Changing my business name..

[mwcfarms]

I wouldn't listen to anybody here who comments on you being a "professional", "taking money", "learning as you go", etc.

You demonstrate your work product on your website and in your portfolio, so there is no misrepresentation whatsoever. If someone then decides in a free market to pay you for your work product - - GO FOR IT!! - - and continue to bill as much as you can an learn and grow as much as you can.

Best of luck with your future endeavors.

Can I laugh here, because this type of It's ok to take their money if their stupid enough to pay for it mentality is exactly why people who are trying to learn and actually make a living off of photography want nothing to do with helping others, why bother when your mind set is this.

 

[Scoody]

I just thought about something. If it's ok to learn as you go and be a professional photographer, why not change your business name to "Learn as you Go Photography".

No one in their right mind would use that as a name, because it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

While I would never say that a DSLR and business cards makes a photographer, no one should know it all before they go into business. Sure there is a certain level to which your skills should be honed before actually charging money for your work, even photographers with many years of experience still learn and should always be ready to learn new things. You can always learn new poses, lighting setups and such, so learning as you go is applicable for all of us.

 

[Gaerek]

I just thought about something. If it's ok to learn as you go and be a professional photographer, why not change your business name to "Learn as you Go Photography".

No one in their right mind would use that as a name, because it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

While I would never say that a DSLR and business cards makes a photographer, no one should know it all before they go into business. Sure there is a certain level to which your skills should be honed before actually charging money for your work, even photographers with many years of experience still learn and should always be ready to learn new things. You can always learn new poses, lighting setups and such, so learning as you go is applicable for all of us.

I never said that. BUT, you should know the basics. You shouldn't have diffculty touching up photos. You should understand how a snoot works. You should know at least the basics of studio lighting. And these are all things (and more) that the OP has continually asked for help with, at the same time taking money from paying clients who believe she knows what she's doing.

In my field, if I didn't keep learning, I'd fail also. But I should basically be an expert on how computers work, right at this point in time. If I don't know the basics, I have no absolutely no business opening a business.

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

Normally I like what you have to say, but I'm going to have to call BS on this one. Part of being a "Professional" is furthering one's education in the field they are in. If you refused to learn anything new once you became a professional you would be pretty lousy at whatever it is you do.

I do get the point you're trying to make. I realize there should be certain prerequisites that need to met before "going pro". Unfortunately, in photography there really aren't any. So if she wants to charge, her work will speak for itself and how much business she gets will reflect that.


Now Sabrina, every time you have an issue you come running to TPF, then you complain about the advise you get or how its delivered. THIS IS FREE INFORMATION!!!! You are riding on the years of knowledge that all these seasoned photographers have figured out on their own without the interwebz. If you want everything delivered to you in a nice, neat professional way, go spend some money and take a class or two.

Honestly, your business should be called "TPF Rescues Sabrina Again Photography".....

 

[PhotoWrangler]

... because it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

Then why do brain surgeons start out as interns? They perform surgeries under supervision. Would you say that they aren't professionals?

 

[SabrinaO]

If you're a hobbyist or an amateur, I'd most definately agree with you. However, you're taking money from people by providing a product/service. I'm not saying you need to know everything there is to know about photography, but I know I certainly wouldn't want to spend my money with someone who thought that being professional (since you're running a business charging for you your time/effort, you are supposedly professional) means that you can learn as you go. Understand that learning as you go really means learning through trial and error. I'd hate to be that client who had to be one of your learning mistakes. I can't think of another industry out there where you can go into business without enough knowledge to know the basics. The business I'm planning on starting is a computer repair business. If I started this and decided that I'll just learn as I go, I know that disaster would be the outcome. The only reason I know I can provide this particular service is because I have years of real life experiences, and a laundry list of certifications after my name.

I'm not trying to be rude, or anything like that. I, like many others, are trying to help you. I wish you luck in your business, whatever it's name is. Your reaction will dictate whether I bother to try to help anymore.

This is where portfolios and quality ratings come in. When you take a look at someones portfolio or read their ratings then you decide whether or not to pay for their services....
That's what an educated person will do instead of hiring someone blindly.
Photography IS a learn as you go process whether you like it or not. You can't recognize your mistakes and learn and grow if you don't have clients.

Sorry darling I am going to call bull**** here. You do NOT learn by taking their money first, your taking money from these people as paying clients and your representing yourself as someone who is a professional and yet you have some of the most basic questions posted every week. How is that benifitting you or the clients? Which is what your doing taking money, I assume, although I do not know how much and then every week post questions like you do, people are going to be thinking WTF was she thinking? Build your portfolio first and get what you need to know and then start charging clients. I am not trying to be a harsh ***** here but you seem to have a pattern to your threads and you end up looking like just another weekend warrior who bought a camera and thinks that with a bit of general knowledge and the studio type set up you are an accomplished photographer. It absolutely is a learning process but most of us aren't trying to be spoon fed. And I'm not saying you are, it just looks that way when your posts come across that way and I think this is why you get such flack from some of the seasoned photographers who know there **** and you can learn from. Anyways you can hate this thread, think I'm a crazy ***** but I am just telling you how I see it.

First of all... I was shooting free for MONTHS to build my portfolio and gain the experience. I started charging when i felt comfortable charging, and because I was starting to feel taken advantage of. I didn't start charging as soon as I got my DSLR. That is ridiculous and I would never do that. There are some that do and if people want to pay for their work that's on them.
But my name is behind my work and I always strive for perfection. Why is it bad that I ask questions and want to learn more? Does it not make me professional because I ask how to snoot a light? THAT is bull****. I know just enough and am comfortable enough to charge for my work. I know the basics... but I want to learn more. I want to learn how to snoot a light. I want to learn the best setup for a nice depth in lighting. I am far from a weekend warrior. I've been at this for months. How do my posts come across? I take in the good and the bad. I wouldn't be where im at today if I didn't, so I don't know what you are talking about. If someone tells me my lighting is flat, I want to learn how to change it. I don't expect to get spoon fed. Sometimes I make mistakes, but I learn from them. So yes... being in this field IS a learning experience.

 

[mwcfarms]

... because it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

Then why do brain surgeons start out as interns? They perform surgeries under supervision. Would you say that they aren't professionals?

I get what your saying Chris but its more a first year med student rather than a 3rd or 4th year undergrad situation here wouldn't you agree.

 

[mwcfarms]

This is where portfolios and quality ratings come in. When you take a look at someones portfolio or read their ratings then you decide whether or not to pay for their services....
That's what an educated person will do instead of hiring someone blindly.
Photography IS a learn as you go process whether you like it or not. You can't recognize your mistakes and learn and grow if you don't have clients.

Sorry darling I am going to call bull**** here. You do NOT learn by taking their money first, your taking money from these people as paying clients and your representing yourself as someone who is a professional and yet you have some of the most basic questions posted every week. How is that benifitting you or the clients? Which is what your doing taking money, I assume, although I do not know how much and then every week post questions like you do, people are going to be thinking WTF was she thinking? Build your portfolio first and get what you need to know and then start charging clients. I am not trying to be a harsh ***** here but you seem to have a pattern to your threads and you end up looking like just another weekend warrior who bought a camera and thinks that with a bit of general knowledge and the studio type set up you are an accomplished photographer. It absolutely is a learning process but most of us aren't trying to be spoon fed. And I'm not saying you are, it just looks that way when your posts come across that way and I think this is why you get such flack from some of the seasoned photographers who know there **** and you can learn from. Anyways you can hate this thread, think I'm a crazy ***** but I am just telling you how I see it.

First of all... I was shooting free for MONTHS to build my portfolio and gain the experience. I started charging when i felt comfortable charging, and because I was starting to feel taken advantage of. I didn't start charging as soon as I got my DSLR. That is ridiculous and I would never do that. There are some that do and if people want to pay for their work that's on them.
But my name is behind my work and I always strive for perfection. Why is it bad that I ask questions and want to learn more? Does it not make me professional because I ask how to snoot a light? THAT is bull****. I know just enough and am comfortable enough to charge for my work. I know the basics... but I want to learn more. I want to learn how to snoot a light. I want to learn the best setup for a nice depth in lighting. I am far from a weekend warrior. I've been at this for months. How do my posts come across? I take in the good and the bad. I wouldn't be where im at today if I didn't, so I don't know what you are talking about. If someone tells me my lighting is flat, I want to learn how to change it. I don't expect to get spoon fed. Sometimes I make mistakes, but I learn from them. So yes... being in this field IS a learning experience.

Um sorry didnt you say in an earlier post that you have only been shooting for 7 months? Or am I way off to lunch here?

 

[SabrinaO]

I just thought about something. If it's ok to learn as you go and be a professional photographer, why not change your business name to "Learn as you Go Photography".

No one in their right mind would use that as a name, because it's not ok to learn as you go and be a professional in your field.

While I would never say that a DSLR and business cards makes a photographer, no one should know it all before they go into business. Sure there is a certain level to which your skills should be honed before actually charging money for your work, even photographers with many years of experience still learn and should always be ready to learn new things. You can always learn new poses, lighting setups and such, so learning as you go is applicable for all of us.

I never said that. BUT, you should know the basics. You shouldn't have diffculty touching up photos. You should understand how a snoot works. You should know at least the basics of studio lighting. And these are all things (and more) that the OP has continually asked for help with, at the same time taking money from paying clients who believe she knows what she's doing.

In my field, if I didn't keep learning, I'd fail also. But I should basically be an expert on how computers work, right at this point in time. If I don't know the basics, I have no absolutely no business opening a business.

Oh so once I know how to snoot Ill be ok to charge? GTFOH. Is there a set point where you can start charging? NO! It's up to the consumers who are willing to pay for their services. My work speaks for itself. I know what the hell i'm doing. I just want to improve. I'm not gonna be like you and sit on my butt and wait until I know EVERYTHING THERE IS POSSIBLY TO KNOW ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY before I start charging. That is ridiculous. Good luck with that. Me, I have the confidence to move forward.

 

[SabrinaO]

Sorry darling I am going to call bull**** here. You do NOT learn by taking their money first, your taking money from these people as paying clients and your representing yourself as someone who is a professional and yet you have some of the most basic questions posted every week. How is that benifitting you or the clients? Which is what your doing taking money, I assume, although I do not know how much and then every week post questions like you do, people are going to be thinking WTF was she thinking? Build your portfolio first and get what you need to know and then start charging clients. I am not trying to be a harsh ***** here but you seem to have a pattern to your threads and you end up looking like just another weekend warrior who bought a camera and thinks that with a bit of general knowledge and the studio type set up you are an accomplished photographer. It absolutely is a learning process but most of us aren't trying to be spoon fed. And I'm not saying you are, it just looks that way when your posts come across that way and I think this is why you get such flack from some of the seasoned photographers who know there **** and you can learn from. Anyways you can hate this thread, think I'm a crazy ***** but I am just telling you how I see it.

First of all... I was shooting free for MONTHS to build my portfolio and gain the experience. I started charging when i felt comfortable charging, and because I was starting to feel taken advantage of. I didn't start charging as soon as I got my DSLR. That is ridiculous and I would never do that. There are some that do and if people want to pay for their work that's on them.
But my name is behind my work and I always strive for perfection. Why is it bad that I ask questions and want to learn more? Does it not make me professional because I ask how to snoot a light? THAT is bull****. I know just enough and am comfortable enough to charge for my work. I know the basics... but I want to learn more. I want to learn how to snoot a light. I want to learn the best setup for a nice depth in lighting. I am far from a weekend warrior. I've been at this for months. How do my posts come across? I take in the good and the bad. I wouldn't be where im at today if I didn't, so I don't know what you are talking about. If someone tells me my lighting is flat, I want to learn how to change it. I don't expect to get spoon fed. Sometimes I make mistakes, but I learn from them. So yes... being in this field IS a learning experience.

Um sorry didnt you say in an earlier post that you have only been shooting for 7 months? Or am I way off to lunch here?

I got my camera in October 2010, started shooting free until january/feb and opened up my studio and started charging feb/march. I still shoot free to this day when I want to learn new techniques.

 

[mwcfarms]

Ok I don't want this to get way out of hand but Sabrina you really need to accept responsibility here as well. I do think you have some great images, but at the same time you seem to run here everytime you have a basic question. If you maybe were a bit more humble when people are trying to help you then you wouldn't receive this kind of negative attitude. I know its a learning process and growing absolutely but your have this attitude that seems to rub people the wrong way and you do come here with very basic questions that you could answer for yourself if you took the time to look it up on youtube etc. Anyways I'm done commenting, good luck with your endevors.

 

[ababysean]

I have not read the thread yet, and I see there are a ton of posts but I would keep your name, your real name. Your photography is your art. Think when people are talking about that wonderful family portrait above their mantal in their homes, and someone asked, who took that for you? You want people to say YOUR NAME, not some random generic Cherished Memories photography or something random.

Use your name.

Sabrina Cameron is fine.

Did you have to file a dba or fictitious name for the state for that name? I'm using my nick name, and the only reason I hate it is because I have to file this extra paper work.

 

[gsgary]

This is where portfolios and quality ratings come in. When you take a look at someones portfolio or read their ratings then you decide whether or not to pay for their services....
That's what an educated person will do instead of hiring someone blindly.
Photography IS a learn as you go process whether you like it or not. You can't recognize your mistakes and learn and grow if you don't have clients.

Sorry darling I am going to call bull**** here. You do NOT learn by taking their money first, your taking money from these people as paying clients and your representing yourself as someone who is a professional and yet you have some of the most basic questions posted every week. How is that benifitting you or the clients? Which is what your doing taking money, I assume, although I do not know how much and then every week post questions like you do, people are going to be thinking WTF was she thinking? Build your portfolio first and get what you need to know and then start charging clients. I am not trying to be a harsh ***** here but you seem to have a pattern to your threads and you end up looking like just another weekend warrior who bought a camera and thinks that with a bit of general knowledge and the studio type set up you are an accomplished photographer. It absolutely is a learning process but most of us aren't trying to be spoon fed. And I'm not saying you are, it just looks that way when your posts come across that way and I think this is why you get such flack from some of the seasoned photographers who know there **** and you can learn from. Anyways you can hate this thread, think I'm a crazy ***** but I am just telling you how I see it.

First of all... I was shooting free for MONTHS to build my portfolio and gain the experience. I started charging when i felt comfortable charging, and because I was starting to feel taken advantage of. I didn't start charging as soon as I got my DSLR. That is ridiculous and I would never do that. There are some that do and if people want to pay for their work that's on them.
But my name is behind my work and I always strive for perfection. Why is it bad that I ask questions and want to learn more? Does it not make me professional because I ask how to snoot a light? THAT is bull****. I know just enough and am comfortable enough to charge for my work. I know the basics... but I want to learn more. I want to learn how to snoot a light. I want to learn the best setup for a nice depth in lighting. I am far from a weekend warrior. I've been at this for months. How do my posts come across? I take in the good and the bad. I wouldn't be where im at today if I didn't, so I don't know what you are talking about. If someone tells me my lighting is flat, I want to learn how to change it. I don't expect to get spoon fed. Sometimes I make mistakes, but I learn from them. So yes... being in this field IS a learning experience.

When i tell you your lighting is flat i get a mouthful, you only like to hear the good points as soon as someone say anything negative you get on your high horse

 

[ababysean]

I want to know is your studio profitable? I really need a space too, my **** is all over the house, there is a small office building downtown for 350 a month and that includes utilities.. I'm seriously thinking about it. I need to do that or buy a storage unit for my yard. lol

 

[ababysean]

and if you plan on having more kids, so what? Name other things after them, such as your packages.... lol