Help! Upset clients say they got jipped!

[Esperanza86]

I have read my manual but it has been a while. I want to read it again. Sometimes other people explain things better though. I have a Nikon D5300 with a Nikkor 1.8 prime. I intended using these for my son and family. Then I had people ask me to take their photos after I started. I did and loved it but obviously need to practice and learn more. I appreciate everything! Everything you are saying makes sense and matches up with my camera's settings.

 

[Esperanza86]

As far as my focusing, just an honest piece of information. I know how to focus with my shutter. I am thinking I am either not understanding my focus settings in my camera or I am getting too hurried and excited that I am not paying attention to my focal point. It shows where it is focusing on my camera as a little red box but I think at points I get so caught up in everything else I lose "focus". It is a lot of multitasking. I am going to another thread to find help and tips on that now lol.

The bolded points above are key. No matter how much photographic knowledge you have your fingertips when you're sitting at home on your couch, it's of no use if it all disapears when you are under pressure. What you need to work on is slowing down and making sure you're getting it right. Challenge yourself by using friends and family as guinea pigs and creating stressful circumstances. Give yourself two minutes (literally) to get a good headshot; five minutes to pose & shoot a family of five.... that sort of thing.

Thank You! I have a perfect subject- my two year old boy

 

[Esperanza86]

Off topic but what is that avatar photo in the little box? I did not upload this or choose it. I uploaded a photo of me. Do other people choose your public photo?

 

[SCraig]

Oh my goodness I needed this. Thank You so so much! Correct me if I am wrong but continuous is for moving subjects? Like my two year old son? When you are working with adults who move less is it better to switch out of continuous? I hope this can help me a bit in focusing. Can you tell me where to post threads about metering /camera topics? I am new here and already had a message about being in the correct forum.

Continuous autofocus is for things that move, in that you are correct. Keep in mind that virtually everything except rocks and concrete moves a little though. If your depth of field is already razor thin then it is very, VERY easy for single-point autofocus to pick the wrong point, for a subject to lean one way or the other, or for YOU to lean one way or the other and get things out of focus. Once single-point AF locks, it does NOT change unless you take the shot or let up on the shutter release.

I very seldom use single-point AF since I can never guarantee that something (myself included) won't move slightly.

 

[vintagesnaps]

It sounds like you need to learn how to use your camera better first, it should become so that you don't have to think too much about what to do - because you should know what to do. Your questions sound like beginner level, not pro level, yet. You may get there, takes a lot of learning and practice.

It did occur to me that they spent time on having the photos taken and now they won't even get the pictures; I don't know if they'll be too happy about that. Seems like they've been pretty nice about this.

It seems like a good decision to do a lot more learning before going any further with a photography business. If you don't think you can become one of the best in your area someday and be competitive this may not be a good choice as a business.

 

[astroNikon]

I have read my manual but it has been a while. I want to read it again. Sometimes other people explain things better though. I have a Nikon D5300 with a Nikkor 1.8 prime. I intended using these for my son and family. Then I had people ask me to take their photos after I started. I did and loved it but obviously need to practice and learn more. I appreciate everything! Everything you are saying makes sense and matches up with my camera's settings.

reread the manual (a section at a time is best) and practice what you are reading.
Then practice more on inanimate objects
then reread it again as you'll understand it better as you learn more.

 

[Scatterbrained]

YouTube. Is your friend.

B&H channel
Adorama channel
Sue Bryce
Karl Taylor
Bowens channel
Framed show
Learn My Shot
Phlearn
Westcott Channel
Joe McNally
There's a lot more I'm sure, but these are a good starting point.
Also, for under $30 you can get a one month subscription to KelbyOne. They have videos that start at the very beginning and work you through everything from operating your camera to running a studio.

 

[Emanuel M]

I was in the same spot you are a few months ago.
Friends liked my photos and asked for photoshoots.
I refused them all and did some with closest friends and family for free to learn more how it is to shoot more seriously.
I bought my first DSLR 3 years ago, I did my first paid photoshoot 2 months ago

First get to know the camera (I also use the D5300).
Learn to focus, learn to expose, learn to compose.
Learn about shutter speed, aperture, ISO, DOF, etc.
There are so many things to learn - It's really a complicated "world".

I've studied Photoshop at University but it wasn't enough - had to study again to learn some more things (love Phlearn tutorials).
After that I begun to study Lightroom, and it's an amazing post production tool also.
I use both now and I am still learning

Did 3 photoshoots so far, I have no contracts yet, not even a defined price, but I am getting there...
Customers were pleased with their photos, but sometimes things can go wrong.
I decided that I would do "packages":

For example:
10 printed 4x6 (10x15 cm) - 40$ (At switzerland we use CHF, not dollars, but it's almost the same so I will say $)
20 4x6 - 60$
30 4x6 - 80$

A 8x11 (21x29.7 A4) is 20$ each until 5 prints - after that it's 10$ (5 "8x11" are 100$ - 10 are 100$ + (5x10) = 150$).
I charge also 2$ for each full res photo, edited and converted to JPEG.

My "best sell package" (only did 3 photoshoots ) is:
10 printed "4x6" + 1 printed "8x11" + 20 full res photo on a flash drive - (50 cents for kilometer if I take my car and 25$ for the service).

So - 40$ + 20$ + 40$ + 25$ - 125$
With no time and photo limit.
After that I show the clients all the photos, they pick their favorites, I print and send them...
I ask them if I can use some photos to my portfolio.
But I have to work on some contracts.

The 25$ for the service are paid in advance, so even if I have to refund the client, that money is mine.
But, as I've said, I'm no pro.
I am at the very begining and have so much to learn.

Here are some photos

Mother Daughter session 1







Mother Daughter session 2







Godmother and goddaughter session (this one wasn't paid, but since I can't post from the other paid photoshoot, i'll show these)







Sorry for the long post, but I felt in need to share my experience with you, because I'm also new to this "world" (not to photography itself, but to be paid to do it ).
And sorry for my English - I'm a portuguese dude living in the french side of switzerland

Cheers