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Bite your tongue 🙂 !
I feel it’s ok to relay some information as I use an alias (to protect my clients, as if you couldn’t tell).
I did have two weddings that did not make it to the altar. The first, as I was told, it was because he got frisky during the stag, one week before the wedding. Mom was begging her to take him back and refused to tell anyone the wedding was off. I only found out two days before by accident from a friend of hers, otherwise I probably would have shown up to mom’s house the morning of for photos only to find an empty house. I was not impressed. It was for the best as I think this was a case of mom thought the world of him but her daughter never really did (enough to marry him).
The other I know nothing other than a sad but thoughtful email that told me they would not be getting married. She seemed like a nice girl and I only hope that no marriage was the best thing for her. I did have the feeling she was “dumped” though.
So when people think of wedding photographers having a great time of it, we do have our sad side to it too. And yes, it does get to me at least. I’m still shocked at all the weddings I’ve done over so many years when I find a couple has divorced, with some of those who did not even making it the first year.
Other than that, I do of course have a myriad of stories about funny/odd/interesting events on the day. No crazy/bridezlla/grumpy family/tipsy sort of stuff. At least not towards me. They always seem to like me and that’s a good thing. There have been grumpy family, brides told at the last minute that it wasn’t too late to back out by mom/dad, drastic tardiness (almost the norm) and so forth. One day I might write a book.

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I like CC’s idea of taking her for a walk. Shoot a variety of things in challenging lighting conditions right a long side her and compare the results. With luck she will ask you how come yours look different. Cross your fingers for some “aha” moments such as, just because the baby is dressed in blue doesn’t mean his skin should be blue too, https://www.facebook.com/eye2eyeimages/photos/pb.1391876891133902.-2207520000.1428757979./1391914154463509/?type=3&theaterHopefully questions about what all those buttons do, when you would change the settings and why and with more luck, some things will stick and she will want to learn more.
I don’t know if any reputable wedding photographers in the area are willing, but I would highly recommend she shadow one from a distance. What she is shooting right now is a world of difference from the day of limited timing, getting the shot right the first and only time (never ever a second chance unless you really want to ask them to kiss again at the altar in front of their guests or pick up the bouquet and toss it again and so on), all the different crummy quality lighting situations you can imagine and having to deal with the most pleasant people in the world to the most crotchety and still having to make the pics look great. Because in the wedding world, shots like this just won’t do (and if you ask me, neither angle is worth diddly when you make the couple in love look like lifeless mannequins), https://www.facebook.com/eye2eyeimages/photos/pb.1391876891133902.-2207520000.1428757979./1392463367741921/?type=3&theater
Good luck. Hopefully your friend can handle suggestions without seeing it as criticism. Well, it is but boy some people sure get touchy when you tell them their pictures could use improvement. Again, good luck.

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“Im a amrture photographer whose just getting started. I take pictures that capture all the beautiful moments in life”
Well, at least she admits she is an amateur, just starting out. As a side note, I wish people would raise their literacy levels just a tad.

She definitely has a way to go and I hope she doesn’t fall into the same old rut where people think further education isn’t needed because they are being paid (that means I MUST be good enough).

As for the boudoir shots, I think my standards are too high as I don’t “like” them as much as her “fans”. This one in particular makes me gag a little, no offense to the lady in the shot…
https://www.facebook.com/923482497696831/photos/a.942415895803491.1073741836.923482497696831/942416145803466/?type=3&theater

FS89…the tree shot is no longer available but this one is there (I don’t know if it’s the same and for some reason maybe your link is not working)…
https://www.facebook.com/923482497696831/photos/a.941498319228582.1073741835.923482497696831/941498349228579/?type=3&theater

I’m also fond of the tree getting engaged to the bush,
https://www.facebook.com/923482497696831/photos/a.941498319228582.1073741835.923482497696831/941498432561904/?type=3&theater

And I see what you meant about the one with fake bokeh on the face.

Anyway, Smiths Falls, here is some advice from me in the other Falls. Learn how to focus your camera where you need it to do so. I notice quite a few shots where the focus is not on the eyes of people, like in the baby in the Easter shots. Are you using all those fancy focus points? Use one. You might also want to get down the the baby’s level if you do a sitting like that again. Shot after shot of this, https://www.facebook.com/923482497696831/photos/a.929338427111238.1073741833.923482497696831/929338750444539/?type=3&theater (which is also not in focus) is just plain awkward. A baby who just happened to notice mom and looks up and smiles is fine but all I see is someone trying to grab attention and you simply snap away. Learn how to pose the subject and how to pose yourself. That goes as much for the adults as the children as with this one, https://www.facebook.com/923482497696831/photos/a.949148021796945.1073741838.923482497696831/949148371796910/?type=3&theater You’re not doing the young lady any favours by making her nose look a foot long. Learning a little about white balance will go a long way to helping too. When the skin in one shot looks like liver failure then the next looks like a cadaver, you’re not doing your subject any favours. Your camera came with free software that allows you to adjust WB in post if it mucks up in the camera. You are charging $40 for 25 because you are starting out but you have to realize that there is more to being a photographer than just pointing a camera. Processing is part of it and that takes a little time. You need to be paid for that time. A lot of people don’t think so but every hour you are in front of a computer is one less hour behind the camera.

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“femfatphoto”…did she not think before coming up with this? The full name isn’t horrific but the short form is interesting to say the least.
I wish when I started my biz decades ago, that internet begging existed so that I too could have gotten strangers to help fund my business. Nice if you can pull it off and she’s already gotten a few hundred. I would recommend though that she hire a proof reader as it looks strange to write, and I quote, “Don’t let the term boudoir scare you away from letting me get my hands on a 15 year old”. Flinch.
I would also recommend that she remains in the studio.
https://www.facebook.com/femfatphoto/photos/a.1493147094262804.1073741828.1460738190837028/1493147220929458/?type=3&theater
and
https://www.facebook.com/femfatphoto/photos/a.1493147094262804.1073741828.1460738190837028/1493147244262789/?type=3&theater
and to realize that this angle is rarely attractive,
https://www.facebook.com/femfatphoto/photos/a.1493147094262804.1073741828.1460738190837028/1493147374262776/?type=3&theater

Good luck femfat, some of your boudoir shows raw promise if you truly intend to work hard to improve but this is definitely not your best,
https://www.facebook.com/femfatphoto/photos/a.1594987580745421.1073741856.1460738190837028/1594987597412086/?type=3&theater

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Maybe she should call herself “Photography on the cheap”. Technically, all photography is “on a budget”. Some people just have more to spend than others. And I’ve never been a fan of the photographer who charges according to how far he/she has to drive. You should always have a “region” and travel outside that may be subject to a travel fee but I don’t like “Location varies the price.”.

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Because noise can ruin a photo. It can add “texture” to where there should be none or little and can reduce fine detail. Some people notice this in the final result more than others. I am cursed with noticing it more than some. Noise also interferes with the colours in the image. As good as most modern NR programs are, they only guess at what the purple blobs would have been and subtle colour gradations can suffer. Go to some of the camera forums and see how many people complain about seeing noisy blue skies. Personally I don’t think a pic should be completely plastic but I’m not a fan of noise and don’t miss my iso400 film days. My situation is also a little different, having to shoot weddings in good light and bad ( in level and quality which is tough on a sensor) so I have to fight against noise more than many people do. I’m looking forward to the next version of the 5D series that will hopefully give me better results at iso 3200 and who knows, maybe even 6400.

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That’s a hard question to answer. It depends upon the camera used, your personal taste for noise (some see tiny bits and freak out and some see tons and don’t care), whether you’re printing or not (by extension how the final product will be viewed), the quality of light under which you’re shooting and probably some other factors too.
That all said, I shoot with a 5D3 and don’t want to spend a significant amount of time processing but still need decent output so, I personally am happy to shoot to 1600, am comfortable at 3200, if I must will do 6400 and reserve 12800 for extreme situations and have never gone higher nor will I. As others say, exposing properly and a little to the right always helps. Unfortunately, it’s not just noise that appears at high iso. You also lose colour and DR so again, exposure is critical.

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FS89…that’s precious. Though there are some other gems too, some of which are…
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=606214629416679&set=a.357916310913180.77796.100000844416899&type=3&theater
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=598515393519936&set=a.357916310913180.77796.100000844416899&type=3&theater(love the bottom row..no pun intended)
All in fun of course but still, a little more out there than usual.

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There is no longer any drive for excellence in this world. Or if there is, it’s slowly fading into obscurity. People are, more and more, satisfied with “good enough” and worse yet, “it’s all amazing”. Where did they learn to accept that? Well, from childhood now, people are rewarded for mediocrity. No longer are the good or best rewarded while the less good and losers are encouraged to try harder. Instead, children are graded on curves and averages and competitions are a bunch of people sitting around the campfire singing kumbaya and are all handed medals for “participant”. Heaven forbid we insult some poor soul by calling him or her a loser, or implying it by calling the other kid the “winner”. They are all “winners”. So we end up with everyone thinking good and poor efforts are equally amazing as those produces by gifted souls. What a wonderful world is yet to come as output from a faux will be seen by all as equal to output from a future Picasso. And that’s why criticism is neither welcome nor viewed as constructive if it isn’t all simple pandering to the amazing mediocrity that the photo may be.

On another camera forum, someone started a thread along the lines of “if you are out and about taking photos for fun, and you see someone struggling, do you go up to them and offer advice or walk on by?”. If you think dealing with these people (aren’t I just the greatest types) are fun on photo forums, try them in person. Ask me for advice though, and I’ll try to help if I can and if I have questions, I too will seek help. Turn it into a “pat on the back” session though and again, I’ll say I need to hurry to meet someone.

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https://www.facebook.com/Adirondack.Shutter.Bugg.photography/photos/a.657320457694719.1073741903.106896982737072/795403303886433/?type=1&theater…Really? I love these “photographers” who have such obscure terms. No mention of how many photos, and “full session with no time limit”. I just see this so often whether it’s “no time limit” or “unlimited photos”. So you’re just going to turn your camera on and start taking shots until we grow old and tired? And yes, posting a tilted photo of your computer screen inspires zero confidence to meaningful clientele.

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I dunno EyeDoc. Like I said, the only white(ish)/gold(ish) I see is in CC’s posted pic. I still see the “original” as blue.
While I always get those “do you see two ducks or two people” sorts of things ( I can even see those 3D images that pop out of abstract 2D images ), my brain still sees blue as blue or at least enough of the tint of the blue that I wouldn’t call it white.
But for sure I do know what you mean about relative colour. Putting a photo somewhere with strong colour will influence your perception of the colours in the photo.

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Now I see (“sorta”) white/gold. It’s far from the blue/black online. The two web pages are blue/black and again, something closer to white/gold though still a bit blue.
Most people are not aware that colours can be altered by perception of the surroundings. That’s why we as photographers love photoshop and the gray background. Any colour would influence what we see in our image, inducing our perception to the opposite. A great example is this, http://www.emlii.com/cd000260/These-Gifs-Will-Make-You-Question-Your-Brain-and-Its-Capabilities.It-Couldn%27t-Get-More-Amazing-Than-This See example #9.

I can’t believe this has made it to the BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-trending-31659395
I wonder how many people would choose green/gold if they were told that was one of the options?

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I see a photo with tons of noise. In any case, I so see blue(ish) and gold-green-black (likely a result of the noise). I don’t see how 73% see white. I opened the pic into photoshop and the eyedropper on the shoulder reads R:103 G:104 B:134. So whether this is a white dress with really bad colour balance or it really is blue, for all intents and purposes, it’s blue. Unless the poster is messing with people’s minds and switching up the pic because I notice one person first saw white and now blue.
What confuses me most is why you, CC, see white. I don’t want to say I don’t believe you but I also trust my own eyes. On my monitor and my wife’s laptop, we both see blue. By the way, the “original” dress does appear to be a nice cream colour and far from blue.
I don’t know what’s going on here.
On a side note, not to imply anyone has any colour deficiencies, (1 out of us 12 men have some deficiency), it’s always fun to take the Farnsworth Munsell test..http://xritephoto.com/ph_toolframe.aspx?action=coloriq
Lucky me I rank 0. Of course it helps immensely to take the test with a properly set up monitor.

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“The photography business is different than Photography.  The objective of a photography business is to use photography to rake in cash.  The objective of Photography is to make beautiful photos.  In that regard, if mini sessions, or mass production, can be quite lucrative if done well, then in a business sense it is actually quite creative.  The business requirement is to provide a product that the customer will pay for.”

There is nothing wrong with assembly line photography because, as CC says, the business is about making money.  We as photographers may balk that it’s not “pure photography” but if you can balance quality with the “take a number” formula, then why not?

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I love how “a moment in time…” states on the website… “We are conveniently located near you”.  Really?  Unless you can drive at the speed of light, I think area code 318 and 905 cannot be considered “near you”.  And I too noticed the stock photo on the website.  Clearly from the quality of the images on his fb page, he is not using any lens with a red ring.  I doubt it would help him anyway with shots like this https://www.facebook.com/1575817565968782/photos/pb.1575817565968782.-2207520000.1424786437./1585120361705169/?type=3&theater or https://www.facebook.com/1575817565968782/photos/pb.1575817565968782.-2207520000.1424786437./1582569781960227/?type=3&theater

 

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