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All responses Most smiled responses
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I definitely need to get back to LJ and blogging! Thanks for the encouragement! Maybe later this week...
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Yes to both. I adjust the depth of field with distance and/or aperture, depending on the situation. Quality lenses with good glass make a difference, too.
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Prime lenses are often sharper and faster, but zoom lenses can offer more variety and convenience. I choose to use prime lenses for focal lengths that I know I need often (85 and 135), and fast zoom lenses for focal lengths where I like more variety (16-35 2.8 and 24-70 2.8).
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asked by lambphoto
It was always my plan to combine maternity leave with our move to a new new market. I'm giving myself a year or two to establish my business gradually in DC, without the stress of needing work and not having it. I feel very optimistic that I'll have plenty of clients when I'm ready, due to SEO, social networking, a strong portfolio, and a large network of friends and family in this area.
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asked by kellibrewer
I have a policy not to book more than 15 months in advance, but I might change that to 12 months now that I have a family. It's difficult to schedule family events far advance, and of course it's impossible to schedule a baby precisely. Many mothers-to-be end up having to cancel wedding bookings that are scheduled near the due date, and that's perfectly ok. The family comes first. (P.S. A baby, yay!)
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Yes to all of the above. Sometimes I use long exposures with a tripod, and sometimes I use high ISO. I also rely on tripods, video lights, off-camera flashes, street lights, porch lights, or anything else that makes sense at the time. I approach each one differently.
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Actually I'd love to teach, and that's one of my long-term goals. My masters degree is in education, and I really want to combine those skills with my photography interests. I haven't done it yet, because I've been too busy with the actual shooting (and big life changes.) I also haven't yet figured out what approach I would want to take. I'm open to suggestions!
I don't offer mentoring at actual weddings, though, because I devote all of my attention to my clients and their families. -
It's possible, but it's hard. A lot of people struggle in this industry. Here are some basic keys for success in photography:
1. Learn about business skills. If you're currently a student, take advantage of business courses that might be available to you. Consider minoring in marketing. (Even better, major in it.) If you're not a student, find other ways to learn.
2. Do things differently. Whether it's your photographic vision, post-production style, website format, album selections, or marketing strategies, if you do it the same as everyone else, you will never stand out in a crowd. Think for yourself, and do what you think is best for your business.
3. Get out and meet people. No matter how skilled you might be in photography, no one will hire you if they don't know who you are. Use online social networking as well as old-fashioned socialization. -
In general, zoom lenses are less sharp than fixed lenses. Zoom lenses are also slower than fixed lenses. Avoid zooms if you're on a budget. For my Canons, I love the $350 85mm f1.8 for portraits. Tack sharp little lens.
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I shoot in raw, expose for the face, and recover highlights in post if necessary.
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Yes, it's important to be up to date with such things. I applied for a Virginia license right after we arrived here, and my business is an LLC.
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Almost never. When possible, I bounce the flash off the ceiling behind me over my shoulder, so the light is soft and comes from angle. If bouncing isn't an option, I point the undiffused flash directly at my subject, and expose for the ambient light. I often dial the intensity of the flash down, using it for fill while relying on off-camera flashes or natural sources for directional light.
The key to natural-looking flash isn't diffusers. It's directionality and ambient balance. -
I think a professional portrait of families gathered while dressed in their finest will never be out of date. I definitely take these photographs at every wedding. I'm happy to take any posed photo that my clients request, as long as there is time available to do so. A few weeks before their wedding, I ask my clients to give me a list of requested group portraits and a detailed schedule of events. Then I examine it all carefully to make sure that there will be enough time for everything they've requested. If not, I work with them to adjust the list in advance.
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I remove the parents from the child's sight. If we are in their home, I'll ask the parents to step into the next room. If we are in a park, I'll ask them to stand behind some nearby bushes. That way the parents can hear what is going on, but I have more control over the child's experience. I try to make a photo shoot as fun and playful as possible, and I never require children to sit still or smile if they aren't in the mood to do so.
Parents often add stress to a photo shoot by insisting that the child smile or "behave". I even once had a parent threaten to cancel a little girl's birthday party if she didn't smile for the camera! (Of course she cried instead.) Removing the parents reduces that pressure, and also reduces a child's tendency to act out. -
I haven't tried to reestablish my business yet - I'm taking maternity leave through 2011. I'll start shooting again later this year, but I'm taking very few commissions as I ease back into work very gradually. I don't know when I'll be ready to return to a full-time schedule, but I hope that my network of friends in the DC area will help me get my name out when that time comes.
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asked by 051810
Second shooters do get paid, either a day rate or an hourly rate. To be a second shooter, one must be an experienced photographer, so it's not usually done as free work experience. Assistants aren't always paid, though, because they are sometimes working for experience instead of money. (I pay my assistants, though.)
The final images from a primary photographer and second shooter are combined in chronological order and presented as one complete set to the clients. -
That varies widely, of course, depending on experience, reputation, and business skills. I think the PPA did a recent survey that found that the average was only about $25k or something like that. Any statistic of that sort is misleading, though, because it includes lots of people who went out of business in a year or two.
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I don't know what to recommend, sorry! I've never had anything resembling steady or stable in photography. Perhaps look into portrait studios? Good luck!
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You didn't specify the field of photography you're interested in pursuing, but if you're planning a career in wedding photography, I wrote a detailed blog post here: http://www.charlottegeary.com/blog/2009/12/06/how-to-get-started-in-wedding-photography
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I don't have a minimum print order, and I don't require print orders from any of my photo shoots. I have set up a system that provides flexibility for my clients, while still being profitable and time-efficient for me.
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Charlotte Geary’s Bio
I'm a wedding and portrait photographer based in Reston, Virginia, near Washington DC.
