[picarusslim]

I like a lot of your stuff but wasn’t  too keen on these as photographs. I’m not sure it was a great idea to share them, sure you can do as you please and express yourself how you like but there’s a lot of people, including myself, who didn’t quite want to be reminded of something deeply painful and personal to them when they logged on to engage in discussions about photography.

Not trying to be mean  or spiteful, just my opinion.

[picarusslim]

Would definitely be repeating the posters above tbh. The cat is excellent, love a good cat shot, can’t do them myself.

The cable car rocks. I like photos like that, simple but nice tones.

I wouldn’t like to point out any technicalities on the portrait shots but none really grab me. The reflections on the sweet tubes distract my eye a bit much.

You have a good eye and understanding of using a camera, just keep shooting. Trial and error (and loads of money;)

 

[picarusslim]

Thanks for that JC, some valuable information there, appreciated.

I  found that paid advertising was less effective than using social networks so you’re right there! I use google+, twitter and more recently a facebook page (fnar). Which generate a decent amount of hits if i work at it. I sell very few though. My site needs resorting with some images taking out and possibly a new skin, which might be part of the problem.  I should work more on tagging and naming them too. I’ve a fair following of about 5,000 people across them all but I need to be more active in interacting with them.

People seem to like my images a lot (i know you’re not suggesting otherwise!) and I go well out of my way to find new stuff to shoot, namely street, macro and portraits, which I feel I’ve picked up a good eye for. I try to avoid the clichés or find niche stuff that people local to the shot would buy. So far i’ve not physically displayed my work though.

A few other photographers are featured on my site, I promote them and try and get them sales (of which they’d keep all the profit, minus production costs). It seemed quite a good way to generate traffic as well as get other people’s work out there.

Do you mind if I ask what you do supplier-wise?  I use zenfolio, they have several printers who’ll produce framed prints, canvas wraps and other more novel stuff, the price varies per supplier, as does the quality. The base prices are high though. If I sell a 10″*8″ print with no mount for £16 I only make about £4.60, is this usual or am i best to source prints myself?

Oh, this is my site btw.

http://www.ghz-photography.com

Thanks for the advice thus far, it’s very much appreciated.

[picarusslim]

I’d do a wedding for about £650, £800 for full day morning to night-do. With that money i’d rent (and eventually buy) some equipment (lenses, bodies, flash gun) pay for transport, prints, albums, dvd if required. Also you’re paying for the time i’ve spent learning, the money I’ve spent on courses, software and not to mention the hours i’d spend processing.

I’ve seen people charge over a grand (in GBP), if you exclude all of the above they don’t have a great deal left and will need to do more weddings in a month in order to cover their out goings, rent, bills, car costs, site upkeep, feeding themselves and family etc. It’s not always an easy living. Which is why I work full time and fail to get work because there are people out there that charge pittance for pittance.

I’ve seen people charge a grand and still produce rubbish though!

As for the photos on this site the admin posts them and suggestions can be made as well. If you feel it’s harsh to ‘out’ them publicly then think about it this way, if there was a building company out there doing bad work for thousands of pounds you’d want to know about it would you not? Sham businesses should be highlighted and avoided.

 

[picarusslim]

I agree with cameraclicker on all points.  You clearly know how to use your camera just choose your focal points more carefully.

 

It hard to concentrate on the photo with the host you’ve used. Flickr is good, as mentioned. Google+ is great too or try zenfolio if you want you’re own website. I’m sure they do free accounts.

[picarusslim]

Oh my lord! There’s plug sockets in the background of some of those shots. He charges £20 for an hour!!!! I suppose you get what you pay for…

[picarusslim]

Into Manhattan is excellent!

[picarusslim]

Jcfindley – you have a seriously huge portfolio!  Some great shots in there.  I’d love to make my living like you do.  I best get some advertising done.

[picarusslim]

I think the general notion of fauxtographers is people who charge for a service they can’t really provide. It’s not only insulting to people who’ve spent years learning the trade but it also steals possible clients as well. Non-photographers look at photos in a different way to professionals and hobbyists, they don’t realise the effort that goes into creating a great photo. So when you get someone coming along with a ‘starter’ dlsr or a CSC with one lens and no understanding of either it’s cause for photographers (people who have understanding of the fundamentals of photography and editing) to be insulted and mock accordingly.

I would not insult someone who uploads mobile phone shots edited with instagram etc, if they enjoy it and it works for them then fine, but if they started to advertise their services they’d soon find out that their equipment of choice will be useless in certain conditions.

[picarusslim]

Hmm. Seems you’re doing well anyway. I have my own funds to raise but they’re to further other peoples work not my own. If you need equipment then earn it or stick it on a credit card and sweat about it later.

 

Nerd indeed.

 

 

[picarusslim]

Thanks jcfindley an Garrahmarie. Very much appreciated. I’d be keen to see your own work.

[picarusslim]

Thanks cass335, appreciated. You’re right about the sleeve on the hand (which is mine:). I’m re-hauling my website where I sell, or try to, prints so i’ll be sure to edit it out. Thanks, well spotted!

[picarusslim]

I’m sure I saw somewhere in the options that you can use photos from another post.

[picarusslim]

Thanks Worst case scenario! The feeding ducks pic is a snapshot really, I was on a day out with my girlfriend (who is in the shot), feel a bit guilty spending too long weighing up a shot! I guess i like it because it’s personal to me. It’s a bit of a post processing special, you’re right!  (i’d left my camera on a custom white balance and the original look awful, school boy error!).

Thanks for your comments, appreciated. I have a few of those hoody shots. I’ve got a jet black face covering hood that is perfect for such things. The eye is definitely creepy! The clipping from the flash winds me up but i like the detail. You’d probably not want it in your wall though!

 

 

[picarusslim]

If it’s fro flickr you can use the share button (on flickr, on the same page as the photo you’re sharing) and grab the link, paste it here.

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