Getting Started! Help please! NEWBIE!

[Caserz1986]

Hello Everyone!

Just need some quick advice (at least for now that is lol)...

I loveeeee portraiture! Right now I am currently charging $40 per session at their location of choice including all edited images on a CD. Before I began to charge everyone was very eager to be photographed, but since I am charging (for gas and to save up for better equipment - I'm a stay at home mom and full time student), nobody really seems to be interested in booking an appointment. The sessions which I have already photographed...unfortunately nobody uploaded the pictures to any of their networking sites. I did, however have one client (a friend of mine) upload a single image and then proceeded to crop off my logo. =(

Also...when giving clients their images, do I give them images WITHOUT my logo or WITH my logo? This includes any free sessions (of family or friends).

To be honest, I am getting a bit discouraged, and would most definitely appreciate some helpful feedback and criticisms! I know my lens (18-55mm (D60)) is well...not up to par, but due to financial issues, at this point I have no other choice but to utilize it the very best I possibly can.

Should I offer to do some more free photo sessions? Am I charging too much? Should I wait until I can afford a better lens? (renting is unfortunately not an option right now financially) Are my photographs even WORTHY of being charged? I am open to any ideas! =)


Also...I do not have access to Photoshop. I edit with Picasa.
I am very unfamiliar with lighting equipment. For now, I am shooting outdoors in natural light (also bc of the lack of lens speed).

(btw. Honestly, I am not one who just picked up a DSLR and BAM! I'm a professional. I take my hope-to-be photography career VERY seriously, and have much respect for those who are truly professionals. I know I have a longgg way to go, but I am very excited and very eager to learn more! I, of course, do not consider myself to be at a professional level...I only have a "name" to help promote my work.)



I am unsure of how to upload some of my work onto this forum, however I did recently upload some images on my personal profile, or please feel free to check out my photography Myspace:

http://www.myspace.com/c.ayala_photography



THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!! I APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR HELP!!!
THANK YOU! THANK YOU!!!

[CaptainTom]

Just need some quick advice (at least for now that is lol)...
a quick response would be difficult but I'll make the attempt

I loveeeee portraiture! So do most of us so you are in the right place. Right now I am currently charging $40 per session at their location of choice including all edited images on a CD (All I can say about this is that it gives you the label of being an amateur - Price = perception, the higher the price the more perception you are professional). Before I began to charge everyone was very eager to be photographed, but since I am charging (for gas and to save up for better equipment - I'm a stay at home mom and full time student), nobody really seems to be interested in booking an appointment ( they just want something free and don't care about the quality, when they have to pay they want something really good). The sessions which I have already photographed...unfortunately nobody uploaded the pictures to any of their networking sites. I did, however have one client (a friend of mine) upload a single image and then proceeded to crop off my logo. =(( explain that if it's free you expect them to advertise for you. check out the copyright threads that are on here.)

Also...when giving clients their images, do I give them images WITHOUT my logo or WITH my logo? This includes any free sessions (of family or friends).( do you want them to advertise you or do you want them to pay for the images?)

To be honest, I am getting a bit discouraged, and would most definitely appreciate some helpful feedback and criticisms! I know my lens (18-55mm (D60)) is well...not up to par, but due to financial issues, at this point I have no other choice but to utilize it the very best I possibly can. (it's not the best lens but the first thing to do is learn how to take exceptional photographs.)

Should I offer to do some more free photo sessions? NO Am I charging too much? NO Should I wait until I can afford a better lens? (renting is unfortunately not an option right now financially) Are my photographs even WORTHY of being charged? I am open to any ideas! =) NO


Also...I do not have access to Photoshop. I edit with Picasa.
I am very unfamiliar with lighting equipment. For now, I am shooting outdoors in natural light (also bc of the lack of lens speed).

(btw. Honestly, I am not one who just picked up a DSLR and BAM! I'm a professional. I take my hope-to-be photography career VERY seriously, and have much respect for those who are truly professionals. I know I have a longgg way to go, but I am very excited and very eager to learn more! I, of course, do not consider myself to be at a professional level...I only have a "name" to help promote my work.)



I am unsure of how to upload some of my work onto this forum, however I did recently upload some images on my personal profile, or please feel free to check out my photography Myspace:

Read the thousands of posts on this site about becoming professional. Read the thousands of posts about taking better portraits.
Look at a million pictures and figure out what you like and don't like about them. Emulate what you like and eliminate what you don't like from your own shooting.

Try to locate the answer to your question on this forum or on Google.
If you can't find it, ask here. ( I recommend you mention that you searched for an answer but couldn't find one. that seems to get a better response)

[kimberley]

first off welcome to TPF....

I think you should be shooting when ever you have a free minute, carry your camera with you every where you go and practice, read, practice and read and then practice some more....a better camera and equipment doesn't make you a better photographer just a broke one.....when you can master the camera you have now on manual then move up to a better camera and so on and so on...

Portfolio building is a slow process and in return for shooting friends/clients/neighbors for free you have practice....

and you dont need live models to practice either, take a chair and teddy bear into a field and practice ( see me repeating that word)...

buy the book Understanding Exposure and read it like 5 times...that book is awesome...

study websites of photographers, go to workshops, there are tons of free ones out there and ones that dont cost a ton....there are loads of workshops on TPF :)

This business is just that a business and at times it can be brutal but with A LOT of work and dedication it can pay off..but you have to be willing to work hard, get a tuff skin and be willing to not make money at it for awhile...it takes awhile to get established...and I will tell you there is a lot of talent in Cypress right now A LOT....

Good luck, practice post your pics for CC and read, read, read...and dont go out and buy equipment you dont yet understand :)

Good luck and welcome to TPF :)

[HotHolly]

totally search the biz thread section of this site. ive spent hours answering questions just like this.

and dont get discouraged! make a plan and then execute it! very few people have stuff just fall in their lap. so dont worry if that doesnt happen.

here are some:
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d.php?t=109063
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d.php?t=109164
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d.php?t=107227
http://www.texasphotoforum.com/forum...d.php?t=106961

there are tons more. i know b/c i lurk in there and comment when i have time. ;o) go check it out. ;o) i think you just need more info. your problem is fixable.

ps - specifically look for threads talking about going pro and transitioning from hobbyist to pro. the info you need will be in threads about those topics.

[Caserz1986]

Wow! Thanks a bunch! I will def be checking out the those threads! I've literally been on here all day reading thread after thread, so thank you so much for selecting some specific ones for me! I def appreciate it!

Tom, honestly, I care more about my clients advertising for me rather than them paying me. In total, I have had one paying client, and the rest were either my sisters (who will model anytime, anywhere. Kimberley, I will take your advice, and just practice practice!! Even if its with a teddy bear. I honestly never though of that! Thank you!), and/or friends who booked appointments with me before I began to charge. Initially I began charging to accumulate the funds for props, then I found it was extremely difficult to photograph "Energizer Bunny" kiddos (my daughter included) with my kit lens. At school, I shot with the 70-200mm and I was in heaven! I am also looking to purchase the 50mm 1.8 (despite the lack of AF) for a less distorted image.

I def agree that there is much more to learn about my camera! Especially on Manual Mode, which honestly I prefer over SP and AP. This semester I am taking nothing but photography classes, and I am determined to master manual mode! (which btw I LOVE how this site has information about workshops! I'll def be attending those, and will encourage my school's photography club to do so as well! Thank you for bringing that to my attention!)



phew. okay, here I am writing another life story! lol

THANKS AGAIN TO EVERYONE!!! You'll def be seeing more of me on here!
This site is a God-send! THANK YOU!