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All responses Most smiled responses
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asked by KailaLynnNighThe Japanese Tea Gardens are a great place to start-- the location is free and there's great stuff on Broadway also, which is very close by. However, my favorite locations are the ones that nobody knows about. I think it's so much more fun to just pick an area, drive around and shoot what catches your eye. In particular, there are a lot of interesting colors and textures on the outskirts of downtown San Antonio.
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As a beginning photographer, one of the best things you can do is to take advantage of all the free information available to you. When I first started, I lived in the photography section of Barnes & Noble, and spent the rest of my free time watching amazingly talented photographers on Flickr and DeviantArt, and gathering feedback about my own photography. Many lifestyle photographers also regularly update blogs, which are great to follow in Google Reader.
Although it's important to learn from other photographers, try to stay true to your style! When I first started, I was constantly trying to emulate other photographs that I saw. While that's a great starting point, you'll get more people to notice your work if you offer something that you're passionate about and that's truly your own. -
At this time, I don't offer any formal classes or tutorials, but I love helping photographers learn. If you're interested in a one-on-one phone or Skype lesson, please email me!
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I ask clients to fill out two forms before I put their name on the calendar. The first is a simple info form to have phones/addresses on file, and to get a feel for what kind of pictures the clients are looking for. The second form discusses my business policies, including copyright information and a paragraph that serves as a model release. This is signed electronically.
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Nikon and Canon have had a longstanding rivalry, and there is no outstanding evidence to suggest that one has a significant advantage over the other. I started with Canon because that's what my mentor used. Now that I've developed my collection of lenses, it would take a lot to get me to switch over because only Canon lenses work with Canon bodies, and vice versa. There has been some recent debate about the Canon/Nikon AF system, which is worth looking into before you invent in a brand.
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I love using aperture value, because I almost always shoot wide open. By shooting with AV mode, I only have to worry about adjusting exposure properly.
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I'm wayyy too stuck on that lens, so I don't play around much. However, I do own a 24-70 mm f/2.8 that I use for group shots and weddings.
In the future, I'd love to upgrade to the 50mm 1.2, experiment with a tilt-shift lens, and buy some sort of macro. -
I've heard a few bad reviews from photographers who made the upgrade...bad focus, unexpected errors, etc. I think since it's one of the first cameras to include video with a high-end SLR, it's going to have bugs to be worked out. I'd rather stick with my trusty 5D and wait for a more revised version to be released.
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Oooh, definitely Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. Mixes my love for fashion and music :)
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I did have customer service trouble at one point, which was partly my fault; my last flash site got accidentally overwritten, and they refused to reinstall it even after offering to pay them. However, that's not why I use ProPhoto...I'd always used it as my blog interface, but I decided my website would be more efficient and easy to navigate if everything could be found in one place.
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I currently use a Canon 5D, but I recommend starting with a less expensive SLR to get the hang of it. The T2i looks like a good bet from recent reviews. I started with the Canon XTi and learned so much from that camera...and, as an added bonus, if you decide to upgrade your camera later on, you'll have already learned how to take beautiful pictures without relying only on your equipment!
For lenses, hands down buy the 50mm f/1.4. It's my favorite portrait lens and I hardly ever take it off my camera.
My website was originally through BluDomain (bludomain.com), but when I made the move to the blogsite, I switched to ProPhoto3. It's a fully-customizable web template that I update with my own content.
Hope that helps! -
The only camera I've seen in person is the XSi for a few minutes, and it definitely seemed like a high-quality entry level SLR. However, from reading online reviews, it seems like the T2i might have a slight edge on the XSi. You can read more about each at these two websites: http://www.consumersearch.com/digital-slr-camera-reviews/canon-eos-rebel-t1i
http://www.consumersearch.com/digital-slr-camera-reviews/canon-eos-digital-rebel-xsi
Keep in mind though, that the lens makes more of a difference in image quality than the camera itself. Invest in an entry-level camera without buying the kit lens, then buy a 50mm. It will make a world of difference in your photos! -
When I was first starting out, I used to heavily edit my photos in Photoshop. As I've progressed in the last two years, I've learned that when a photograph is taken in really good light, you barely need to edit it because the colors & sharpness will be enhanced automatically.
Now I do most of my editing in Lightroom, making minor edits to color/contrast. I only take about 20 photos into Photoshop, where I fix minor details like sharpening eyes and fixing skin blemishes. -
Get the 50mm f/1.4, hands-down. Ideally, you'll want to get a 5D (in my opinion, the Mark II isn't necessary), but as long as you have the 1.4, you can get away with using an entry-level SLR like the XSi. It's the lens that gives you the beautifully blurry backgrounds, not the camera.
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I use solely natural light...I love the softness and color it provides. I do own a Speedlite, but usually it just collects dust in my closet.
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Practice. The only way to get good at something is by putting in true hard work. It won't seem hard if you really love it though :) Some of the best hours I spent with my camera were the first hours after I bought it...attach it to your hip and never go anywhere without your camera. You never know when you'll find a picture.
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The following website answers this question better than I can: http://www.professionalchildphotographer.com/information/?p=6
When people think about photography, a common misconception is that the only time put into the final result is the actual length of the shoot. In reality, more time is spent working behind-the-scenes in a photography business than you might expect; my everyday tasks include editing pictures, answering e-mails and phone calls, bookkeeping, and maintaining my website and blog. Also, as with any other profession, I'm compensated for an educated skill, which I've spent hours and hours learning and practicing. -
I received my first beginner SLR, a Rebel XTi, as a Christmas present when I was a junior in high school. It was easy to get started because I took all my friends' senior pictures the next year, and they in turn referred me to their friends and family. Word-of-mouth has been the single most powerful marketing tool for me; my clients are so great.
Once I had been taking pictures for awhile and began making a profit, I was able to upgrade to my 5D and 50mm f/1.4. One of the best pieces of advice I've ever received is to invest in the best tools that you can afford for your craft, because the results of your investment translate directly to improving what you're passionate about. -
I'm a student in Rochester, so I'm usually in San Antonio for a few weeks in May and August, as well as for winter break in December. Because of my limited time in San Antonio, I usually book shoots a few months in advance to make sure I'm able to plan time for each client when I'm in SA.
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The hardest part about sessions is constantly trying to find new photogenic locations to shoot at. I try to avoid doing the same thing twice, since no two clients' pictures should look the same. If I shoot at a location I've shot at before, I challenge myself to find a new spot that I previously overlooked.
To answer your second question-- If people are nervous about having their pictures taken, I TOTALLY get it...I think it's an unwritten rule that photographers are more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. At least in my case...I'm probably one of the least photogenic people you'll ever meet! But, for the camera-weary, I can tell you that I make every photo shoot fun and laid-back..I always tell my clients it's not a photo shoot without an adventure. We always have fun, and happy people look good in pictures...duh :)
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Loading...Kate Lemmon’s Bio
Lifestyle portrait photographer for San Antonio, TX & Rochester, NY.
