When do i know if i need to charge for my services???

[rateeg]

Those cut off heads were part of a close up shots. I meant to crop it intentionally.
If it doesnt work, i need to make an effort to make it work next time.

I dont think i must post 5 of my best, i don't like to show off.

Thanks for the crit. I need them.

Why shoot in horizontal format.. and cut heads.. and have a massive amount of crappy background, when you could shoot vertical and not cut heads... and reduce the crappy background? Hint Hint!

It's because you are so far better than me and you have a better camera and you are good in photography and you are an expert and you are THE MAN!

 

[Kbarredo]

I dont think i must post 5 of my best, i don't like to show off.

I just read this.
and really needed to say 'Wow'

Holy crap. This is getting out of hand.
First of all you guys misunderstood me. What i meant was, i dont like to show off my best have because i think I DON'T have a best 5.
It's not worth showing.

Crits are alright but insult is a different ballgame.

I do not try to be arrogant nor sarcastic, ALL I'M ASKING WAS WHEN DO I NEED TO CHARGE FOR MY SERVICES. That's all.

But anyway, i respect all of you here and very thankful for the opinions. I dont care if it's negative, if it will make me better, i'm all good.

Youre making the same mistakes I was when I first joined this site. Ignore the smart allec ones and say thanks to the ones that gave you actual advice and critique. Not the other way around. There are 3 main types of people on this thread. The drama queens (used to be me) and **** disturbers and the people who are just chill. The disturbers like to lure the queens into complaining so they can make fun of your dramatic attitude later.
Dont waste your time getting into arguments with people on here.

 

[cgipson1]

Those cut off heads were part of a close up shots. I meant to crop it intentionally.
If it doesnt work, i need to make an effort to make it work next time.

I dont think i must post 5 of my best, i don't like to show off.

Thanks for the crit. I need them.

Why shoot in horizontal format.. and cut heads.. and have a massive amount of crappy background, when you could shoot vertical and not cut heads... and reduce the crappy background? Hint Hint!

It's because you are so far better than me and you have a better camera and you are good in photography and you are an expert and you are THE MAN!

I was giving advice to help you improve.. but apparently you feel like being a smarta$$ is more important! I won't waste anymore time on you....

 

[tirediron]

... ALL I'M ASKING WAS WHEN DO I NEED TO CHARGE FOR MY SERVICES...

This really isn't a question that anyone can answer for you. You need to have business knowledge, tax knowledge, an understanding of IP law as relevant to your region, and a thorough knowledge of all apsects of photography. You need to have the equipment to meet customer demands and you ABSOLUTELY MUST know how to use it.

As I said in an earlier post, and meant quite seriously and with no disprespect, if you are asking this question, you're not ready. If you don't think that you have five 'best' photos, that should definitely be an indicator that you're not ready. DON'T rush into this; have fun, enjoy shooting pictures and when someone asks you what you charge, tell them a nice meal at a restaraunt and a couple of pints of Bitter.

 

[Mrgiggls]

LOL...Hijacking another members thread ......eeehh maybe not the best place:mrgreen:


Anywho the Photo Galleries forums are the place to post your pics and give and receive feedback.

 

[J_T]

I like how you can tell which threads are interesting by looking for any thread with 4+ pages.... :lmao:

 

[davidewing]

It is difficult to offer advice without seeing the standard of your work. However there are indeed too many photographers offering their services for free. Maybe it is time to start to charge.

Cheers David

Photography Studies Learn Digital Photography

 

[Balmiesgirl]

To differ from the others, start charging now. Charge more than you think you are worth. If people are willing to pay it, you are ready. If they laugh, you're not.

If you are delivering quality results, you shouldn't be doing it for free. If you just happen to be a guy with a camera that shows up, then that is an entirely different story.

Sounds like you got yourself into a situation where people just 'expect' you to show up with you camera and give them pictures. Don't be that guy.

I agree ^^

 

[rateeg]

Why shoot in horizontal format.. and cut heads.. and have a massive amount of crappy background, when you could shoot vertical and not cut heads... and reduce the crappy background? Hint Hint!

It's because you are so far better than me and you have a better camera and you are good in photography and you are an expert and you are THE MAN!

I was giving advice to help you improve.. but apparently you feel like being a smarta$$ is more important! I won't waste anymore time on you....

How was i a smartass?
Saying the word "Crappy" to give crits to a learner is i think not appropriate. It's not a constructive word, but an insult.

If i say you do crappy portraits shots on your flicker acct, what would you feel?

 

[Balmiesgirl]

Well everybody has different taste . How u crop your pics ...etc may reflect that. I get together with a group of pros who I respect and feel like are my equals and we critique each others web sites and pics... Wow u would be surprised how differently we each shoot even the same situations!
I am glad u are considering charging. Then people will choose u based on your skill not based on u being free. Charging makes YOU be more serious too. Be willing to learn and improve. Photography is a constant learning process. Right after I got out of school my style was 180 degrees different than it is now. Even though I had my technical training down there will always be tons to learn, and I wouldn't want it to be any other way!!!!! When I stop learning I will be dead!

 

[LuckySe7en]

i dont like to show off my best have because i think I DON'T have a best 5.
It's not worth showing.

I think you answered your own question here. You shouldn't think about charging unless you're confident in your work.

 

[Carny]

It's because you are so far better than me and you have a better camera and you are good in photography and you are an expert and you are THE MAN!

I was giving advice to help you improve.. but apparently you feel like being a smarta$$ is more important! I won't waste anymore time on you....

How was i a smartass?
Saying the word "Crappy" to give crits to a learner is i think not appropriate. It's not a constructive word, but an insult.

If i say you do crappy portraits shots on your flicker acct, what would you feel?

In gipson's defense, he was talking about the background, not your pic. I think he just meant that the background didn't add anything, and you had a lot of it.

When you start a thread like this you can't win. I think it's pretty funny that it started with people saying you're equipment isn't good enough. If you make another username and post that you have all top of the line gear I guarantee you they'll say "that doesn't make you a photographer" and attack you for lack of technical ability. BTW, it is true that you need a certain level of gear and ability, I'm just making a point of what people focus on.

In a thread like this there will be some good advice, but it doesn't seem to get noticed by the OP most of the time because:
1. they are on the defensive right off the bat because they get attacked
2. they just don't want to hear the truth and accept the fact that they need more practice

Unfortunately there are quite a few members here that love these threads because they just like being jerks. Just ignore those.

 

[DiskoJoe]

i dont like to show off my best have because i think I DON'T have a best 5.
It's not worth showing.

I think you answered your own question here. You shouldn't think about charging unless you're confident in your work.

Now this is a good point. We like to mess with people here a lot. But this is good because the world of professional photography is not all rainbows and butterflies. But you have to be willing to stand behind your work. I have a crappy camera body and lots of consumer lenses. I only consider one lens I have to be of good quality but I stand behind my work. So if you are confident in your work and feel you should charge then charge people and see if they will pay. You never know until you try.

Plus you need to be able to self critique. The idea that you have no opinion of your own work is absurd. You have to have some favorite picks or something you think is better then other work you have done.

 

[rateeg]

I have to admit, i need a lot of work. Needs to shoot more and study.
I do absorb crits, i believe it would make a certain newbie better.
But the question of mine was WHEN do i know if i need to charge for my service.
I'm not saying it's right now.



About that gipson dude, even if my background is crappy or whatever is crappy, dont use that word when trying to help a person because it is degrading for a learner like me.
You can say "not appropriate", "does not work", etc... those kinds of words.

 

[LuckySe7en]

But the question of mine was WHEN do i know if i need to charge for my service.
I'm not saying it's right now.

September 1st, 2012 sounds like a good date. jk lol Charge when you feel your work warrants it. btw, I really enjoyed your pics