FirstLight
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Dec 15, 2007
- Messages
- 13
- Reaction score
- 0
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
Hi Theresa, it's Jenn from JM 
.
It looks as if you've gotten enough critiquing from others so I'm not going to add anything in that regard. While some of it has been harsh some has been good, honest critiquing that you can use to help you go forward!
One thing I do want to say, and this is not meant to be mean and I'm not trying to tell you that you're work isn't good enough is to please re-consider shooting this wedding. A wedding is so much different than a portrait photo shoot. With portraits you can try for a re-shoot if things don't go well or the client is not happy...but you just can't do that with a wedding. This day is going to be a big day in the lives of these people and these photos are going to be what they remember the day by. Your best advertising is going to be word of mouth..you don't want to start out on the wrong foot by getting poor feedback on a wedding..brides will talk to other brides and they won't be kind if they are unhappy with their wedding photos.
I don't think I'd even attempt a wedding until I had at least a couple more years of experience and practice under my belt and had seriously upgraded my equipment. I'm shooting with a decent camera now but I know full well that I'm not capable of producing prints any larger than an 8x10 (maybe 11x14) that are of any quality and you never know what a bride is going to want.
My honest advice would be to step back a little and give yourself a little more time to grow. Tell your friends and family that you're trying to build a business and book some low key, portfolio building shoots and don't charge them full price. Read, read, read and learn about not only your camera but basic photography too. If you can't afford a class or to buy new books check out your local library or even the web, there's a wealth of good information out there.
Learn the camera you have inside and out and then think about upgrading to an SLR. I'd also suggest investing in some good editing software. It's just a fact that with the way the photography market is today you really need an SLR camera of some sort and good editing software to stay competitive. Lay people don't know all the technical differences between cameras and photographs but without that knowledge they can still spot a great photograph...they're just not sure what makes it a great photograph..lol!
I also agree with others that you can't let your clients dictate your shoot. Don't feel bad to say no, ESPECIALLY if you think their request will affect the quality of your photograph.
Here's a general guideline of things to begin studying with and practicing on. If you're already fluent in any of these I apologize and simply cross them off the list. If anybody has any books or sites they can recommend please be sure to add them on!
Learn what these terms are and how to adjust and manipulate them to get great photos. Learn what they mean and also practice with different settings to try for different effect.
1. Aperture
2. Shutter Speed
3. ISO
4. Metering
5. Exposure compensation
6. White Balance
Start working towards mastering these basics of photography as well. If these are things your camera cannot do then that's a sure sign that it's time for a new camera. I realize SLR's are expensive but you can get a good model like the D40 for a reasonable price. Remember that you're trying to start up a business here and when starting a business there is always going to be some investment. The hope is that you'll make that money back by many fold in the future! Save up and keep plugging away with your point and shoot in the meantime...working on the areas that you can work on with your current camera.
1. Shooting in manual mode
2. Exposure
3. Metering
4. Lighting
5. Focus
6. Composition
Once again, I aplogize if any of this is hurtful, it's not meant to be. It's meant to be a little advice from one aspiring photographer to another:hug::.
.It looks as if you've gotten enough critiquing from others so I'm not going to add anything in that regard. While some of it has been harsh some has been good, honest critiquing that you can use to help you go forward!
One thing I do want to say, and this is not meant to be mean and I'm not trying to tell you that you're work isn't good enough is to please re-consider shooting this wedding. A wedding is so much different than a portrait photo shoot. With portraits you can try for a re-shoot if things don't go well or the client is not happy...but you just can't do that with a wedding. This day is going to be a big day in the lives of these people and these photos are going to be what they remember the day by. Your best advertising is going to be word of mouth..you don't want to start out on the wrong foot by getting poor feedback on a wedding..brides will talk to other brides and they won't be kind if they are unhappy with their wedding photos.
I don't think I'd even attempt a wedding until I had at least a couple more years of experience and practice under my belt and had seriously upgraded my equipment. I'm shooting with a decent camera now but I know full well that I'm not capable of producing prints any larger than an 8x10 (maybe 11x14) that are of any quality and you never know what a bride is going to want.
My honest advice would be to step back a little and give yourself a little more time to grow. Tell your friends and family that you're trying to build a business and book some low key, portfolio building shoots and don't charge them full price. Read, read, read and learn about not only your camera but basic photography too. If you can't afford a class or to buy new books check out your local library or even the web, there's a wealth of good information out there.
Learn the camera you have inside and out and then think about upgrading to an SLR. I'd also suggest investing in some good editing software. It's just a fact that with the way the photography market is today you really need an SLR camera of some sort and good editing software to stay competitive. Lay people don't know all the technical differences between cameras and photographs but without that knowledge they can still spot a great photograph...they're just not sure what makes it a great photograph..lol!
I also agree with others that you can't let your clients dictate your shoot. Don't feel bad to say no, ESPECIALLY if you think their request will affect the quality of your photograph.
Here's a general guideline of things to begin studying with and practicing on. If you're already fluent in any of these I apologize and simply cross them off the list. If anybody has any books or sites they can recommend please be sure to add them on!
Learn what these terms are and how to adjust and manipulate them to get great photos. Learn what they mean and also practice with different settings to try for different effect.
1. Aperture
2. Shutter Speed
3. ISO
4. Metering
5. Exposure compensation
6. White Balance
Start working towards mastering these basics of photography as well. If these are things your camera cannot do then that's a sure sign that it's time for a new camera. I realize SLR's are expensive but you can get a good model like the D40 for a reasonable price. Remember that you're trying to start up a business here and when starting a business there is always going to be some investment. The hope is that you'll make that money back by many fold in the future! Save up and keep plugging away with your point and shoot in the meantime...working on the areas that you can work on with your current camera.
1. Shooting in manual mode
2. Exposure
3. Metering
4. Lighting
5. Focus
6. Composition
Once again, I aplogize if any of this is hurtful, it's not meant to be. It's meant to be a little advice from one aspiring photographer to another:hug::.
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