Your Photo Shoots ...

[jowensphoto]

The more you shoot, the better you get, and the better you get, the more you keep. The amount of 'keepers' will grow and the amount of time it takes you to shoot will shrink.

This is not true. Neither is "practice makes perfect."

Only perfect practice makes perfect.

Oh, and should you choose to get into this professionally, spray & pray is a bad idea. You'll burn your shutter up in no time.

 

[PhotoWrangler]

This is not true. Neither is "practice makes perfect."

Only perfect practice makes perfect.

Oh, and should you choose to get into this professionally, spray & pray is a bad idea. You'll burn your shutter up in no time.

Ever heard the expression "10,000 hours?"

 

[amolitor]

If you want to get better, the most productive thing most amateurs can add to their program of self-education is this: Look at other photographs.

I am routinely astonished here on TPF when it is clear that there are people offering critique who have not only not looked at many of the "great" photographs from history, they haven't even looked at the one they're critiquing. Sure, they glanced at it, but they only saw one trivial technical detail and now they're carping on that. If you can't even see the composition in someone else's work, how on earth can you expect to compose your own?

Sure, take some pictures too. Get to know your camera, etc. Understand all the little dials and crap. But mostly, look at photographs, look at your own photographs, and think about what's working and what isn't, at all levels.

 

[raphaelaaron]

i usually spent 3-5 hours. i'd tell the models that they need to be well rested and hydrated the day before. i give them credit---it takes a lot to pose if you know what you're doing.

on top of that, if i didn't have an assistant (or an escort that became a makeshift assistant ) then i'd increase it to at least 5 hours. it's best to scout of course, think analytically on different levels, what light will work, what the terrain is like, and begin thinking of setups while scouting. dress appropriately. wear sneakers or at least some very comfy shoes. dress like you will get sweaty and dirty---because you probably will (even in winter). and finally while shooting, make sure to get down. if you hadn't bent your knee lower than 90 degrees, you may not impress as much as you'd hoped.

after it all, im happy if i come out with 10 good shots that i really like. like...ecstatic. 5 is a good number too.