[MrsManiak]

also I should note: I posted here to get more feedback/advice other than my friend, since I never know if she is sugar coating feedback since she’s my friend. I figure this is a good place to go for non-partisan input.

[MrsManiak]

I’m not selling my services as a professional. I’m assisting my photographer friend who IS. She is well aware of my experience level, and since I’m not charging people and/or doing it as a business, I’m not down for putting business money into it. She’s paying me for assisting her, was her offer, not my demand. Would I let my friend who is learning to be a mechanic work on my car? Possibly not. However, if I did, I would hope he would at least research what he needs to do in order to assist me, which is what I’m doing.

Edited because I think you may have misunderstood what I’m asking: I am well aware that photography is about painting with light, which is why I’m seeking advice on lighting. I’m nervous about assisting my friend since I don’t want my lack of experience to reflect on her, so I’m practicing like a madwoman and actively seeking input on my progress and experiments. I don’t charge for photos, and in no shape way or form call myself a professional (I even refer to myself as a beginner hobbyist in this very thread).

[MrsManiak]

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125310041@N02/14832634659/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125310041@N02/14996817266/

I’m back with questions. These were taken not for composition, but for technical side, so I’m very aware that the background is a hot mess. I was practicing with my speedlite (Yongnuo, I’m not spending $300 for a flash at this point).

Some background as to why I was practicing: My photog friend has recruited me to be a second shooter for a wedding she’s doing in a few weeks. I’m nervous as hell because she’s actually going to pay me. The first one she had me tag along for was a tiny outdoor wedding for about an hour and a half, this one is going to be 7 hours and a mix of indoors and outdoors. I’m going to need to use my flash, and I want to get it right.

So, on to the questions.

Lighting: How was it? First image: I had the flash angled slightly towards the mirror, but mostly straight to the left with the bounce card out. I haven’t seen inside the venue, so I’m not sure what lighting conditions will actually be like until the day of the event. The second image was speedlite pointed directly at ceiling with bounce card deployed as well. I did a color edit on the first one, mainly to see what looked good in that lighting, so I know roughly what I’m going to do for the wedding photos (I’m fairly certain she wants me to edit my own for experience). No color edit on the second image, just slight straightening of image (I’m still working on that, sadly).

Second. Holding my camera. For portrait/vertical orientation, holding it with grip down feels more natural to me, but I’ve found that when I hold it grip up, I have more control over camera angle. Is there a right way, or is it just preference of the person shooting? Am I even doing this right? lol

 

[MrsManiak]

When I opened the photos at home it was definitely a heart sink moment. Thank you for the feedback on the edit, I was worried that it was slightly over the top, and agree his shirt I probably should have masked a bit. Here’s the kicker about the comp, which I will definitely be more vigilant about in the future: I was worried about cropping out their feet, and in making sure I got their feet with enough room to crop, completely spaced the rest. Tunnel vision, I guess.

[MrsManiak]

Well, I loved their expressions. They weren’t looking at me intentionally, I was just there for practice and to hold gear, etc. The rest of your question is why I posted the link. It all looks fine to me, but that’s just me. I’m sure every faux thinks their stuff is amazing, so my opinion is somewhat irrelevant in this case 🙂

I fixed the link, I had to step out for a while, so I changed privacy of photo just in case.

[MrsManiak]

Ok I’m back for more. I’m not going to keep this picture up for long, because it’s from a wedding I assisted, and I have no idea what kind of contract was signed (not trying to get anyone sued). This is one I took, and I’m only showing the before and after for CC, not trying to sell, etc. So I think I’ll be ok by sharing this, just covering my butt just in case.

Anyway. I know I should have gotten it right in camera first and foremost. But in the meantime, while I learn, I am unfortunately relying on “editing in post”. My question is: if I had gotten the comp right, would this be considered decent?

https://www.flickr.com/photos/125310041@N02/14511996576/

A note on the edit: the left has the crop by the groom’s knee. That is how it was shot. The additional space on the right side of the picture was all fabricated in post, including some of the shingles. REALLY thankful for photoshop experience while I’m learning 🙂

[MrsManiak]

I know I’m still wet behind the ears, so I feel bad throwing stones (hey at least I don’t charge and know good and well I’m a noob)…. but I came across this person on facebook and immediately wanted to share it on here. She charges $80 for a 1 hour session & a disc (shoot and burn? can’t remember the term lol)

https://www.facebook.com/StephDPhotography85

I’ve looked through a decent chunk of them and I don’t even know where to begin. Blurry, out of focus, and weird coloring.

https://www.facebook.com/StephDPhotography85/photos/a.524191587685402.1073741859.177240002380564/524192471018647/?type=3&theater this one looks like she tried to use the dodge tool on their foreheads, I’m not sure.

[MrsManiak]

Thank you for your feedback Nesgran!

The wheels in the portrait (my daughter) were from a cannon, we were at an old fort which has been turned into a museum. I hate to admit this, because I know it’s bad, but I didn’t even notice the water bottle when I snapped the picture. Bad, I know. But, I have been working on trying to look at the whole frame instead of tunnel visioning since then.

The shell with rings is a good example of another issue I’ve been working on: Horizons. I’m not really sure where to place them, and I have noticed that I have overlooked them in many of my photos. I have been trying to pay more attention to making sure they’re straight, but when it comes to placement, I’m at a loss. Would you have placed it above, or below the rings? I think where I went wrong with it in that picture (aside from not being straight), is I was trying to place it above the shell, and completely overlooked the fact that it was on the rings, the whole point of the picture (sigh).

Your comment about the bunny picture made me laugh, because my husband agrees with you 100%. His exact words were “that thing has murder eyes”. That one came from noticing the grass going to seed, and thinking “Ooh I have to take a picture! But what am I gonna put there?” and grabbing my daughter’s beanie baby since it was close to Easter.

The frozen door handle/mirror and tea picture, that’s a complete lack of ideas. Looking back, I could have used better representation. When I got my camera, I decided to learn via project 365, and regretted it after about a week of struggling to figure out what to shoot every day.

I appreciate the feedback, and will definitely work on not repeating my errors in the future. Thank you again!!

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