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Never will understand starting a business based on only wanting to learn a profession.

Photography is about photographing light.  Shooting mid day without modifiers isn’t going to work.  You’ve made it about the subject first (not that your direction and posing are done very well mind you).  It must be about light first to insure your subject looks their best.  Unmodified mid day sun is notgoing to  accomplish  that Fundamental.  Amateurs are not in business, and beginners do not specialize in anything, as they are still exploring.  I think some changes in your “about” need to take place.

As things stand, yes.  You are a fauxtog

My suggestion, don’t be in business.  Shoot for yourself.  Shoot to learn.  Being in business will just stifle the learning process

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First one is just kind of awkward to look at.  Too much going on that doesn’t go with anything else.  More like a collage really.  The fall leaves bother me too, and how they go in a straight diagonal line that seems to drop off somewhere off the image and turn into butterflies?

Not very impressed with the moment you captured in the second one.  The Mom is hiding, the Dad is almost expressionless, like you just missed the moment.  and the baby just looks hungry and kind of squished.  The conversion to black and white is a little muddy, and I don’t like the vignette.

I also can’t help but notice you said the second photo was your first time taking pictures of people, and you are completely new to Photoshop yet you have this beautifully lit and edited woman in the first image, that you claim is yours.  So it makes me think, ummmmmmm you just pasted a whole bunch of things together and called it “art”

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Caligularoth,

I didn’t  get the same feelings or come to the same conclusions as soaring at all.  I think that it’s this forum that jaded her perspective.  We get a lot of togs coming on here just to bash other togs to try to make themselves look better.  They start out saying they are anybody but who they are, and come to find out they are guilty of the same crimes they are claiming the tog they posted about are.  We also get less than forthright people posting their work, and when people don’t come back saying they are the best darn photos they have ever laid their eyes on, they get bent.  Like I said I don’t think these scenarios are anything like yours, but I can kind of see why soaring may have jumped to the wrong conclusion.

to you it’s not serious when the above scenarios take place, but to us… Well it’s what we do.  Photography is our thing, for us it is serious, and I think it puts us on the defensive when things like this happen.

now, on to your dilemma.  I think if this tog is a friend, or someone readily available to you, and you can see the potential in her/his portfolio… Why not stick it out?   Especially if the tog is interested and is getting something creatively out of it.  Maybe by continuing to work together you can finally “get it”.  Don’t think of  it as instructing the photographer as much as just communicating with them.  If they are wanting it, this could be invaluable to them.  If this is a no go, then I would look for a tog that shoots closer to what you want and is more experienced in directing/posing and more a vanguard. Yes, the editing needs work, and is an important part of your vision, but you can’t get to that without first having the right image.  I would think you wouldn’t have a problem finding a tog to work with.  Fun fun fun!  You’re fabulous

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“Boot be a faux” = not be a faux. Strangest auto correct ever!

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Look browneyed,

I think I said this before.  No, you are not a faux, but you sure do tend to behave like one.

you are a good photographer, on her way to being better.  A good photographer.  A mediocre photographer, that produces the same level of work as many, many many many others.  There is no shame in that.  As you already know it takes hard work to make good images.  Slow down, calm down, and concentrate more on yourself and your own work.  With time your photography will be even further separated from your competition, and you will no longer feel that strong urge to prove you are better than the fauxs and you also won’t feel the need to tell potential clients you are better than a faux or the mediocre everyday ho hum “I used this action” togs because you actually WILL be better.  Clients won’t be knowing this because of your new camera or equipment, they’ll know it because of the finished products and wonderful customer service you provide.  Quit bickering, and get back to work.  Your making yourself look silly.  You’ll look back on this behavior and the images you have produced and be red faced.  Mark my words, red faced.  You can’t do anything to fast forward the learning process, but you ARE in control of how you behave during it.

 

look, I know it’s nerve racking to see fauxs trash something you love, and to have people out there who think so little of it.  Thats why we are ALL here But, while you concentrate on all of them, your real  competition  is getting better and better and the bar is getting set higher and higher.  If your goal was only to boot be a faux, then congrats.  But if you want to be successful at professional photography you have a long hard road ahead.  Quit looking back and move forward

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My first impressions, before reading all the replies… LOVE the model, and the concept I think you were trying for, but unfortunately the photographer fell short.  I took your post as you asking whether your photographer is a faux or not, BUT that you didn’t want the photographs to be judged by editing, style, or concept because your photographer was following your lead, and attempting to create what you were looking for.  Failed attempt.  Does that necessarily mean faux?  Not in my book.  Quite possibly just a tog that was taken out of their comfort zone and usual genre of photography, and they lack in the know how and experience to achieve this type of shoot successfully.  Now, if he/she said “Sure I can do that!  No problem. Pay me!” and/or tried to convince you the images were rockin awesome, after you complained, or were not satisfied in anyway with them. Then…. I may change my mind on the whole faux thing.

After reading the entire discussion…

I’m not exactly sure what your intentions were by posting, and I’m left a little confused, but I sure hope I helped you in some way

 

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I’ve never made anyone angry by saying “no”.  I’m not going to do something I don’t know how to do, and/or have no interest in learning how to do, for myself, let alone for someone else.

So, they don’t care about the photographs taken on their big day.  Lots of people don’t, and are perfectly happy with some snaps and a few cell shots that their friends and family take.  To us it seems silly, and makes us gasp, but, seriously… There really are people out there that don’t care.  I don’t think it’s always a matter of being cheap, or trying to save money, but even if it IS a matter of money, or lack there of, do you really want you or your photography associated with this?  Especially when you don’t even have an interest in it?

as far as showing mercy…  I have a hard time with that one.  Its just too silly to think “they were forced” to pretend to be something they aren’t, and have been made to do something they didn’t want to do, when it’s so very easy to say no, and explain why.  Much easier than trying to shoot, edit, and print a wedding without having a clue, and without any decent compensation.  No, it’s done for the praise or whatever these fauxs are getting off on.  If its not then why do they say yes, and then post those shots proudly For everyone to see?  Sometimes they will even announce “I’m no longer shooting weddings” or “I don’t shoot weddings”, but they have albums of wedding shots in their portfolios.  They want people to ask, there’s no other explanation.

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If you’re in business, then yes, you are a fauxtographer.

I agree with camera clicker.  The image he linked to is to me, your strongest image,  even though it just misses the mark.  The rest seem like snap shots, and lack in any sort of feeling and/or technical merit.  Your portraits aren’t yet to a marketable level, but at least you aren’t editing to the hilt.  If you are a beginner I think you have a nice start going, and it looks as though your understanding exposure.  Just take what you know a step further.  Think more about what you are trying to convey.  Study comp, color, light, lines and work on those black and whites, they’re a little off.  If your a pro, you’re a faux

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My quote came from this one http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nouns-Photography-of-Oklahoma/233750669995344

enjoy 🙂

her wall is fantastic!  Full of great fauxness. She even shares YANAP

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tis’ the season for kids and parents to get ripped off on Senior photos! More and more kids sharing their pictures and the horrific prices they paid! You do NOT have to pay $300 for shots that every other kid uses or have your almost adult child hold infant blocks stating “2013” don’t get ripped off. Just ask

Then… on their wall afterward, they posted an e card that says “So glad we went with the cheapest photographer we could find”  said no one ever.

I think this is called “bipolar marketing”?

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Much better!  You cleaned up well.  Still not crazy for the “trendy” colored/filtered editing of some of your photos, but thats just all a matter of different tastes.  The important thing is, your portfolio looks more consistent and clean.  Things are flowing much better, and your really good shots are standing out quite nicely.  Well done

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10 months?!!!  That’s slow these days

A faux that came here to ask THE question recently, had a rant on her FB wall about learning photography first before charging.  “People starting businesses before they even open their camera box!”  Or something to that effect.  She was seriously irked, and trying to “teach” her clients what photography really entails.  Then she went on to explain that she worked with her camera for a whole 6 months before she started charging, and made sure she knew what she was doing before she went into business.  LMBO  I wish I could remember which one so you all could be entertained by it as well, but for the life of me, I just plain cant remember.

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When I get a case of photographer’s block.  I like to take my most “normal” lens (in my case a 28mm) and shoot the ordinary and mundane.  This makes me really push to pay attention to lines, shadows, light, space, color, details etc.  No post plans at all before hand, just with the goal of some good SOOC shots.  It’s  just refreshing to get back to basics, not use my favorite go to lenses, and absolutely nothing in mind before hand.  No high expectations at all.   Not looking for beauty, special, or extra ordinary, and not waiting for IT to happen,  actually helps me find it.   It fires me up every time, and I end up shooting with more intent and deliberate  focus afterward.  Nearly every time I do this exercise, I end up with at least one wonderful keeper, and more importantly inspiration and the mojo juices flowing again.

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Agreed.  Fauxtography runs rampant in the military.  Running a shoddy business and fauxtography aside…I think military spouses get the short end of the stick.  Constantly relocating and having to start “careers” over and over again.  Are they even able to have a true successful career?  They are desperate for something to fulfill them.  I think the portability of photography “businesses” is very attractive to them.  It makes them feel like they are contributing financially while doing something fun and easy (Or so they think) If they were to sit and figure out, how much it costs them to be in “business” they would find they are spending a lot more than earning.  and while being for hire learning diddly squat as far as photography skills.  they start so fast that they fall into bad habits and cant break them.  What I don’t understand is, if they love photography, like they say they do, why not learn it?  Why not just do it for themselves, instead of taking advantage of people and dealing with all the faux madness?  Are they not allowed to do something solely for themselves?  Is there some sort of high they get from pretending to be something they are not?  Is it photography they love or the attention, drama, and Facebook likes?  Isn’t there other, less expensive and less shady ways to go about this than running a sub par and/or illegal photography business?  Do they ever eventually wake up and see this?  If they do, what happens to them?  Do they just hide and never speak of it again?  Why aren’t there any X fauxtogs crying out to people and trying to help others from falling in?  I mean you never see that do you?  They have to be out there.  Tons upon tons by now.  Where are they?

 

LOL the answer just dawned on me!!  They are all stationed in Germany! 😉

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Ditto to what Evil said.  A business degree will get you farther than anything else if you want to pursue being in business for yourself.  Shoot shoot shoot.  I’m going to make just one suggestion rather than critique your current work.  Seek out some male models as well, as groups.   Study posing and direction.  That’s where a lot of new togs fail.  I think you have an eye, and could go somewhere with this, not just because of your current images, but your realistic approach.  Seems you have a good grasp on what goes into being for hire unlike so many others.  I think your attitude is refreshing and wonderful to see.  The fact that you are not jumping the gun makes me think you really can do this.

word of caution though sometimes doing what you love for a living can be both a blessing and a curse.  If you ever start to feel the latter, take time out to shoot for yourself.  Shoot for yourself as much as possible no matter where life’s road leads you. Good luck

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