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Viewing 15 posts - 646 through 660 (of 676 total)
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  • in reply to: Just Starting Out #3062
    IHF
    Participant

    Grinning,

    Just something to think about.  I only say this because I’ve been there, flirting with the idea of shooting for money as only a hobby or while I learn.  Then I thought about it a little more deeply and decided it wasn’t for me, and I’d much rather learn first, and then go all out (if I even chose to do so).  Currently I’m just happy knowing that by shooting just for myself, I’m improving quickly with my portraiture, much more quickly than if I was shooting for others and under the pressure that being for hire brings. I’m fulfilled creatively, and I don’t feel taken advantage of, or funny charging for what I know isn’t professional.  I don’t feel over worked and away from my family either.

    Ask yourself this:

    How much time do you spend per week…

    preparing for a shoot

    Traveling for sessions

    Shooting a sessesion

    Talking to clients

    Marketing

    Processing images

    preparing images for your clients

    updating your website/blog/facebook

    networking

    how much do you spend on products, equipment, software, etc

    how much do you get paid per session?

    how many sessions do you do a week?

    and if after you calculate your expenses vs pay, and how much time you put into being for hire and you’re happy with your hourly wage you are receiving for all your work, then by all means just keep keepin on.  It didn’t pan out for me, even as just a hobby.  I’m worth more than .60 an hour and so is my time

    in reply to: Just Starting Out #3058
    IHF
    Participant

    weird blue/Green zombie thing

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404943976225797&set=a.404925932894268.112626.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=346514938735368&set=a.346514922068703.101985.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    yellow jaundice

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404491579604370&set=a.404468682939993.112502.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    Yellow/green but I really like the photo

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404974366222758&set=a.352310814822447.102831.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    Good examples of the weird contrasty thing

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405785959474932&set=a.405641119489416.112857.345992698787592&type=3&theater

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405273902859471&set=a.405185632868298.112701.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    Bad spotty lighting

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404975706222624&set=a.404975662889295.112650.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    wonderful (but a tad too yellow)

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404975666222628&set=a.404975662889295.112650.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    Lovely, but again the processing isn’t quite getting it.  It’s not green or blue, yellow, but it’s definitely some sort of filter or action that just didn’t do it justice.  MAkes it look over exposed or something

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=404271192959742&set=a.352310814822447.102831.345992698787592&type=3&theater

     

    I really like this one

    and the processing is nice and subtle as well

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=405641142822747&set=a.405641119489416.112857.345992698787592&type=3&theater

    in reply to: I am terrified of you people! Here goes nothing. #3057
    IHF
    Participant
    in reply to: I am terrified of you people! Here goes nothing. #3050
    IHF
    Participant

    YAY!  Gina so glad you aren’t gone!!! 🙂

    a few random bad outdoor lighting examples:

    http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.279788338769448.65687.135543696527247&type=3

     

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=280411482040467&set=a.279788338769448.65687.135543696527247&type=3&theater

     

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=235932013155081&set=a.235237113224571.56107.135543696527247&type=3&theater

    If weddings, events, and shooting whenever and wherever the client needs you, is what you are going to be doing, light modifiers and learning off camera flash are a must for you.  Otherwise, your shots are just gonna look like anyone can take them.  Natural light photography has a lot more to it than just not learning studio lighting.

    in reply to: Just Starting Out #3049
    IHF
    Participant

    not liking the processing at all.  Ruins shots that could work really well, and makes the ones that don’t look quite right (aka exposed improperly, bad light and shadows, bad focus, bad posing) , look even worse.

     

    I like your studio/indoor shots better.  I dont know if it’s because you don’t process them the same way you do your outdoor shots, or if they are just better because you are paying better attention to light because it is controlled.

    Hate to be redundant, but very odd processing, and the colors are really wonky.  Some almost look green and zombish, some blue, most look yellow.  and some sort of weird contrasty thing is happening.

    Are you calibrated?  Have you finished/printed a lot of your photographs?  If not I think you should do it.  You can learn a lot from finishing your work, it may even change the way you shoot and/or process your images.

    If you are using presets or actions like I suspect you do, please STOP!  (don’t defend this as YOUR style, because guess what?  it’s not.  It’s someone else’s money maker and it’s not working for you at all)

    All in all though, I DO see a lot of potential.  I can see a little graduation from processed snap shots to more thought out shots going through your albums, and I can see that you care about what you are doing.  I dont think you are ready to be selling your services and products and this makes me have to put in my Fauxtog vote.  But if you were to slow down, and work on your photography, the technical aspects, and take time to learn proper editing techniques, instead of tweaking someone else’s preset/action, I could see you possibly going legit.

     

    When your ready to go into business, I’d seriously consider investing in a real website, and not one that advertises all over it how easy and free it is. Maybe hire someone to come up with a logo for you as well.  Just like you don’t want your photography to look like anyone at all can do it, you don’t want a website that just anyone can have either.  It makes it all look cheap and easy and brings down the value of what you are doing.

    in reply to: I am terrified of you people! Here goes nothing. #3036
    IHF
    Participant

    Stef, is that what’s wrong with these photos as well?  Flat lighting?

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=340316336049981&set=a.334023573345924.76444.135543696527247&type=3&theater

     

    http://www.facebook.com/media/albums/?id=135543696527247

     

    http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=286209438127338&set=a.286207998127482.66918.135543696527247&type=3&theater

     

    I wouldn’t normally do this, but it seems we lost her anyway.  I knew these shots didn’t work for a handful of reasons, and lighting is one of them, but since I am still learning studio lighting and trying to understand it properly, I had/have no idea what is wrong, just that it is.  It would help me out greatly to have an answer.  Thank you in advance

    BTW so sorry for calling you Steph so many times in the past…..lol Just today I noticed I was talking to Stef not Steph *oops*

    in reply to: I am terrified of you people! Here goes nothing. #3002
    IHF
    Participant

    I also think you should quit with the contests and give aways and marketing, and instead of shooting for others, shoot for yourself and work on in camera and the technical aspects of photography BEFORE you start taking on clients again.  When you feel it’s time to portfolio build again, can I suggest posting your regular prices (prices that will turn you a profit, and have you making AT LEAST minimum wage after all of your expenses, and fees and taxes have been figured in), so people understand that the lower prices you are charging is just as you portfolio build, and you will soon be charging real prices.  This is much more effective and honest than sales and contests and what not.  It also lets people know how much your photography and photography in general is actually worth.  Lot’s of togs get trapped in that cheap photographer label and get burnt out in a jiffy, especially after they find out what they are charging doesn’t even cover the cost of doing business, and in all actuality they are paying their clients for their hard work.  They try to raise prices but they are unsuccessful at doing so.  and this is the timeline of a fauxtog.  avoid it at all costs if you are serious about making a living with your photography.

    in reply to: I am terrified of you people! Here goes nothing. #3000
    IHF
    Participant

    Woe!  Lot’s of jaundice going on.  Some photos have no skin processing and could benefit from some, and others you went way over board.  Almost looks as though some of the shots weren’t exposed and/or focused properly and you processed them to try to cover it up, or “fix” it.  It was hard to look past the odd editing and just view the photos themselves.  My advice?  Work on getting things right in camera, and if you are using actions or presets STOP!  I did notice that a lot of your outdoor shots the lighting is pretty bad.  I’d look into some light modification of some sort, because to me they just look like anyone with a camera could have took them and passed them through a jaundice filter and voila!  Studio shots are a little better, but the lighting still isn’t quite right.  I can’t put my finger on it, but I’m sure some pros will chime in and offer better help.

     

    It looks like you are really good with people though, and lot’s of photos, the posing/comp was really well executed.

     

    Right now my vote is faux, but with a little help and some more CC and practice I can definitely see you improving and losing the faux status

    in reply to: would it be ? #2989
    IHF
    Participant

    Thank you so much KC.  I’m thrilled that you like my images AND that you took the time to look

     

    in reply to: Photog or Fauxtog? #2967
    IHF
    Participant

    Yes, redbubble is a nice community.  The worst that can happen over there is hearing nothing but crickets, and if you find it to be quiet enough to hear the crickets….something is terribly wrong with your art

    Look, there is nothing wrong with having a place to share everything you shoot.  I show off my snap shots and vaca pics all the time on FB, and have a bazillion photos/albums going on over there, I love a ton of my not so technically correct photos, ADORE them!  All photographers have a dumping ground of some sort.  We don’t always shoot to thrill lol.  We all use our cells, and/or point and shoots or crappier/older dslrs, and have a life and realize that not every picture we take is golden.  I don’t ask for critique on FB and I don’t send other photogs to my FB either, it’s just not what it’s for.  But, you were asking if you were professional enough or not and sent us to your dumping ground.  To be honest, I saw nothing that popped out at me while going through your gallery.  Nothing that said “this girl is on her way”.  What has me convinced that you will be ok, is the fact that you stuck around to face the heat, and that you came here to ask to begin with.  Keep personal shots personal, and “professional” or more serious shots professional.  Nothing wrong with sharing your good stuff at your dumping ground, BUT never put personal snaps into your portfolio, or no one will ever take you seriously.

    in reply to: Photog or Fauxtog? #2962
    IHF
    Participant

    Vamp, She was saying Steph was her hero 😉

    Thank you for taking the time to look at my redbubble. redbubble is a good place to go to get encouragement, but be weary.  It’s no place for any real critique.  the motto there is “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all” (and eh hem… There is a lot of crap photography to swim through over there because of the “nice” environment).  It’s exactly what I needed, and still need from time to time, but I also search out help, and critique somewhere else when needed too.

    Make sure you take all of our advice, and work on your photography and portfolio and get your ducks in a row, BEFORE you go to photo.net and ask if you are ready to start charging, or ask for critique.  They are VERY honest there, but you can be assured that you don’t just have a bunch a bickering meanies, or annons, or whatever YANAP will attract in the near future (so far I think we have photographers, but I know in someone’s shoes that just got called a faux.. I would question where it came from), at photo.net you are talking to photographers, no question.  If you need help with lighting, posing, in camera anything, they will help anytime.

    in reply to: would it be ? #2931
    IHF
    Participant

    kc, thing is

    There is no helping people who don’t want help.  I know the type, I think we all do.  One time on a different outing type site, I had a tog investigated for fraud and copy right infringement.  She was clearly using another togs photos as her own, and it was proven, and outted in a public forum.  She was defensive and nasty, and insisted she wasn’t breaking any laws.  That the pictures were used for posing ideas for clients only and she had purchased copy rights for all of them for that purpose, and she would NOT take them down.  You would not believe the amount of “photographers” (and I use the term loosely) that came to her defense “She’s new at this, and didn’t know what she was doing was wrong, or against the law”.  I got called names, and emailed nasty emails.  I was told I was mean, and spiteful for having her investigated, and talking about it publicly.  (The site got reported by all of them, and it was taken down because of all the complaints).  She eventually jumped their bandwagon and said “Yeah, if you had just contacted me privately, I would have gladly taken the images down”.  REALLY!?  But you wouldn’t when over a dozen photographers in a public forum asked and pleaded for you to?  It’s frustrating, and infuriating.  Here we are working are pants off, and giving it our all, and there they are just being so flippant about something that is so important to us.  But, it’s not important to them, like it is for us.  There’s no changing that.  They are not photographers, and eventually they will tire of pretending they are, they always do.  Fact is, you tried.  Keep reaching out to people, and even if you only “help” or “get through” to one person, you’ve made a difference.  Don’t give up, just let this one go.  No sense beating a dead horse.  Try not to take what she is doing personally.  She has no idea that she is hurting you or what you care so deeply about, and will never see that she is, but she will eventually grow tired.  That you can count on

    in reply to: Horror of all horrors #2926
    IHF
    Participant

     

     

    I side with Mike.  I think showing them how you feel the image should be seen is important, and so is customer service.

    I was a hair sylist for 13 years.  I look at selective color like I do the mullet.  UGLY!  Is it long?  Is it short?  Is it black and white?  Is it color?  What are you trying to accomplish here?  UGH!  So many mullets I had to do while cringing, until one day, I started trying to talk people out of it.  Plant the seed of suggestion lets say.  I made a lot of people very happy, and comfortable changing over to a style more suited for them.  I lost some clientele though, and I have a feeling that at least a handfull of them probably still cut their hair in a mullet to this day, but at least it wasn’t me doing it anymore.

     

    By explaining how you feel about it, showing them how you think the image was meant to be viewed, and still doing the selective color for them.  You are still offering good customer service, while “teaching” and “planting that seed”  (and that seed can and will grow).  Your customer doesn’t really want selective color, they just want the lastest and greatest, and the think that THAT is what it is.  MAybe just maybe, if you show them what they really want, they will see the light…then again, there will always be people that wear mullets and think selective color is cool.  If they are the latter, you still served them well, told them how you felt towards it, and planted that seed that may even spread to their friends and extended family.  It’s a win win 🙂

    and YES!  DO NOT post the image in your portfolio at all!

    in reply to: Inspirations in Photography #2916
    IHF
    Participant

    Finally had some time to myself today to look up the togs everyone had mentioned here, and wowy wow WOW!

    A day isn’t enough.  Wonderful thread!  Thank you all so much for the contributions 🙂

    I hope this thread doesn’t get buried or deleted or lost, because I want it to grow in a very bad way

    in reply to: Inspirations in Photography #2893
    IHF
    Participant

    When I suddenly lost sight in one eye, and found out that my good eye most likely will suffer the same fate, I thought “I can do this.  I will do everything I can to save my vision and be vigilant about going to the doctor, and I will take the steps necessary to make sure I will live a good life”….Then I panicked!  MY CAMERA!!!!  MY PHOTOGRAPHY!  and I mourned, and worried and avoided my camera for months.  I didn’t want to find out I couldn’t do it, or that it would be different.  Then a friend showed me this video

    So Pete Eckert is very high on my list.  If that guy can do what he does, and create such wonderful, touching, technically challenging images, I most certainly can still goof around and fulfill my photography needs.

    http://www.peteeckert.com/ If you are interested in his whole portfolio

     

    I also found other blind photographers that inspire me to keep going

    http://blog.blindphotographers.org/

     

    What’s strange is I am attracted to darker moody photographs like Lee Jefferies, but I shoot the complete opposite, and can’t even picture myself even trying to attempt to shoot in this direction at all (like I even could lol).  I think it’s mostly because I lost some color, detail, contrast, and depth because of my glaucoma, and I miss seeing like I used to.  So for my own shots, I like light, light, light, vivid colors, sharp focus, detail, shallow depth of field, and lot’s of macro.

    ROME II

    His photography is absolutely amazing!!!  I need tissue and a good 4 hour block (at least) to view his photos.

     

    I also like Zack Arias a whole whole bunch.  I like the way he speaks, teaches, and thinks photography.  Very cool dude, who doesn’t seem to abuse his platform at all.

     

    Just your plain everyday, run of the mill “old school” photographers.  Ya know, those awesome people that have been documenting lives and taking portraits for decades, and can make all sorts of bad situations work without a hitch.  Their versatility, skill, and experiences….well  I covet them.  I want to be able to shoot like that, and share stories like theirs.  But, mostly I LOVE to learn from them.

Viewing 15 posts - 646 through 660 (of 676 total)