About 2 years ago a friend asked me to "do a shoot", her family was visiting and she wanted photos of all of them. NO! I'm not a photographer! She's a very convincing friend and eventually I agreed, I loved, she loved the photos, I loved everything. I'm going to be a photographer!
Now just so you know, I studied art for a long time, I'm bossy, I know how to use my dslr, so I wasn't starting totally from scratch, but I had a LOT to learn.
It's been an adventure, I've made tons of mistakes, cried a lot, screamed a lot, laughed a lot, made some great friends, and lost some.
I've lost important photos, not had enough memory cards, not had enough batteries, and vowed to give up this career.
I naively though "I'm good on a computer, how hard can photoshop be?", my supportive husband brought me cs5 and for 2 weeks I ignored it, then installed it and cried, and cried I didn't even know what a layer was. I left it alone and did a mini course at my local community college, I now knew what a layer was, and I was off, courses, YouTube, Lynda.com, friends, I worked and worked and worked.
The biggest thing I have learnt is don't compare your work to others, yes admire there work, get inspiration, but don't compare. It just gets you down.
There have been so many times, when I'm still up editing at 3am, when I have no money left in my business account, when what I thought looked amazing wasn't what my client wanted that I have wanted to give up, often thinking "I could make more money working as a cashier somewhere.", when I have tried so hard, I'm so tired, stressed, worried that I wonder why I do this? I loved photography when it was just for fun, when the results didn't matter, but then I get a email saying, "I would like to schedule a appointment with you, 2 of my friends had their photos done with you and they raved about you, I have seen the photos and all I can say is , WOW!" Or I get a review on facebook/yelp/my webpage and it keeps me going.
Almost weekly I get someone saying I wish I had your job, I want to be a photographer, YES, do it, but be prepared it take Hard, hard work, you can do it!It's not just a case of knowing how to take a good photo (I originally thought that!) You have to know how to edit those photos, watch the latest fashion trends, find great locations, have good props, be part of the local community (This really helps for locations), using social media ( I have Facebook, twitter, tunblr, flicker, LinkedIn, blogger, a website.....), managing your time, dealing with clients and resolving problems, and still trying to keep it fresh!
I love people to be happy, I love the art in photography, I love having so much more to learn, I love my job.
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Cape Town Township
South Africa is beautiful, we as tourists, even though I was born in this beautiful country usually only see the affluent side, my children and us live in America and have a great life, the worst thing that happens to them is we have a storm and loose the internet. With this in mind I felt I needed them to see how less fortunate children live and are happy. As a artist I have always loved finding beauty amongst poverty, I love to see the human spirit, to see despite having nothing we still see beauty, we still keep trying, we still have pride. I sat in this home, the walls were peeling, the floor had long ago lost it's covering, but it was spotless, it had been swept and swept again, the dust being swept out to join the dirt outside, a woman was washing her clothes in a basin in the corner, looking out the window as she did it, seeing her neighbors clothes flapping in the wind outside, the gorgeous sun peeking in her window, the room was sad, gloomy and depressing, but there was one window, "a window of hope", with plants growing on it, a attempt to make the room look better, a symbol of pride, something to look at to ignore the sadness around you.
My children were scared to go on the tour, they had heard the stories and thought they would be mugged. The opposite was true, we were welcomed. The children played with them, the families welcomed us into their homes. I loved seeing so many people trying so hard, the lady running a creche in Langa, so Mom's have somewhere safe to leave their children while they go look for work, kids playing with Dad's in the street, yes people are so very poor but they have hope, they are resilient, they find a way. These people need a change, they need opportunities, they need teachers in the schools, There are thousands of children going to school here each day, but most of the schools are under equipped, their teachers under educated or overworked, This is where help needs to go. I looked around and saw, genius, people making a home out of nothing, of entrepreneurship, they want to learn.
Our guide, Jimmy Matthews, via our tour group, had himself been born in Langa, he had bettered himself, he wanted to do more, and more and more. He was extremely knowledgeable, and despite his start in life has risen up to be a amazing person.
My children were scared to go on the tour, they had heard the stories and thought they would be mugged. The opposite was true, we were welcomed. The children played with them, the families welcomed us into their homes. I loved seeing so many people trying so hard, the lady running a creche in Langa, so Mom's have somewhere safe to leave their children while they go look for work, kids playing with Dad's in the street, yes people are so very poor but they have hope, they are resilient, they find a way. These people need a change, they need opportunities, they need teachers in the schools, There are thousands of children going to school here each day, but most of the schools are under equipped, their teachers under educated or overworked, This is where help needs to go. I looked around and saw, genius, people making a home out of nothing, of entrepreneurship, they want to learn.Our guide, Jimmy Matthews, via our tour group, had himself been born in Langa, he had bettered himself, he wanted to do more, and more and more. He was extremely knowledgeable, and despite his start in life has risen up to be a amazing person.Friday, June 28, 2013
Never date/ befriend a photographer
o
On a date, don’t wait for a
sunny day to go on a picnic, instead wait until it’s overcast and gloomy.
o
They rather hold their bulky
camera, than hold hands with you.
o
They overload their camera bag
“just in case” on a vacation, and then want you to carry it for them.
o
You can never go on a date
with them until after the sun has set, because that’s “the GOLDEN hour”
o
You’ll never be able to enjoy TV,
movies, or magazines because they’ll point out all the visual flaws.
o
When you think they’re giving
you their undivided attention, they’re really wondering how they could fix you
with a little Clone Tool and Patch Tool, and if the catchlights in your eyes
would highlight well.
o
They rather drop $1,000+ on
new glass than like most girls get a new purse, unless it can carry a dslr.
o
They can’t take a photo with
them without taking at least five more.
o
They spend all their time on
the computer (and not for porn.)
o
They spend a lot of time with
people cooler than you
o
They won’t return your calls
or text messages, but you can bet they’re still posting photos on Facebook.
o
They like looking at weird things
in general.
o
They will go somewhere and
have serious lens envy.
o
Everything is watermarked.
o
They like trespassing into old
abandoned buildings filled with health hazards.
o
They always want to show a new
photo they took, but don’t really care if you like it or not.
o
They’ll take you into places
that have “culture" as well a high chance of getting mugged.
o
Your birthday present will be
a portrait that they’ve taken of you.
o
They will always bug you to be
a test subject.
o
Bringing their camera means,
bringing 50lbs of equipment.
o
You can’t get them a
birthday/Christmas present without spending at least $500
o
They are natural hoarders,
collecting and keeping piles of old newspapers, packaging, magazines, and “vintage”
items.
o
You go shopping and they pick
up odd things to “put a baby” in!
o
They are weird and geeky.
o
They have hard drives of
photos, but probably have printed 10 images.
o
If you’re ever in auto mode,
they laugh at you.
o
While they are talking to you,
they are thinking, “how could I pose him?”
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
Vintage cars!
Sometime us "arty" types get tired, I don't mean just physically, I mean artistically, our profession becomes a bit of a chore and we need inspiration. Well tonight I got it! I planned a evening of editing clients photos, but as I drove home I saw South Lyon main street was packed with vintage cars, music blaring and fair food, Apparently this is happening ever Wed evening from now through September. I raced home, grabbed my camera bag and even though cars aren't my thing had a ball! Hope you like the results, please comment below.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Wedding lists
I am pretty flexible and even if my contract says 5 hours I usually stay longer, to get the shots in the contract. But if you want specific shots make a list. It is essential to make a list of all the people you want in formal photos, how you want people put together, eg bride, groom and brides Mom, bride and mom, bride and day, bride and step-mom, etc. And put their name in.Try make sure you don't leave dear Aunt Mildred out, or step family,weddings can be a time of healing fences so include all family.
Make a schedule and stick to it. If you have booked you photographer for 5 hours and you want specific events photographed make a schedule. GIVE a copy to the wedding organizer, the photographer, your Matron of Honor, your best-man and then tell your guests where and who will be in the formal photos and when they will take place, eg "Formal wedding photos will take place at the park on Beaumont Road after the ceremony, immediate family and the wedding party will proceed there and all other guests will proceed to the reception."
Also if you have any specific poses you want, or photos with items, put those in a bag/box, put your lists on a clipboard in that box too.
The more you communicate with your photographer the better, I don't mean text them constantly, but do write down exactly what you want and give it to them.
There will always be photos you wish you had got, the ill child, the invalid grandma, if you work with your photographer they will usually be able to make some extra time to take photos of those people a few days later, but this is a favor so you need to work round their schedule.
And last but not least, your photographer is editing YOUR photos, be nice to them.
You can find more about my photography here
Or follow me on Facebook
Kit for weddings
- Comfortable shoes (yes you are at a wedding, but your feet will ache at the end of the day)
- At least 2 cameras, even if your back up camera is a simple point and shoot, ALWAYS, ALWAYS have a back up
- Lenses, now these are your choice, I always have my wide angle for the group photos, my 18-270 for the ceremony makes sure I can get the brides smile and zoom in on Dad wiping a tear away, and then a prime lens for my bridal portraits.
- Batteries, you can never have enough, I have got into the habit of finding a plug point as soon as I get to the venue and plugging my charger in, as soon as a battery dies I put it on there, I also have 8 spares.
- Memory cards, again, you can never have too many of these
- tripod
- reflector
- a small blanket, just something you can let the bride sit on. (make sure it's a light color, I use a space blanket)
- A flash gun (I use a speedlight)
- A Flash diffuser (I love the Gary Fong one)
- water, a few bottles to drink!
- Duct tape (Great for everything from fixing broken cameras and taping loose branches out of the way)
- Various safety pins
- Various bobby pins and hairclips
- a nail file
- a tiny sewing kit
- breath mints
- band aids
- headache tablets
- hand cream
- chapstick
- fingerless gloves
- hand sanitizer
- wet wipes
- tissues
- A FEW DOLLARS in change (the amount of time I grab my camera bag and forget my wallet, those dollars have helped me get a quick snack)
- a cereal bar (great for a quick pick me up between shoots)
- A small sharp pair of scissors
- a lens cleaning kit
- a bungee cord
- A black Sharpie
Or follow me on Facebook
Newborns are hard work!
So a newborn session typically takes 3 hours. 3 lovely hours of cuddling a new squishy baby. But also of stopping for feeds, rocking and remembering just how hard a newborn is. No newborn session is ever complete without at least one of us being peed on. More of what I do can be found HERE
You can find more about my photography here
Or follow me on Facebook
Are my photos being used?
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I often have wondered if posting my images on <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>acebook, <span style="font-size: large;">G</span>oogle+, twitter, my blog, etc is safe. I do always watermark my images and put a copy write notice but, you never know......or can you find out? I'm going to show you how to have a check to see if anyone is using your images. The common term for this type of search is called "reverse image search" I did this in <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>irefox, but I believe the process is very similar in other search engines, the wording might be a bit different, but if you can learn to use a dslr you can learn to do this!</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The first thing I must however tell you is, if you have a dslr camera, you should be able to put specific info into the metadata,(if you don't know how, do a search with the make of your camera ) Well when you do this make sure you put your name in and phone number. Then in the case of ownership deputes you info is always there.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4VRcKPFkjqHVtllTY_hLFVGXWgxrNCHc7WHQdrggfxp2eXDLKHTc5R59Fql8PLgS8zDTNu8gkYz_oLUFvQEqpgAgUJQZy6rzUATM3FwhHAz9ZLvhBOY_unSjdQ66fr-iBcHq1Q0eJKA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.38.10+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4VRcKPFkjqHVtllTY_hLFVGXWgxrNCHc7WHQdrggfxp2eXDLKHTc5R59Fql8PLgS8zDTNu8gkYz_oLUFvQEqpgAgUJQZy6rzUATM3FwhHAz9ZLvhBOY_unSjdQ66fr-iBcHq1Q0eJKA/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.38.10+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;">The first step is to find your image on your site and right click. A pop up box will appear click "copy image location"</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOaGxgKvRGsKMCs24-99oIVm-h5dzXUCVSlrWWx3_1pQw7X9qaC2UYlbUvT4V6RkTdhfSbEVQ-6TbYUU06K3E-kKT8IFnWMHvmwzDvoXsln7HlLT41oH8vC_3C2ZuhTCNNpxUvVHGm0/s1600/google+search.tiff" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOaGxgKvRGsKMCs24-99oIVm-h5dzXUCVSlrWWx3_1pQw7X9qaC2UYlbUvT4V6RkTdhfSbEVQ-6TbYUU06K3E-kKT8IFnWMHvmwzDvoXsln7HlLT41oH8vC_3C2ZuhTCNNpxUvVHGm0/s400/google+search.tiff" width="400" /> </a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;"> Take this copied number and paste it in your google search bar. Click search!</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DOldgCPoWvRx4Q4SOAZ5fbCSRaWl8dIGUJHxDyccx1WXtr1uKmsNyIDjP7ldOZuQAXvYTn53FkCnOy_YhtGY1OfMUwg7V0h5f4GMNRqlGjk1XABeR4AHlaK2LRFPSTOpi6ZluUc0G0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.39.47+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DOldgCPoWvRx4Q4SOAZ5fbCSRaWl8dIGUJHxDyccx1WXtr1uKmsNyIDjP7ldOZuQAXvYTn53FkCnOy_YhtGY1OfMUwg7V0h5f4GMNRqlGjk1XABeR4AHlaK2LRFPSTOpi6ZluUc0G0/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.39.47+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The next page will look like this on, click on where it says "search by image" </span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">and....</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD-DOnFdFo-RIuyja58wZ6Vtx4NsqxY0W5tfEmhw-nJVo4GR5-xeJLRCDMd5tghuh4yAa_-lv5mYWWUOrO4jWCPpnslcwc6YUG_fJ025IKvND7BQD2dnU1g8HIQD-qvt2GckgH-GFL4E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.42.27+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD-DOnFdFo-RIuyja58wZ6Vtx4NsqxY0W5tfEmhw-nJVo4GR5-xeJLRCDMd5tghuh4yAa_-lv5mYWWUOrO4jWCPpnslcwc6YUG_fJ025IKvND7BQD2dnU1g8HIQD-qvt2GckgH-GFL4E/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.42.27+AM.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The next page will show you hopefully that your image isn't being used anywhere else, or will show you where people are using your images, even if they have cropped the image or altered it, like removed the watermark. </span></span></i></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">I often have wondered if posting my images on <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>acebook, <span style="font-size: large;">G</span>oogle+, twitter, my blog, etc is safe. I do always watermark my images and put a copy write notice but, you never know......or can you find out? I'm going to show you how to have a check to see if anyone is using your images. The common term for this type of search is called "reverse image search" I did this in <span style="font-size: large;">F</span>irefox, but I believe the process is very similar in other search engines, the wording might be a bit different, but if you can learn to use a dslr you can learn to do this!</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The first thing I must however tell you is, if you have a dslr camera, you should be able to put specific info into the metadata,(if you don't know how, do a search with the make of your camera ) Well when you do this make sure you put your name in and phone number. Then in the case of ownership deputes you info is always there.</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4VRcKPFkjqHVtllTY_hLFVGXWgxrNCHc7WHQdrggfxp2eXDLKHTc5R59Fql8PLgS8zDTNu8gkYz_oLUFvQEqpgAgUJQZy6rzUATM3FwhHAz9ZLvhBOY_unSjdQ66fr-iBcHq1Q0eJKA/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.38.10+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4VRcKPFkjqHVtllTY_hLFVGXWgxrNCHc7WHQdrggfxp2eXDLKHTc5R59Fql8PLgS8zDTNu8gkYz_oLUFvQEqpgAgUJQZy6rzUATM3FwhHAz9ZLvhBOY_unSjdQ66fr-iBcHq1Q0eJKA/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.38.10+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;">The first step is to find your image on your site and right click. A pop up box will appear click "copy image location"</span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOaGxgKvRGsKMCs24-99oIVm-h5dzXUCVSlrWWx3_1pQw7X9qaC2UYlbUvT4V6RkTdhfSbEVQ-6TbYUU06K3E-kKT8IFnWMHvmwzDvoXsln7HlLT41oH8vC_3C2ZuhTCNNpxUvVHGm0/s1600/google+search.tiff" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIbOaGxgKvRGsKMCs24-99oIVm-h5dzXUCVSlrWWx3_1pQw7X9qaC2UYlbUvT4V6RkTdhfSbEVQ-6TbYUU06K3E-kKT8IFnWMHvmwzDvoXsln7HlLT41oH8vC_3C2ZuhTCNNpxUvVHGm0/s400/google+search.tiff" width="400" /> </a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #0b5394;"> Take this copied number and paste it in your google search bar. Click search!</span></span></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DOldgCPoWvRx4Q4SOAZ5fbCSRaWl8dIGUJHxDyccx1WXtr1uKmsNyIDjP7ldOZuQAXvYTn53FkCnOy_YhtGY1OfMUwg7V0h5f4GMNRqlGjk1XABeR4AHlaK2LRFPSTOpi6ZluUc0G0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.39.47+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5DOldgCPoWvRx4Q4SOAZ5fbCSRaWl8dIGUJHxDyccx1WXtr1uKmsNyIDjP7ldOZuQAXvYTn53FkCnOy_YhtGY1OfMUwg7V0h5f4GMNRqlGjk1XABeR4AHlaK2LRFPSTOpi6ZluUc0G0/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.39.47+AM.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">The next page will look like this on, click on where it says "search by image" </span></span></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #0b5394;">and....</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD-DOnFdFo-RIuyja58wZ6Vtx4NsqxY0W5tfEmhw-nJVo4GR5-xeJLRCDMd5tghuh4yAa_-lv5mYWWUOrO4jWCPpnslcwc6YUG_fJ025IKvND7BQD2dnU1g8HIQD-qvt2GckgH-GFL4E/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.42.27+AM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMD-DOnFdFo-RIuyja58wZ6Vtx4NsqxY0W5tfEmhw-nJVo4GR5-xeJLRCDMd5tghuh4yAa_-lv5mYWWUOrO4jWCPpnslcwc6YUG_fJ025IKvND7BQD2dnU1g8HIQD-qvt2GckgH-GFL4E/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-05-03+at+10.42.27+AM.jpg" width="400" /> </a></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #783f04;">The next page will show you hopefully that your image isn't being used anywhere else, or will show you where people are using your images, even if they have cropped the image or altered it, like removed the watermark. </span></span></i></span></div>
By definition, " a professional photographer" is someone who makes an income taking pictures. Yes, it’s something we do for fun, but at the end of the day, it’s our profession. In order to have a successful profession, you have to make a sustainable income.
- It’s a business and like any business, start-up costs are expensive.
- Equipment is expensive, as is maintaining it. The average camera body I use is $3000, lenses $1000 each, Speedlight(Flash) $800, Memory cards $80 each, etc, etc, when I add it all up, my camera bag alone has about $10 000 equipment in it, then there is the pc you need. I have a macbook pro, and photoshop, and add on actions.....That's another 10 000, plus training and college.....
- Photography is time-intensive and time is money.Most people think it is just arrive at a shoot, click, click, click, upload, crop, and make money. It's not. I spend on average 30 min editing each image and then often just throw away the results.
So how do I go about letting people know that I do not work for free?
The first reason and it’s simply this: I, as a person (i.e. friend, daughter, advocate, etc.) am a separate entity from my business.
For example, say I have a friend who owns a dress boutique. I would never expect (I hope) to be able to shop this boutique for free, to just take any clothes I wanted.
Why not? The business is a separate entity from my friend and subsequently, our friendship. The same is true for photographers.
Why not? The business is a separate entity from my friend and subsequently, our friendship. The same is true for photographers.
We wouldn’t expect a free jewelry from a jeweler, free meals from a chef, nor flights from a pilot. But for some reason, photography has slipped the radar on this and it’s a common expectation that we can do our work for free.
With some good communication and armed with a few examples, we can help others to understand that we’re a separate entity from our business and we cannot make a profession out of something done for free.
Make sure you have price lists available, when friends ask you to do a shoot, say sure, I'll send you my prices, what is your email? Of course offer them a discount or something extra, but don't work for free.
Make sure you have price lists available, when friends ask you to do a shoot, say sure, I'll send you my prices, what is your email? Of course offer them a discount or something extra, but don't work for free.
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