[JimC]

You will be amazed how little it costs to get quality instruction.

Be sure to check out the big camera shop in your area. Our local camera shop is staffed by a lot of pros (good ones too, judging by their work), and they will offer evening or weekend classes on a variety of topics. $40-$100 is about the range in our area, your mileage may vary. Sometimes they’ll even offer you a discount or free admission to a class if you buy a related product. Our local shop will give you a free enrollment in their $100 lighting workshop if you buy a $120 softbox. If you were going to buy a softbox anyway, it seems like a good deal.

Another resource is local photography groups. I am part of one, where about once a month a bunch of folks ranging from pro to amateur enthusiast get together and talk shop. Sometimes they’ll even have a photo critiquing night. It’s not as bad as this site. Usually folks are commended for their bravery, and I’ve never heard someone critique a shot in a hurtful manner.

As I alluded to in my last post, practice makes perfect. The best advice I ever received about photography was “take a photo every day.” Now, the point of the advice wasn’t to just point and click once a day, but rather to actually put thought into a shot. Compose it, then recompose it. Tweak settings, then push the shutter button and take that photo. It’s an easy goal, and if you do it, you’re going to see a much more rapid improvement in skills than if you spent a million years reading forums and books on photography while the camera collects dust.

Good luck!

[JimC]

I can understand not wanting to get into big bucks for a hobby, but there’s a difference between paying for a $39 community education class on composition and investing your life savings on a Canon 1Dx and $30k worth of lights and backdrops.

I’m an old car buff. I even own one, a 1963 Studebaker. It’s a hobby, and I’m not a professional racer, car show trophy winner, or mechanic. I’m a hobbyist. But even as a hobbyist, I spent $70 on the shop manual for my car a few years back. I still spent about $100 on paint and supplies to freshen it up under the hood. I still spent about $40 last week on points, a rotor, and a distributor cap.

I guess my point is that even hobbyists invest something into their hobby. Often times, what you put in is directly proportional to what you get out. Someone who will only ever take what they get for free will get a lesser quality education and in turn enjoy the hobby less.

Okay, now that I’ve hammered on you for that, I’ll try to actually do something useful :). Truly, if you go looking for a step-by-step how to take a photo guide, you’re going to find just what you said, lots of people with different, sometimes conflicting ideas. It’s important to know that those ideas are not always wrong. The end goal is to get a usable exposure, and truly, there are many roads to get there. One person might like a super low ISO with a long shutter speed, while another turns his ISO to the max for a short shutter speed, while yet another guy rides somewhere in the middle.

If you want entertainment value with a little bit of know-how thrown in, Check out DigitalRev on YouTube. They’re a little on the crude side with their language sometimes, but I get a laugh out of their antics (most of the time – I cringe when they destroy a high end camera!), and you’ll learn something useful. From their videos, the related video streams are usually full of good stuff.

 

At the end of the day though, your best experience may be to experiment. Take an exposure, then take a good, serious, almost cruel look at it. Pick it apart and look for all the flaws. Then adjust your camera settings. Open your aperture and see what it does. Tweak ISO settings to see how much grain and noise drives you nutty. Experimentation is going to be the key for learning the technical side. From the artistic side, some people naturally have it, and others don’t. Composition is one of those critical aspects of photography. Go to the library and check out look books and books on composition and posing. It will help a great deal.

Okay, that’s all I’ve got for now. Hope it’s helpful. Peace.

[JimC]

WCS- I have no problem telling HIM that his photo isn’t up to his usual par, but he posts these publicly, where his other photog buddies and the clients he did the session for  are all able to see. I don’t want to call him out in front of everyone. These were engagement photos, and I’d hate to cost him a wedding contract if the couple see me criticizing what is a very one-off mistake.

cameraclicker – It was a posed shot, and there were only two trees in the background. One off to the left edge of the frame, and the one on the right 1/3 line, where the guy and his fiance are standing. I agree, it’s not the biggest sin a photographer can make, and the depth of field in the shot does in fact give you enough of a sense of distance that you can tell the tree is 50 yards behind him. If any other photographer took the shot (myself included!) I’d think it were great. I just expect more from him based on his skill. I guess it would be like going to an upscale bbq ribs joint for dinner, and being served a McDonalds McRib sandwich. Can you eat it? Sure? Is it good? In the right context, it can be. Is it what you expected? No way.

[JimC]

I loved the selective decoloring on this one:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=657471830946000&set=pb.100000495660395.-2207520000.1369979628.&type=3&theater

[JimC]

That’s exactly what I was thinking with that bride pic. Looks like something from a serial killer flick.

[JimC]

I like your photos. The web site is a little rough though.

I’ll echo others. It runs very slowly. All the cool scripting and animation and whatnot being used is really slowing it down, to the point that people aren’t going to hang out. The more established photog down the road has a site that loads instantly. You need to be as good as he is.

Advice: download Google Chrome. In the menu, go to Tools => Developer Tools. It does a lot of really cool website analysis right from your browser, and can troubleshoot issues. Using the dev tools in Chrome, I found SEVERAL significant scripting problems that are slowing you down. Even with most of the site cached I’m still getting load times of 16+ seconds on your gallery page, which only shows me 9 images. By contrast, a very sloppily put together website I built using WordPress (of all things!) for my car club has a load time of 4.36 seconds for a gallery with 48 images of similar dimensions to yours, and I cleared my cache before running that test.

I can totally sympathize with the peril of having to wear multiple hats in running a small business. Your passion is photography, not web design. I’d never expect someone devoting their life to photography to also be able to carry a conversation about the pros and cons of ruby on rails or to find any entertainment from a site like stackoverflow.com. (Bonus points if you can define what “stack overflow” means without peeking on Google.) Because it’s not your area of expertise, it’s easy to fall into despair, especially with those awful “drag and drop to build your website” tools that companies like Wix (who appears to be your provider) host.

My advice is to start over on the site. Your options are as follows, 1: Hire a programmer to create a site for you, 2: learn a bunch of coding and re-do it yourself, or 3. start over using WordPress as a content management system. The best bang for your buck for getting your site up quickly is that third option. You can actually do some really neat things with wordpress, and I know a good number of photogs who use it for their sites. No, it’s not as professional as having a custom, purpose built site, but it’s infinitely better than what you have now. The “build your own site” tools create extremely poor code, and a website using them is going to be so horrid to get through that people will leave it before they can wait for it to load. 16 seconds for all your assets to load (when half of them are cached) was pathetic in 2002. Today, it’s unheard of. This must be fixed.

[JimC]

I always loved the art of capturing images. I remember at 8 years old I got a kodak 110 film camera. I had a blast photographing anything that moved.

At about 12 I teamed up with my brother and a couple of our friends, and we made our first film using dad’s old handycam. It was a vampire flick. (It was terrible.)

At 15 I had saved up for my own camcorder. I went to live with my aunt in Florida for the summer, and made many a films.

While in high school, I got an opportunity in the TV industry. A local program that was broadcast to a 5 state market needed someone to time tapes. It was a small job, but it got my foot in the door. I sat in a room during recording, and I logged the timecode as tapes were being recorded (this was in the day that tape to tape editing was still common).

Much like the Dread Pirate Roberts, I stuck to that job, learning anything I could from anyone who would teach me, and slowly worked my way up. A producer for the network the show was on took me under his wing, and gave me one-on-one training on just about every piece of studio gear out there. By the time I was ready to move on, I could run an entire control room of a TV studio, and had developed a pretty good eye for shot composition as well.

From there, I took an assortment of jobs in the audio/video world, gaining more experience and amassing my own stash of gear, until I was able to start up my own business. It was slow at first, but a good connection got me in doing a corporate promotional video. One thing led to the next, people started seeing my work, and I found myself producing videos for several large businesses. (I won’t name names, but if I were to, I’m certain that at least the Americans here would know them.)

Then came late 2008. With several of the people who used to hire me jumping off their buildings, saved only by their golden parachutes, my business took a bit of a downturn. I kept myself busy, but I was taking on a lot of projects that weren’t as fulfilling. I bought a basic DSLR at this time, and started exploring my first love, the still image.

Eventually I was offered a position doing something totally off the beaten path – helping kids by running a group home for troubled teens. I jumped on it, moved 400 miles away, and started my life teaching social skills to kids who have none. It’s intense work at times, so one of the requirements is that I can’t have a second job. This meant no more video production, but I was really getting into photography as a hobby.

Fast forward to today, and here I am. Still helping kids, and still doing photography as a hobby. Video and photo really are closely related, so it was easy to make the jump, but I will admit that I am still learning. I would very much like, once I leave this position someday, to shift into doing photography full time. I’m not ready for that yet, but I find something to shoot every day, I have read hundreds of books on the subject, and with luck, I will be eventually.

And that’s me in a nutshell. 🙂

[JimC]

Ack!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=581955025159397&set=pb.136426056378965.-2207520000.1369715584.&type=3&theater

 

[JimC]

Hey Andrew,

I thought I’d throw my two bits in here. I think by large you’re heading in the right direction. Your images are overall very good, and several of your sports shots are magazine-quality photography.

One thing I noticed in several of your shots is that you sometimes tend to cut people in half, right at the waist. The rule of thumb I’ve always heard that has helped me immensely is “don’t cut someone off at a joint” in other words, necks, elbows, wrists, waists, knees, ankles, are places I try to avoid chopping people apart at.

Also, years ago when I was apprenticing as a camera operator in a TV studio, there’s a phrase that my mentor/producer would yell to me over the headphones that still helps me today as I tinker on still cameras. It was simply “watch your head room”. In other words, keep an eye on how much space is between a person’s head and the top of your frame. There are a few photos I noticed where I think you were trying to stick to the rule of thirds (which is important, no doubt!) but as a result of the way the shot was framed, there’s sort of an awkward amount of space above people’s heads. Not enough to write off as “negative space”, but too much not to notice. Some of these are the same shots where people got cut off at the waists, which I think can contribute to that. Don’t forget that all photography rules, even the rule of thirds, can be “bent” a bit. Knowing when and how far to bend them takes a lot of practice, but you’re young, you’ve got the time 😀

I could nitpick a little more, but honestly, that’s all I’m doing. Overall, your photos are very good. With the very smallest bit more experience you’d probably be able to “go pro” and smoke 99% of the fauxtogs of the world. To me, it looks like photography is something you take seriously though, and I get the idea you want to be the best you can. That in itself puts you light years ahead of most people. It’s HARD to let other people pick on your work, but it’s how we all learn. Sooner or later I’ll post some of my less embarrassing photos here, and I hope I’ll receive positive, constructive criticism that doesn’t patronize me so I can get better at this and maybe someday get to where my photography is as good as my video work was. (Long story short: I was in video production for over a decade and a half. I left that to help kids in a non-profit, and so I took on photography as a hobby to keep my visual arts side alive.)

Keep up the good work, and don’t stop learning!

Oh, before I forget, regarding your friends: I won’t dig in too deep, since they aren’t here and didn’t ask for my constructive feedback, but in short, it’s best you teach them what they can, but keep your friendship just that – a friendship. I ran my own video production business for years, and not taking a partner was the best decision I made in that business. A financial guru I’ve heard a few times on the radio has a catch phrase that “The only ship that won’t sail is a partnership.” and especially in this case, it’s true. Bri has a lot of potential. If Alec could hold his camera straight he might have some hope someday, but with both of them, you would be putting yourself in a bad spot by partnering with either. Partners are equal, and their work is not equal to yours. Besides, business can ruin friendships. My advice: Spend a few more years really tightening down your photographic awesomeness, learn everything you can, figure out what kind of photography you want to do all the time, and then hang up your own shingle and go for it. As is, you could probably do it, but again, you seem like someone who actually wants to be the best they can, and that mentality will make you one of the best. Keep it up!

[JimC]

It’s ALWAYS okay to say no. Real professionals know that they don’t jump on every lead that walks through their door, and they know that you can even fire the client, if need be. I was very selective about the work I took. If I weren’t, I’d have been videotaping weddings and dance recitals and 8th grade graduations every day of my life instead of doing what I liked and what I was most experienced with.

[JimC]

Okay, to set up with a little background, I am NOT a pro tog. Never been one. I was however a video producer. I learned video the same way a lot of pro togs learned photo. I worked with masters, learned all I could, recorded anything that moved, read every book, and watched any “motion picture” I could find with the perspective of “what did they do that I like?” when I watched. After 15 years doing it, I was pretty good. No Spielberg, that’s for sure, but my clients included several fortune 500 companies and even a fortune 100 company, so I must have been doing something right.

That said, Craigslist isn’t awful, but I don’t know if it should be anyone’s primary marketing stream. It’s not a bad site. I cruise it all the time looking for parts for my car, garage sales, and photography gear. The thing is, the services section is really hit and miss. In my industry, the vast majority of “videographers” (I never liked that term) shoot weddings. A good friend of mine was a full time wedding videographer. He advertised on CL, and what he saw was that the CL types were often the biggest penny pinchers and the least appreciative of his skill (which was pretty impressive). Ultimately, his opinion was that it’s good to advertise everywhere, but there were many better places to find clients.

I guess what I’m getting at is that no pro photographer out there should be building 100% of their business from CL, so someone offering free portraiture shouldn’t seriously cripple anyone’s business. As far as whether it will lower the bar for everyone else; it’s craigslist. There’s a reason most fauxtogs are found there. Free advertising with no content control. Anyone who can manage to punch keys on a keyboard can post an ad. You will find in your local photography section the following ratio:

1 Actual quality pro who knows what he’s doing but keeps advertising on CL because he believes in marketing everywhere
4 people who tell you they are a pro but really just get lucky sometimes, and have lots of supportive friends who tell them their work is great
30 full force fauxtographers, claiming to be pros while shooting on inferior cameras, using inferior glass, and possessing inferior technique. Their friends are all too afraid to tell them what they really think of all their pretty pictures.
MAYBE, just maybe, one student, looking for free subjects to shoot.

At least, that’s what the demographics look like in all the cities I’ve ever gone to. I honestly don’t think you’d do too much damage to any pros. Besides, you’re not charging, which is clearly distinguishing you as non-pro, so you’re not even trying to play on the same battlefield with the pros in that sense.

I say go for it, but I’d stress caution in choosing locations to meet people. There are a lot of creepers out there. A recent double homicide was committed in my town, and while no culprit has yet been named, it was brought up that this couple had people from craigslist coming to their home to buy stuff all the time. Meet clients in public places, like parks. If they want an indoor studio shot, meet at their place, let people know where you’re going, and take a couple “assistants” with you. Most people have a camera on their phone. Have the client take a self shot, so you “know what you have to work with”. This way you can politely inform the heavily tattooed 6’11” 345lb. guy who’s pure muscle and looks like he recently escaped from prison that your calendar is actually full and you’ll need to get back to him.

In closing, I’ll share a belief that is likely to get me shot here, and not in the portraiture sense. I actually don’t have a problem with people who are established enough to take a photo (or video, or whatever) that doesn’t totally suck asking for a small fee for their services. I think if you’re honest about your work, show them a portfolio that demonstrates what you are consistently capable of doing (meaning, don’t put those amazing “I got lucky” perfect shots in there – keep it to what you know you can reproduce all day every day), then if they see that and understand that you are not a pro, and agree to pay you anyway, that’s totally acceptable. You’re being upfront about what they will get and not pretending to be something that you’re not, two things fauxtogs don’t do. Just because your time isn’t worth $100 an hour yet doesn’t mean it’s not worth $20 for an entire afternoon, either. Every time you take your camera out, you’re putting wear and tear on it. The batteries are being used, the memory card is getting one step closer to death, the  gas gauge on your car goes down a little. When I go to McDonalds and pay .69 for a burger, I don’t expect the same quality as the $10 burger at the premium burger restaurant down the road. I expect a floppy patty, rehydrated onions that taste like crap, and a smooshed bun that feels like it was dipped in grease. But just because it’s a crappy, wholly unfulfilling burger is not justification for me to insist it should be free. They probably put about .69 worth of effort into it, so it’s a fair price. I’m not saying don’t be willing to work for free, or that it’s not a bad idea to do so from time to time. If you can find a pro that will let you run as a second shooter for free, it’s totally worth the experience! But again, if someone is willing to pay you a few bucks, take it as long as it’s fair. Shooting for free costs you money in the long run.

[JimC]

I think it could work if you’re selective about the clients you take on. This would be something where the burden would come upon you to pick the right clients though, and not just take every event request that comes up. I actually do something like this for a good friend of mine who has me do some photgraphy work for his comedy group every couple months. I’ve never given him a price that I want for the work. I’ve actually told him on more than one occasion that he doesn’t need to pay me. Even so, he’s always paid me a fair compensation. That said, I’m NOT a professional. It’s a hobby for me, and I don’t really need to make money from this to survive. I’d never do business like that if photography were my primary source of income.  There would just be too many risks.

[JimC]

Our county fair has the same 50%+ income distinction as yours, but it also has a caveat that if you have in the last year advertised or listed yourself as a photographer in a directory or website, then you are considered a professional.

I personally really like that distinction. My current job doesn’t allow me to have a second job, so photography is officially nothing more than a hobby for me. I don’t market or advertise myself as a professional. I make WAY less than 50% of my income, so that’s good, too. As a result, I meet amateur criteria and I get to compete against the grannies with their Coolpix on full auto. On the flip side, all the “professional” fauxtographers with their Coolpix on full auto are forced into the pro category, where they get mercilessly smoked by people who can use a camera. For me, it’s a win-win. 😀

[JimC]

Any use of this photo on any “foxtaugraphy” site or any other photo bashing site for use of slander or foul comments or rude comments will not be tolerated. If this photo is used for ill commenting for any reason you will be subject to a fine of $5,000. Consider this my one an only notice. There will be no warnings.

In case you couldn’t read it. I’m thinking of just sending her the $5,000 before she even asks, just to cover my bases. Of course, I’ll have to collect from her my going rate of $10,000 to ship any package containing more than $4900 first.

That’s how it works, right? You just make up absurd rules and expect people to follow them?

[JimC]

Brilliant!

If you can’t earn $5000 by producing a quality image, then make $5000 making a crappy image and charging people for criticizing it! All this time I’ve thought that I need to take the high road, spending years to learn and hopefully someday master the art, building up to where I can be worthy of such a fee. Heck, I could do what she’s doing right now!

It’s really a pity that this plan, you know, is illegal. Fair use law (17 USC § 107, if you want to Google it) clearly states that a work can be criticized with no foul to the one doing the criticism.

Either way, she is certainly one foxy ‘tographer.

[Author]

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