Discouraged: Maybe yall can get me motivated again

[tarahgee]

This is my first post on this site not quite sure if this is the right section to be posting this, but hey what can it hurt.

A little back ground
I am 25 and I have always been interested in photography for as long as I can remember. For some reason or another I have never been able to get going with it. Last year my sister bought me my camera, Nikon D80, just before I started my first semester of college. I was going for a Business Degree; I am not changing it to graphic design.

So here is where I am at:
We just moved back to CA in Feb form CO. In CO at the college I was attending had a lot of classes I wanted to take to help me with my photography. I already took B&W film Photography as a prerequisite before I could take any of them. I was also going to get portable lighting to take to clients houses, I had them all lined up. Needless to say I had to put that all on hold.

Now here in Bakersfield I can’t find anywhere that can teach me these things. I am a visual person when it comes to learning. I need someone showing me and teaching me what I need to know. I had planned on having my own portrait studio, TMG Portraits. I am tired of taking pictures of my own kids, although they are very cute, they just don’t cooperate the way I want. I am good at a close head shot, lol. I have always wanted to find someone who was willing to teach me natural lighting and studio lighting to make me better at what I love to do. Here in Bakersfield I am so lost, I don’t know where to go or what to do next. I just want to give up. My family and other people think this is just a hobby, it’s not just a hobby to me I want a career out of this. I don’t even have a portfolio together, how do I put a portfolio together when all I am shooting are my kids? To be honest the ones of them, are not that great to be putting in one anyways.

Some are self taught. Me, I can be to a degree then I get frustrated and need more guidance from others.

What do I do now? Where can I go?

I am going crazy. I am probably over analyzing this and being harder on myself then I should be. I don’t have patience when it comes to something I want so badly and I want to perfect it.

If you read this crazy women’s post, thanks.

I would like help and guidance if anyone is willing to.


Classes I was lined up to take in CO:
ART 253 Studio Photography
Explores the creative uses of studio lighting from the perspective of fine art photography with an emphasis on portraiture, three dimensional object photography and two dimensional collage photography.

ART 244 Digital Photography Studio
Introduces digital photography as a fine art medium and develops skills necessary for basic operation of a digital camera and production of digital imagery.

ART 248 Digital Darkroom
Teaches computer aided photography and darkroom techniques. The emphasis of this course is image-editing software, which can be used to color correct, retouch and composite photographic images. Other topics include image acquisition, storage file management, special effects, hard copy and Web-based image output.

ART 251 Portrait Photography
Teaches the technical and aesthetic aspects of studio and location portrait photography. This course explores the personal style of portraiture as a visual language and creative expression. This topic also includes lighting composition, posing and equipment selection.

[windrivermaiden]

There is a community college in Bake. Also a University. that is where I'd start. Mostly because you will get to use all the schools equiptment with the class. and have not only the instructor for bouncing ideas off...but also the other students. Check for summer classes. Also there may be community access classes and seminars through the city recreation department.

I have a sister in Bake, she is really good at finding things like that. Would you like me to ask her for suggestions?

[tarahgee]

I thought of that already

Here's the thing with being here only two months I dont have CA residency yet, I need to wait a year. With not being CA resident I will have to pay more. I already get financial aid in CO and I get money back from it to buy photo equipment. I cant take classes in CO, I was online, anymore to establish residency out here. Also then I would have to pay out of state tuition to CO. Does that all make since, so with all that being said I cant attend any college here until Feb 2009.

But I didnt think of the rec centers here, they are not like CO. CO are MUCH nicer. So I will have to look around to find all of them, good idea thank you.

Yes, I would love for you to ask your sister for suggestions.

[mendopix]

Tarah,

Check out the video vault. For a visual person, there are some great step-by-step instruction clips about all sorts of things.

I know you feel the need for instruction, but... When I was first starting, I used to go down to the Bay Area and walk around. You would be surprised how many people don't mind having their picture taken by a perfect stranger. You just have to get over the first couple odd interactions, then it's all good.

The other thing I did was set up stuff at home, next to windows. I would shoot items, develop the film (now you just plug in,) then see what I did wrong, shoot again and so on.

Usually, a community college class costs next to nothing, even if you're from out-of-state.

Good luck.

zz

[isaiahbrink]

Well, I have 2 recomendations for you. The first is that I know it's about an hour drive each way, but Fresno City College has an excellent photo program, I heard that from many people as well as attending classes formally many years ago. Also, see if you can network with other photographers in your area that have more experience than you. Ok, one more recomendation, get out there and do it yourself, try going out to the coast and doing something there.

[FerrisPhoto]

Forget about all of that crap going through your mind at the moment. You can't rush becoming a successful photog. Just throw on your zoom lens, walk out the front door and go shoot. That's it, go shoot. No lights, modifiers, just shoot. If you want to build a portfolio join model mayhem, and do tfp for wanna be models in Bakersfield. There are plenty of tfpers on mm. Slow down, relax, and enjoy it while you can. It's not as fun when its a business. Go learn and most of all have fun doing it!

[Abel]

i definitely echo what mike said...

[BigAssHam]

I am with Abel and Mike. Take a deep breath and think for a minute. If you have ever really wanted something, I mean really wanted it, has it come overnight? No. Is it easy to get what you want all the time? No. To appreciate it and really love it you have to work hard for it and earn it. If it were easy it would be boring and not worthwhile.

I am also a CA transplant. NY to SoCal 2 years ago. I was an amateur photographer for 15 years before I started doing it on the side in December of 2007. I had to and still practice all of the time. Who says you have to focus on people to test out lighting? I use either natural light or 2 SB-600 flashes. I have had to practice with them over and over and I still mess up from time to time. All good things come to those who wait. You are 25 and that's a great time to set up a plan for yourself. Don't let the gov't get in the way. Maybe set up some meeting times with other photographers around Bakersfield or SoCal in general. Heck, if you ever come down Long Beach way look me up. I'd be happy to help you out. http://albertquackenbush.blogspot.com

All I can say is the best way to look at it is right now you have a wall in front of you. Will you let it stand in your way or will you scale it and get what you want?

Good luck whichever way you choose.

Cheers,
Al