can I make a suggestion?  And please if anyone thinks I’m wrong, jump right in and yell at me….

Why not just, don’t have prices posted?  If you want to shoot something/someone in particular seek them out and create.  If someone comes to you inquiring, and it’s clearly for them… Well…. Why not charge what its worth?  Like I said before, cost of your time, and other expenses that went into making their photographs.