Reply To: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page…

[FauxFighters]

Alright, enough about the horseshit with Roxanne.  I am going to post on the topic of the thread!  I got recommended the link to this photographer via Facebook yesterday.  She had a sponsored FB ad and a very extended family member liked this page.  I was originally asked to shoot the wedding for this extended family member, but already had a conflict that weekend, so this person shot it instead.  I will say this person is not as absolutely terrible as Cathleen, but I still think she qualifies.  So I present:

https://www.facebook.com/photobykeri

Now to start off with, the first thing that really annoys me about this lady is her attempt to lure other Christians in by blanketing her FB and webpage with Bible quotes.  I am a Christian who attends church regularly and hope I am a good example to others, but I feel that covering your business webpage with this is distracting and oftentimes disingenuous.  Just because my page isn’t covered with Bible quotes and mentions of God doesn’t mean that I would be unprofessional in thoughts, actions or pricing, or that you are somehow a better photographer than somebody else.  Anyways, that is a personal rant, not anything business related, but I feel it could alienate people who have different beliefs than you or just simply distract from the important part of getting quality photographs that capture an important moment for your client.

So my first find was her wonderful marketing for a Family Stoll?

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151017373841600

Good job not proofreading. Here is another one showing off her awesome Photoshop editing skills while “marketing”:

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151317612666600

This folder is “The Beauty of Christ”.  It seems to me to be more reasonable to just name it “Some random snapshots I took out the window of my car and put a huge watermark on” as that is all they appear to be to me:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151464540416600.515306.195884881599

There is nothing that interests me in any of those shots.  Many are blown out badly in spots or extremely dark.  No interesting subjects or anything that makes those shots impress me.  Next is her “Portfolio”

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151384685201600

Looks like the front of the wagon is the only thing in focus.  The little girl certainly is not.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151384685136600

I think the focal point is on the tin roof, not the little girl on the tractor.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151384685221600

No consideration for the direct sunlight shining on half her face.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151384710811600

Automatic white balance for the lose (I’m guessing?) and the girl is out of focus.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151448520921600

Not sure whats up with this weird pose/angle on the baby, but wow.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151448520626600

Not sure why she posted a picture to her “portfolio” that a baby is grabbing her camera strap.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150200192036600

A fauxtog self-portrait, with a base camera and kit lens.  No surprises here, judging by the quality of her work.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151196882806600

Unsure where the focal point is supposed to be on this shot because they have vignetted half the kid dark, yet most of the shot is out of focus.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10150263119451600

Another marketing piece.  I guess she has (wisely) deleted some of her old photos, but the photo in the top right hand side shows a bride hidden in the shade with a camera that has obviously metered for the brightly lit sky behind instead.

This following photo is my favorite, but this one is from her personal page, not the biz page.  She was apparently “ripped off” by another fauxtographer.  Seems she gave the person who got this photo full rights without a clause saying “Full use, except commercial”.  Therefore this other person posted her photo up as her own, and since there was no watermark branding on the photo and the lady has the CD with “full rights” to use it, I guess she does.  Gotta pay attention to those things fauxtogs and newbies alike.

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=4947934252027

Thankfully because of that little tidbit, I might have another fauxtog to share!