Another noob looking to become a sorta-kinda-semi-pro

[cgipson1]

REALLY? What an UNUSUAL idea! And so soon after getting your T3i! (and no.. I don't believe any real PROs use that kind of body.. it is considered very Entry Level.. you might find some of the "Pros's" on Facebook using it.. but that is about it!)

Hahahah! Good one.

Thank you.. I was starting to feel unappreciated!

 

[SCraig]

The reason for some of the caustic responses is that there are literally a dozen posts virtually identical to this one each and every week. Right down to the shooting the friend's wedding.

So, I'm going to give you some advice. You probably won't take it but that's your choice and it doesn't mean it's bad advice. Tell your friend(s) that you can't shoot their wedding as the primary photographer. Trust me on this. This may be a once in a lifetime event for your friend and you are not there. You don't have the experience and you don't have the equipment.

What are you going to do if your camera breaks right before the event? What are you going to do if you drop your one and only lens? There is a reason that **NO** wedding photographer only takes one camera to the event.

What are you going to do when you get there and find out it's too dark to shoot ANYTHING with your slow kit lens, and then find out you can't shoot with a flash? There is a reason that **NO** wedding photographer uses a slow kit lens to shoot an event. There is a reason that wedding photographers shell out a TON of money for fast prime lenses.

These are only a sampling. There are many, many more "What If's".

As I said you are free to take this advice or not, but you run the risk of ruining this event for your friend. Is your pride worth that cost? Do yourself a favor and tell her that you will be glad to shoot the event but NOT as the primary photographer.

 

[onehundredoctane]

In #1 and #2 the main subject lacks scale. #2 would better have been shot with a vertical frame orientation, fill lighting was needed to fill the deep shadow caused by back lighting.

#3 has pretty good composition but the sky is blown out (over exposed) and all the photo has a greenish color cast to it.

Thank you for your input, that's exactly what I came here for! The over exposure in the pic may have been added when I edited it, I'll see if I can go back and work on that. I'll have to see if the green was accidentally added as well. Good catch, I didn't notice the green previously! Thank you again for your comment, this is the kind of input I need. Don't worry, I won't bore by re-posting the pic after I edit it again.

Why is photography the only profession where someone can pick up the tool and be ready to start taking money?

I don't remember saying that. Maybe I was misunderstood. If you'll take the time to go back and read my last post I said that I don't expect payment (i.e. to make money off of this).

You wrote the death certificate for this thread when you typed "I'm a noob but I'm already getting paid." Nobody is that prodigous, unfortunately.

You really didn't read my last post did you? The point of the thread title was to get a laugh, I realize I know nothing about photography (re-read that). Did the title say "I'm ready to get paid"? Moving on.

Unless you're giving her pictures for free. If that's the case then go right ahead.

Again? This further proves you didn't read last my last post as I clearly stated that I am planning on doing it for free. Thank you for making me repeat myself.

 

[CowgirlMama]

So your friend wants to have a quality product, but the person they are consulting has neither the equipment nor the skill to give them that product. You do get what you pay for though, I guess, so if she wants cheap she shouldn't have her sights set so high when it comes to quality.

Why is photography the only profession where someone can pick up the tool and be ready to start taking money?

I'm sorry if I sound rude, but anyone else will say the same. You wrote the death certificate for this thread when you typed "I'm a noob but I'm already getting paid." Nobody is that prodigous, unfortunately.

Unless you're giving her pictures for free. If that's the case then go right ahead.

The OP has already stated that he is not taking money. He says he wouldn't, even if he had years of experience because of his relationship with the couple.

I'd recommend that you tread carefully. Crappy engagement pictures can be a recipe for ending a friendship. I don't know what gear you do or don't have, but since you haven't had the dSLR long, I'm guessing you haven't worked with things like off camera flash or bounced flash yet? I don't know when your friend needs the pictures done, but it would probably be prudent to get some practice in before jumping in. As long as she knows that you are anything but a pro, I think you'll be ok. I do recommend having some kind of written agreement so it can't come back to bite you if she's not completely thrilled with the result.

 

[farleyfoto]

A thread title like that will always be like an air-raid siren going off around here.

But, hello Matt and welcome

That's is the truth

 

[onehundredoctane]

The reason for some of the caustic responses is that there are literally a dozen posts virtually identical to this one each and every week. Right down to the shooting the friend's wedding.

So, I'm going to give you some advice. You probably won't take it but that's your choice and it doesn't mean it's bad advice. Tell your friend(s) that you can't shoot their wedding as the primary photographer. Trust me on this. This may be a once in a lifetime event for your friend and you are not there. You don't have the experience and you don't have the equipment.

What are you going to do if your camera breaks right before the event? What are you going to do if you drop your one and only lens? There is a reason that **NO** wedding photographer only takes one camera to the event.

What are you going to do when you get there and find out it's too dark to shoot ANYTHING with your slow kit lens, and then find out you can't shoot with a flash? There is a reason that **NO** wedding photographer uses a slow kit lens to shoot an event. There is a reason that wedding photographers shell out a TON of money for fast prime lenses.

These are only a sampling. There are many, many more "What If's".

As I said you are free to take this advice or not, but you run the risk of ruining this event for your friend. Is your pride worth that cost? Do yourself a favor and tell her that you will be glad to shoot the event but NOT as the primary photographer.

Who said anything about me doing the photography for the wedding? If you'll go back and read you'll see that I'm only interested in doing engagement pictures. I'm not that naive.

 

[princes2744]

um...hi my name is Jessica im new here and i was wondering if you can unblur this please:

Welcome; please do not "hijack" threads. If you have a question or request, please start a new thread, however I can assure you if your only intention is to have someone help you cheat or steal services, it will last about two seconds.

 

[cgipson1]

um...hi my name is Jessica im new here and i was wondering if you can unblur this please: <Picture deleted by mod>

Interesting! Your first post.. you hijack someone else's thread, and ask us to do something for you that is not only unlikely, but ethically questionable.

Don't you think this is a bit odd?

 

[tirediron]

Hey folks, let's not castigate the new fellow too quickly. If you actually read his OP, he's asking about taking engagement pictures, NOT shooting the wedding, doesn't claim to be a pro, and isn't after money. Unlike a wedding, an e-session does have the opportunity for a do-over, and I don't see any harm in it. If it works out and the couple is happy, great. If it doesn't and they're not, nothing (except a couple of hours of your and their time) is lost.

Go for it!

 

[onehundredoctane]

The OP has already stated that he is not taking money. He says he wouldn't, even if he had years of experience because of his relationship with the couple.

I'd recommend that you tread carefully. Crappy engagement pictures can be a recipe for ending a friendship. I don't know what gear you do or don't have, but since you haven't had the dSLR long, I'm guessing you haven't worked with things like off camera flash or bounced flash yet? I don't know when your friend needs the pictures done, but it would probably be prudent to get some practice in before jumping in. As long as she knows that you are anything but a pro, I think you'll be ok. I do recommend having some kind of written agreement so it can't come back to bite you if she's not completely thrilled with the result.

There's really no rush. They aren't getting married until September so I have plenty of time. I haven't worked with flash photography, right now I am focusing on learning how to work with available light and mainly outdoors. Something she has expressed is that she wants all pictures taken locally, places they'll recognize years from now. I'm not worried about any type of written agreement, I've told her that I'll do my very best, but that I couldn't promise anything. I have been working outside as much as possible, I like what I'm seeing so far, but I haven't worked with people yet, just landscape.

Hey folks, let's not castigate the new fellow too quickly. If you actually read his OP, he's asking about taking engagement pictures, NOT shooting the wedding, doesn't claim to be a pro, and isn't after money. Unlike a wedding, an e-session does have the opportunity for a do-over, and I don't see any harm in it. If it works out and the couple is happy, great. If it doesn't and they're not, nothing (except a couple of hours of your and their time) is lost.

Go for it!

Thank you for your positive approach! Glad to see not everyone has a huge e-go and rejects newbies.

 

[kike1216]

Search lots of engagement pictures or whatever event you will be shooting for. I like your pics. I'm a Newbie too. I have a Nikon d5100. I love mine. I have used picasa but not a whole lot, I prefer Aperture. Good luck.

 

[onehundredoctane]

Thanks man, I've been searching thru pictures and while I don't want to stage an exact copy of someone elses work I've found tons of ideas. Rather cliche' but the bride to be has expressed an interest in doing a couple pictures on the beach, some here in downtown Greensboro, and a few at an old industrial building that a friend of mine had done some shots at with his car recently.

After taking the photography class over the weekend I have a much better understanding of shooting in manual mode and making adjustments based off of the quality of the picture. It's great to be able to realize that if my picture is a little washed out (or too white looking) and my iso is 100 or 200 while shooting in direct sunlight, that I might need to adjust my shutter speed instead so the shutter isn't open as long. I've found a cheap 28mm prime lens I'm picking up tomorrow, can't wait to toy around with it.

 

[Stradawhovious]

Just relax, and do it.

The best part of Engagement photos, is you can get a do-over. If they don't like the results, they can hire someone with more experience to do it.

I did My friend's Engagement photos, and they were thrilled. The best part is it was a really, really good learning experience for me. The best thing it (and a couple other "gigs") taught me is that I really don't EVER want to become a professional photographer. It's a hell of a lot of work. Doing it full time... Hell even part time..... for me, would suck the fun right out of it and it would quickly become yet another job.

A job with most likely an uncertain future, low pay check and ****ty benefits.

Just sayin'.

 

[DiskoJoe]

Money is good. I like money......

 

[LuckySe7en]

I tried to stay out of this thread. Hey Matt, welcome. Take this advice:

Don't do it. Not even for free.

Regardless if they pay you $1 or $1000, they're still expecting something you can't provide.