Very Very New

[Josh66]

The problem is I have no idea what I am doing.

How was it that you got hired again...?

Is your employer providing gear, or do you have to use your own?

Is there a budget for new gear?

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

If you need professional looking images, hire a professional. You will be wasting your time and company's money playing photographer.

 

[johnh2005]

If you need professional looking images, hire a professional. You will be wasting your time and company's money playing photographer.

His boss has already made it clear that he won't do that. This poor guy has been stuck with the job. He is going to have to make it work as best as he can. OR really try to convince his boss the investment is worth it.

The problem is I have no idea what I am doing.

How was it that you got hired again...?

Is your employer providing gear, or do you have to use your own?

Is there a budget for new gear?

At least read the whole thread =)

 

[Josh66]

The problem is I have no idea what I am doing.

How was it that you got hired again...?

Is your employer providing gear, or do you have to use your own?

Is there a budget for new gear?

At least read the whole thread =)

I did, and my questions are still unanswered. I take it that the budget (if any) for new gear will be very small...

You need to make it very clear to them that you are a web designer, not a photographer. After that (if you still have a job...), if they still want you to act as corporate photographer, well - they need to either shell out for some gear or deal with what you can provide (getting fired is another very real possibility here...). (And possibly send you somewhere to get some training.)

I understand that you are being asked to do a job you were not hired for ... and that sucks.

Welcome to Corporate America... Do things that are not on your resume, under budget, and ahead of schedule. That, or stand in the unemployment line. You don't have to tell me how bad it sucks - I know. You have two options here - get good at photography real quick, or spend every minute you can updating your resume...

edit
Lucky for you - you can work on one while you practice the other. Never be without an up-to-date resume...

 

[johnh2005]

How was it that you got hired again...?

Is your employer providing gear, or do you have to use your own?

Is there a budget for new gear?

At least read the whole thread =)

I did, and my questions are still unanswered. I take it that the budget (if any) for new gear will be very small...

You need to make it very clear to them that you are a web designer, not a photographer. After that (if you still have a job...), if they still want you to act as corporate photographer, well - they need to either shell out for some gear or deal with what you can provide (getting fired is another very real possibility here...). (And possibly send you somewhere to get some training.)

I understand that you are being asked to do a job you were not hired for ... and that sucks.

Welcome to Corporate America... Do things that are not on your resume, under budget, and ahead of schedule. That, or stand in the unemployment line. You don't have to tell me how bad it sucks - I know. You have two options here - get good at photography real quick, or spend every minute you can updating your resume...

haha that is great. So funny yet so horribly true... I really feel sorry for this guy =(

 

[TwoTwoLeft]

OR really try to convince his boss the investment is worth it.

If he's not a professional photographer, that's his only option. What's the boss going to do next, have him wrench on the company truck instead of a professional mechanic?

If he knows very little about photography (let alone how to operate a camera) the project will be a train wreck with $1000s wasted on time and equipment with no useable product in return. I know, because I've seen it happen. I've have also been in positions like this before and in the long run the boss is happier to get the job done right in less time. It's about value not $. Take charge of the project and hire a pro.


I would understand tackling this on his own if he was an hobbiest with a DSLR and had little background to fall on, but to start with a shoot like this from square one...? With this subject there's a TON of potential for some really neat looking shots.

 

[Josh66]

On the plus side (there is always a plus side), photography is fairly easy to learn - provided you are not a moron. Notice that I said 'learn', not 'master' - they are different.

I am confident that you could learn to take pictures that will please your employer in, say - 2 weeks. More or less depending on how much aptitude you have for it. Honestly, learning the software will probably take longer than learning to use the camera... Cameras are easy to learn. That's how those portrait studios get away with hiring stoners to click the button.

Are you smarter than a stoner?

 

[pgriz]

If I was asked an opinion, my first choice would be to hire a pro photographer and have him (or her) bill the company for "welding supplies". Part of the deal would be that you'd be stuck to him (or her, but not too close) checking the same "welding supplies" until you know how to "weld".

My plan B would be to hire a pro photographer, and have him (or her) "assist" you in the photo shoot.

Plan C would be to figure out how to retain Josh so that Josh can make you look like a hero. Hey, if I can teach someone to put on a roof or build a structure using only the internet, Josh can help you figure out how to press the shutter.

Plan D would be to find a Vulcan and do a mind-meld.

Just trying to think out of the box here....

 

[Josh66]

Plan C would be to figure out how to retain Josh so that Josh can make you look like a hero. Hey, if I can teach someone to put on a roof or build a structure using only the internet, Josh can help you figure out how to press the shutter.

I won't say that I could make you a pro in two weeks (or ... ever?) - BUT - I guarantee that I could get you 'proficient' in two weeks. The basics are not hard, and the basics are all you really need to start.

I'm not talking about taking on weddings or anything like that... I'm saying that in two weeks, you would not be making noob mistakes - the technical side of photography is easy. The artistic side is what's hard, and that's the part I can't help you with (not sure that anyone can - I think it's just something you have to figure out on your own).

Technical side - with the right teacher, 2 weeks will be more than enough. Art side - that can take a lifetime ... and even that might not be enough.

 

[pgriz]

Josh, you're too modest. You're not a native Texan, are you?

 

[Josh66]

Josh, you're too modest. You're not a native Texan, are you?

No, I'm not.

North Carolina... Piedmont area.