I have a pretty Good Business going, But how do I keep it going?

[vtf]

What makes people think our photos are crap? I mean seriously I know they aren't completely professional by any means, but they are still some frekin good shots. I came her for advice on how to get better and all I have gotten was put downs, which is fine, but none of it was constructive. Telling me the lights I have are crap when you cant even tell what brand or model they are is a low blow. Having the best stuff doesn't make the best photos. Knowing how to use your crap gets you good photos.

So if your are just going to talk crap then don't bother posting please.

Well, I did tell you that lights would be a better use of your money, but I didn't tell you why.

I don't need to know what brand of continuous lights you have to tell you that they're not great for shooting portraits.

When you're using a shutter speed of 1/40s @ f/4 ISO 400, that's not a very good setup to get quality images in a studio situation. For one, you can't go above a 40mm focal length, because you'll introduce even more camera shake or motion blur into the shot. Shooting at f/4 is probably not optically prime for your lens and would be tough to get a group of 3 staggered people in focus. Also, having your ISO at 400 is not helping your image quality or color reproduction in any aspect. While if you had strobes, you could shoot at 1/200s @ f/8 ISO 100 no problem. If you need more light, get a reflector or open your aperture before you turn up your ISO. The difference with having your shutter speed so high, and the flash duration so short, is that you can shoot at any focal length you want (within reason), and you won't have to worry about blurry or out of focus photos (as much).

Hope this was better advice.

Pretty typical settings for portrait with ocf. Will definately help with focus on subject.

One last thing, you must have the constant and consistant drive to improve yourself. Find photography websites that are outrageously good, work to match their quality, read, study, practice. It won't be overnight but will happen as long as you are willing to improve.

 

[orljustin]

Prices - motionlessmemories

"Calander" is spelled "Calendar". "Enlargments" is spelled "Enlargements". "Photshop" is spelled "Photoshop".

I mean, aside from the poor beginner level images, you can't even spell what you are offering. It doesn't inspire a lot of confidence.

Portraits - motionlessmemories

As mentioned, your prices are low, and you obviously aren't running a legal business.

By the way, thanks for all the unwatermarked XXXL images. The "Don't Cheat. Please support us by buying theses wonderful photographs" javascript didn't stop me. Easy to find in cacheviewer - for example:
http://www.motionlessmemories.com/People/Photo-Shoot-2-27-11/15/1201843685_xYe2b-O.jpg

 

[MotionlessMemories]

I will brace all of this advice and work hard on trying to improve my skills. As for the watermarking, I have had many people tell me yes do it, but more people have told me not to do it.

The more I go along reading everything everyone has to say, the more I wonder if photography is something I should just keep as a hobby and not a business.

I have a friend who is my age and has his own website. He is willing to teach me what he knows. Here is a link to his website. PhotographicCrow

If everyone thinks that he has potential to go somewhere with photography then maybe I can see if we can merge our efforts and create one solid business together.

Does that sound like a good Idea? Let me know what you think of his work before I decide. Thanks

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

You don't have to answer, but I am curious as to your age.

 

[MotionlessMemories]

It is all good. I am 19 and a freshman at California State University San Marcos, CA majoring in business.

 

[Bitter Jeweler]

Take heart! You have plenty of time to perfect your craft!
I wouldn't "give up", but don't expect a booming business so soon. Hang out on the forum here, you will get tons of help. In time you will see how many other people bought a camera last year and come here for help for everything from making a logo, picking a studio, website building, marketing, and then how to use light. Pretty much in that order.

Lot's to learn, but you will. Drive and determination are a large part of the equation. Keep at it and good luck!!

 

[e.rose]

Take heart! You have plenty of time to perfect your craft!
I wouldn't "give up", but don't expect a booming business so soon. Hang out on the forum here, you will get tons of help. In time you will see how many other people bought a camera last year and come here for help for everything from making a logo, picking a studio, website building, marketing, and then how to use light. Pretty much in that order.

Lot's to learn, but you will. Drive and determination are a large part of the equation. Keep at it and good luck!!

Agreed. Have you posted your top 5 photos for C&C yet?

 

[KmH]

It's entirely possible the OP's business is supported in part by other income.

 

[vtf]

I will brace all of this advice and work hard on trying to improve my skills. As for the watermarking, I have had many people tell me yes do it, but more people have told me not to do it.

The more I go along reading everything everyone has to say, the more I wonder if photography is something I should just keep as a hobby and not a business.

I have a friend who is my age and has his own website. He is willing to teach me what he knows. Here is a link to his website. PhotographicCrow

If everyone thinks that he has potential to go somewhere with photography then maybe I can see if we can merge our efforts and create one solid business together.

Does that sound like a good Idea? Let me know what you think of his work before I decide. Thanks

I think he would be an excellent mentor for you. He has some great shots (a lot). I took a look at his website and definitely enjoyed it. :thumbup:

 

[bennielou]

"I take professional portraits, sell stock photos and have even started offering digital camera lessons. I have a Canon T2i, professional lights and backdrops, but still I am not bring in as many people as I hoped. Any ideas. "

​

Ok, I'm jumping in on the middle of the first page, and this might be covered on later pages, but.............you are teaching photography seminars? Did I read that right?

Anyhoo, I think that you have gotten a lot of really good advice here. One being: Take you time.
You are making a decent start, but I think you would really benefit from watching some instructional videos (free all over the internet), reading tons of books (free at the library), hanging out with other photographers (meetup groups just about everywhere).
E. Rose has probably the best advice of all, and that is to put your fave shots up for crit. You will hear things you might not like, but I promise you, you will try not to repeat the mistakes. You grow that way. I'm not saying to take EVERYTHING to heart, but just think about what is being said, if you agree you messed up and that it could be better, and then go from there.

The way to keep your business going, is to have happy clients. Blogging, webpimping, great talent, sales abilities, and all the rest don't matter if people aren't happy with a purchased product. Good news travels fast, but bad news travels even faster.

 

[msp1488]

bump for updates

 

[imagemaker46]

What makes people think our photos are crap? I mean seriously I know they aren't completely professional by any means, but they are still some frekin good shots. I came her for advice on how to get better and all I have gotten was put downs, which is fine, but none of it was constructive. Telling me the lights I have are crap when you cant even tell what brand or model they are is a low blow. Having the best stuff doesn't make the best photos. Knowing how to use your crap gets you good photos.

So if your are just going to talk crap then don't bother posting please.

You claim to be running a professional business and yet you come out and say "I know they aren't completely professional by any means" I didn't get past looking at 1 page of thumbs, the photos aren't great, but if you are still running a business then good for you, it just proves the point that the quality that people have come to accept has dropped off

 

[RauschPhotography]

...am I the only one who thinks "Motionless Memories" sounds like a funeral service?

 

[Destin]

To the OP: If you're serious about learning off camera flash, then check out this link:

www.strobist.blogspot.com

That is, without doubt, the single largest single source of information on off camera flash in the world. Go through the lighting 101 and 102 sections (they are layed out in lessons, just like an online college class) and then get into the on assignment stuff.

You'll only get out of it as much as you put into it, but there is enough information on that site to make you an EXPERT in off camera lighting, as long as you take the time to go through and abosorb it, and try each thing along the way.

It took me well over a year to get through the entire site and do it all, but I did it, and am amazed by how much it taught me.

 

[KmH]

maybe I can see if we can merge our efforts and create one solid business together.

Does that sound like a good Idea? Let me know what you think of his work before I decide. Thanks

Partnerships among family members often don't work.

Successful partnerships among un-related people is rare, and the un-successful partnerships make lawyers a lot of money when they come undone.