[IHF]

Just another tip, something to think about. Dslrs CAN take a lot of  actuations before they give out, but shooting hundreds upon hundreds of snaps during each and every session isn’t doing your camera any favors. Try working just as you did with film, and make each shot count, because each snap you take isn’t free just because you don’thave to replace a roll of film, it comes at a cost.  Plus, it will help your photography so very much, to think about each and every shot before you snap

[IHF]

I think I may hear crickets lol

You may have just started the slowest, quietest thread that will ever be on YANAP, but I’m going to subscribe because my curiosity is up too.

And  btw Im not a pro, nor do I pretend to be

[IHF]

Notaphotographer, was much nicer about your photography than I would be (to me the only thing stopping your images from getting featured here, is that none of them are funny/interesting enough) but I agree with everything else that was said whole heartedly.

[IHF]

“wouldbleed” ?!? Lol that’s a strange auto correct

Would need

[IHF]

Suggestion:  if you feel your photography  isn’t worth what it actually costs you to create it.  Why not work on your photography skills, and get them up par with what you wouldbleed to charge to make a profit or at least break even?  Take a breather from being in business, and just shoot for yourself for a while.  Take some time to study, and give yourself lessons on light, exposure, comp, etc.  this alone will improve your photography immensely .  There’s no need to work with bazillionsoff people, market, or work so hard on the business end of things while you are still learning.

Or

Price your services at their true value.  Take the steps needed to be legit, otherwise you are just a cheap tog that people will continue to take advantage of, and photographers will never take seriously

[IHF]

“in no way do I consider myself a pro”. Yet, you have a “business”. Take clients and even “teach” others?

While I agree with you that your photos are hardly pro quality, you ARE a pro! Or at least pretending to be. You are charging for professional services, and you are marketing your professional services.  You are presenting/representing yourself as a pro.  You may not be licensed, pay taxes, have insurance, contracts etc like a true legit pro does, and you don’t have the over head like they do, but you are in business just the same.  You just chose to do it illegally, and unlike a “real” pro, and JUST like a faux, you don’t care if you make a profit or go about it legitimately or not.

Your prices are ridiculously low.  You aren’t even charging what it costs YOU  to be in “business”.  The way you are practicing, is exactly why websites like this were started in the first place.

Even hobiests (of any kind, not just photography) that wish to have a little hobby income,  charge what their product is worth.  They take in to consideration, their time, their talent, their cost of creating the product, and delivering the product, and sell it at its true value.  You and your photography are woth more than pennies an hour, and certainly other professional photographers are, but by practicing the way you do, you bring not only the value of your work down, but the value of other photographers as well.

[IHF]

I think you’re right dfe, but not in all curcumstances.  I think a lot of inquiries here are legit.  Yes, there are much better places out there to receive CC, but a lot of beginners are unaware of their existence.  Mostly because they haven’t looked for it.  YANAP for a lot of people is the first place they have ever saw criticism.  YANAP is shared rampetly between fauxs. How do I know this?  It was the first harsh critisisim I saw out in Internet land.  You have to keep in mind how much Internet nicey nice happens out there and how much new photographers are marketed to.  To market, you have to be a little dishonest (ok more than a little) and uncritical of your clients and push them to keep doing what they do, to sell your products.  What sells?  Easy, “anyone can do it” motivation, you are good enough, its all about our eqipment, software, actions, websites, templets, props, products, etc.  Its powerful.  You get your camera and wow yourself, and then share with family and friends, and wow them, then you seek out other photographers like yourself, andjoin some happy little forum somewhere.  All the while you are building a happy little bubble for yourself.  CC pops that bubble and pushes you to get better, and realize you aren’t as fantastic as you thought and have a lot of growing to do.  There are people like me out there that want their bubble popped.  They want to learn and be the best they can be.  They respect the medium and the profession.  Yeah, probably more out there that rather stay in their bubble than really become a photographer, a lot more… But I’m not going to assume EVERYONE that comes here falls in that category.

[IHF]

Oh and drop the editing, until you are able to get it right in camera.  No amount of editing can save a bad photo.

And selective color rarely ever enhances a photo (in my opinion never!)

 

[IHF]

You are not a fauxtog.  You aren’t in business selling your photography.  You are an amateur trying to develop.  There is absolutely no shame in that at all. 🙂

With that said, don’t ever blame the equipment.  Yes, you most likely will  want a more versital camera to work with, but until then, your camera is completely capable to capture light, and therefore it’s capable of creating compelling interesting images, if the person behind it is capable.

Right now, I’m not seeing much.  Your point of view is very awkward.  Try getting at the same level as your subject, don’t be afraid to move, crouch, and use your feet to get what you need in the frame.  When shooting silhouettes make sure the foreground is interesting, simple, and easy to recognize and identify.  Put lots of thought into your composition before you click.  Right now it feels like you are thinking “ooooh pretty flower!”  Click!  Instead,  look at that flower, and think “how can I capture this flower in a way no one has seen it before, but me.  Try shooting up from a bugs point of view, or get up close, etc.

Also, try shooting during the magic hours, when the light plays with us and flatters any subject, and makes wonderful long shadows, instead of shooting after  the sun is setting, or at 2:00 in the afternoon.  Photography is all about light.

 

Google “rule of thirds”

Understand the exposure triangle

Dont be afraid to move around and shoot from a different angle/point of view than we see when just walking around.  Seek and find photographs/photographers that you admire, and ask yourself why?  What is it about the image/images that works?  And then find out.  Study study study

[IHF]

Yes, click it.   it’s as if  she skipped right to the decorating, before building the house.  Slow down,  and take some steps back that you skipped over, and you’ll do just fine 🙂

[IHF]

Oh and by the way,

(I believe Ialready said this) you can see that you are really good with people and connect with your subjects really well.  I envy that.  I’m so awkward behind the camera, and struggle with directing.

[IHF]

:). I think we all are gonna get along just fine, thanks everybody, for living in the same reality that I do.

[IHF]

The color is much better and more subtle, but there is still that strange contrasty thing going on, especially with this one

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=408991649154363&set=a.408986669154861.113945.345992698787592&type=3&permPage=1

A couple also have too much pp on the eyes.

I have a feeling, instead of working on your editing all you did was try a different action.

To useanother people’s actions successfully you really need to learn first what they are doing, and learn proper editing first.

 

Think of it this way…. How can someone else’s actions help MY photos?  They were all taken in a different location, different time, different settings, with a different camera, different subjects, different end outcome etc.  learn how to edit your photos first, before taking editing short cuts.  There’s really no other way to go about it and have a complete understanding to how an action effects your photos.

You don’t want your business to be dependentsomeone’s one else’s editing style.  You need to work on your own.

[IHF]

As much as I hate to agree with you know who….. Currently, anyone with a dslr and an interest could have taken your shots.  But like I said, I can see you stepping up your game with a little effort

[IHF]

Better attention to light needs to be made, especially with your outdoor shots.  A lot of them have splotchy sun, and unwanted shadows.  If controlling where, and when you shoot is too difficult for you (events, and people with dificult scheduals to work with) looking into light modifiers is a must for you, and your endevours.  Indoor shots, almost seem to be shot on auto to me.  Hard to tell for sure without a full session to look at.  But seems that there isnt much control either with lighting or settings.  WB is all over the place, and exposure seems a bit off.  The consistency in your shots,  just isn’t there.

With that being said, I don’t think you suck, there’s definitely something there, and with a little work/time/and studying, I can see you improving quickly.  Are you Ready to take on clients for money?  It’s a no from me right now, but I think you have some real potential.

[Author]

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