Just started my photography Biz need C&C PLEASE!

[gsgary]

Elizabeth, you will get the same treatment almost at ANY photography forum. Dont worry about it. Just keep shooting and proof them wrong. 20 months ago I went trough the same thing. They were somewhat right, but it pushed me to do a lot better.

We are still waiting

 

[Elizabeth30]

So, if I may ask, why have you started a photography business if you only have a "general understanding" of your camera? How much time have you spent researching and studying photography? Do you understand why you are shooting at f/1.8 or do you just like that it gives you a cool blurred background? You need a good understanding of the exposure triangle, composition, posing, lighting (even when using natural light) and white balance. Do you have a business license and insurance? Do you understand the tax implications of running a business and how to draw up a contract for clients?

Your 1st picture is nice but the focus is soft because you are shooting wide open when it was not needed for that shot. Plus the girl is in her jacket, which indicates to me that she's coming or going somewhere and this is not a thought out photo shoot.

The 2nd pic - the colors are.... well, she's purple. Not a good look for people. Your low angle is also not flattering. It makes her behind look big.

3rd - the pose is awkward and again, the colors are off although this time the subject is green. Is your monitor calibrated?

The 4th is a really nice snapshot of a kid in her playroom (a little underexposed and the white balance is a bit warm but not as off as the previous two). But as a portrait, the junk in the background ruins it.

Well I didn't intentionally start a business, I got my first DSLR Feb 2011 and just shot for fun. I have always loved photography but I knew there was a lot to learn. I started reading articles and watching tutorials. In Oct a family member asked if I would take her Senior pics and I agreed. I posted them on FB and got some really good feedback. I had a lot of others come and ask me to do a photo shoot for them so all my shoots (only 5) all together have simply been people coming to me and asking so I do not have a full force biz up and running. I hope to in the future though.
Ok, on your comments on the photos, well shoot, they are all my children and I was simply snapping them at play for practice but now seeing as all the negative feedback I've had I'm not really sure I want to upload any that I've done for clients. They are pretty similar. I guess my editing is off too huh? I like bold colors, i also like a kind of vintage haze to me editing. Well I feel sunk here. Honestly I know soooooo many photogs that are awesome and never went to school! I thought maybe I had an "eye" for it and could build from there with mentors and articles, tutorials, ect..... but sounds like most of you here talk of schooling.

 

[Robin Usagani]

Gary, your bar is set super high. It may take me a few more years to proof you wrong .

Elizabeth, you will get the same treatment almost at ANY photography forum. Dont worry about it. Just keep shooting and proof them wrong. 20 months ago I went trough the same thing. They were somewhat right, but it pushed me to do a lot better.

We are still waiting

 

[SCraig]

Really?? This is "just" being honest? There's no 'hint' of rudeness here? No, I bought this camera myself in Feb 2011. And I posted the photos for some really constructive criticism.

If you are going to open a photography business then you need to develop thick skin. Honest comment and critique:

#1 - The only thing in focus is her eyelashes. Her nose and the hair hanging over her eyes is already out of focus. The composition is decent though.

#2 - Horrendous magenta cast to the photograph. Highlights to the right of the railroad track and the sky in the background are completely blown out. Blocked up shadows in places. Did you look at the histogram?

#3 - About all I can see is the flare from the sun. If you are going to take shots straight into the sun then the subject needs to be blocking it and you need to meter off of their face.

#4 - At least the floor / horizon (which is nearly dead-center of the photograph) is straight. Tungsten lighting cast that is not corrected for, busy background (what is that growing out of her back?). A snapshot.

You can call these comments being rude or dishonest or non-constructive or whatever you want to, but I guarantee that any customer who came in to pick up photographs like this would be asking the exact same questions. Everything I mentioned is true and it is wrong. You are asking to be paid for producing PROFESSIONAL results, nothing less. Anything less than true professional quality is not acceptable. If you are willing to learn you can get there, but like it or not those examples are not professional quality photographs.

Edit ... I wrote this while you were posting your last post so I didn't see it. Academic learning is an excellent way to learn since there are instructors who are paid to see that you get some benefit from the classes. That is not the only way though, and if you apply yourself there are people here and elsewhere who will always be willing to help. You have to take the first step in the right direction though, and it seems like you are willing to do that.

 

[KmH]

It is still an honest living. If she delivers the same quality of images she shows on her portfolio, then who cares? Clients should expect similar photos like her portfolio.

Absolutely!

Caveat Emptor!
The buyer decides if the work produced is worth paying for, or not.

Caveat emptor - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In addition to the quality of the merchandise, this phrase also applies to the return policy. In most jurisdictions, there is no legal requirement for the vendor to provide a refund or exchange. In many cases, the vendor will not provide a refund but will provide a credit. In the cases of software, movies and other copyrighted material, many vendors will only do a direct exchange for another copy of exactly the same title. Most stores require proof of purchase and impose time limits on exchanges or refunds.

 

[Elizabeth30]

Really?? This is "just" being honest? There's no 'hint' of rudeness here? No, I bought this camera myself in Feb 2011. And I posted the photos for some really constructive criticism.

If you are going to open a photography business then you need to develop thick skin. Honest comment and critique:

#1 - The only thing in focus is her eyelashes. Her nose and the hair hanging over her eyes is already out of focus. The composition is decent though.

#2 - Horrendous magenta cast to the photograph. Highlights to the right of the railroad track and the sky in the background are completely blown out. Blocked up shadows in places. Did you look at the histogram?

#3 - About all I can see is the flare from the sun. If you are going to take shots straight into the sun then the subject needs to be blocking it and you need to meter off of their face.

#4 - At least the floor / horizon (which is nearly dead-center of the photograph) is straight. Tungsten lighting cast that is not corrected for, busy background (what is that growing out of her back?). A snapshot.

You can call these comments being rude or dishonest or non-constructive or whatever you want to, but I guarantee that any customer who came in to pick up photographs like this would be asking the exact same questions. Everything I mentioned is true and it is wrong. You are asking to be paid for producing PROFESSIONAL results, nothing less. Anything less than true professional quality is not acceptable. If you are willing to learn you can get there, but like it or not those examples are not professional quality photographs.

Edit ... I wrote this while you were posting your last post so I didn't see it. Academic learning is an excellent way to learn since there are instructors who are paid to see that you get some benefit from the classes. That is not the only way though, and if you apply yourself there are people here and elsewhere who will always be willing to help. You have to take the first step in the right direction though, and it seems like you are willing to do that.

Thank you and I really do want the criticism, I can take it, but this guy and the post after his were just demeaning. If anyone has some true advice I will gladly accept it, that was not advice.

 

[redessa]

School is one way to go but many amazing photographers are largely self taught. You don't need a degree in photography to be a photographer but having other, more experienced eyes judge and guide your work is a tremendous way to grow. As you can see from this post alone, facebook friends are not going to give you the kind of feedback you get from a photography critique site.

Personally, I think a basic photography class is a great way to get started. Whether that be taking some college classes, joining a local photo club, community ed class, or even some classes from a local camera store it will give you the chance to learn and share and get constructive feedback.

Once you get pointed in the right direction, it's easier to figure out the next step to continue learning on your own. And helps you develop an eye for critiquing your own work.

 

[Trever1t]

Keep in mind that what friends and family think of your photography is a bit clouded by your relationships and most subjects tend to love pictures of themselves and their close ones. Coming onto a public forum you don't have the benefit of that partialality. We have no atachements to your subjects.

Here you will get fairly honest critique.

 

[gsgary]

Really?? This is "just" being honest? There's no 'hint' of rudeness here? No, I bought this camera myself in Feb 2011. And I posted the photos for some really constructive criticism.

If you are going to open a photography business then you need to develop thick skin. Honest comment and critique:

#1 - The only thing in focus is her eyelashes. Her nose and the hair hanging over her eyes is already out of focus. The composition is decent though.

#2 - Horrendous magenta cast to the photograph. Highlights to the right of the railroad track and the sky in the background are completely blown out. Blocked up shadows in places. Did you look at the histogram?

#3 - About all I can see is the flare from the sun. If you are going to take shots straight into the sun then the subject needs to be blocking it and you need to meter off of their face.

#4 - At least the floor / horizon (which is nearly dead-center of the photograph) is straight. Tungsten lighting cast that is not corrected for, busy background (what is that growing out of her back?). A snapshot.

You can call these comments being rude or dishonest or non-constructive or whatever you want to, but I guarantee that any customer who came in to pick up photographs like this would be asking the exact same questions. Everything I mentioned is true and it is wrong. You are asking to be paid for producing PROFESSIONAL results, nothing less. Anything less than true professional quality is not acceptable. If you are willing to learn you can get there, but like it or not those examples are not professional quality photographs.

Edit ... I wrote this while you were posting your last post so I didn't see it. Academic learning is an excellent way to learn since there are instructors who are paid to see that you get some benefit from the classes. That is not the only way though, and if you apply yourself there are people here and elsewhere who will always be willing to help. You have to take the first step in the right direction though, and it seems like you are willing to do that.

Thank you and I really do want the criticism, I can take it, but this guy and the post after his were just demeaning. If anyone has some true advice I will gladly accept it, that was not advice.

I don't see anything wrong with the post above, FB is not a place to get honest feed back on photography. Just read, read and read more and practise. As soon as people post "Ive just started a biz" photos have to be good to get a good response

 

[tirediron]

...I didn't intentionally start a business,

How do you unintentionally apply for a business license, take out liabilty insurance or apply for a sales-tax number?

...but sounds like most of you here talk of schooling.

Not at all, we're talking about learning! There's nothing wrong with formal education, but photography is most definitely a profession where you can, if you have the motivation, learn all you need to without ever setting foot inside a classroom. It takes a lot of time and practice. I would suggest that if you seriously want to be a professional photographer and not a Facebook Fauxtographer, then you should be putting several hours every day divided between reading and practicing. You're lucky - when many of us started, practicing was expensive.... Film, chemicals and paper were not cheap. Today, almost everyone owns a computer, and once you have your camera, there's almost no additional cost to practice. You can most definitely do it, but you have to work at it.

 

[gsgary]

...I didn't intentionally start a business,

How do you unintentionally apply for a business license, take out liabilty insurance or apply for a sales-tax number?

...but sounds like most of you here talk of schooling.

Not at all, we're talking about learning! There's nothing wrong with formal education, but photography is most definitely a profession where you can, if you have the motivation, learn all you need to without ever setting foot inside a classroom. It takes a lot of time and practice. I would suggest that if you seriously want to be a professional photographer and not a Facebook Fauxtographer, then you should be putting several hours every day divided between reading and practicing. You're lucky - when many of us started, practicing was expensive.... Film, chemicals and paper were not cheap. Today, almost everyone owns a computer, and once you have your camera, there's almost no additional cost to practice. You can most definitely do it, but you have to work at it.

Some of use still shoot film and digital, i don't mind paying you don't get the same buzz shooting digital as you do shooting 120 film

 

[Robin Usagani]

Honest critique up to a certain degree.

Here you will get fairly honest critique.

 

[Trever1t]

Should I have said "no holds barred?"

 

[Elizabeth30]

Keep in mind that what friends and family think of your photography is a bit clouded by your relationships and most subjects tend to love pictures of themselves and their close ones. Coming onto a public forum you don't have the benefit of that partialality. We have no atachements to your subjects.

Here you will get fairly honest critique.

Good, that's what I was looking for!! It may be hard to hear some times but I am more than ready to take the next step in the learning process! I don't even know where to start?? I feel like I've played and played with my camera and editing tools, and I have a general knowledge of my camera and some of the settings. I some what understand DoF and don't understand light at all! All I know about light is when I'm outside, make sure the light is behind me lol. (although I do like the silhouette look too) ahhhhh! Where should I begin?

 

[redessa]

Ok, on your comments on the photos, well shoot, they are all my children and I was simply snapping them at play for practice but now seeing as all the negative feedback I've had I'm not really sure I want to upload any that I've done for clients. They are pretty similar.

Your children are lovely, it's the photography that needs work. It's great to snap pics of your kids playing. It's even a great way to see how your camera behaves with different settings. Put that sucker in manual and snap away! See, and take note, of the various results you get.

But if you're going to be in business, you need to have moved out of "snapping" mode and developed a sense of purpose and intention behind each shot. That's not to say you can never take a snapshot. Snapshots have their place. My kids' scrapbooks are full of them and they are treasured family memories. But they are not professional portraits.