Thursday, 02 October 2008
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Mom Photographers - How to Get Your Start
I was thinking about it the other day, and I just don't know how I got started in photography with my business. I began my business as a graphic design service, and now I'm doing more photo sessions than anything else. I have always loved photos, taking them and having them, but I never really pined to learn photography. I think the real reason that I decided to do it was when I was in college. I went to an art show for my university and saw what people were able to do with REAL LIFE. Combining the meaning of reality with the magic of the imagination was almost overwhelming to witness. I've come a long way since I started, but I am always my toughest critic. I will never be "good," and I know that I have long, long way to go.
The other day, someone said, "Oh you're a photographer too. I have a lot of friends that started photography when they had kids. They wanted to make money on the side so they bought a nice camera and started." I understand wanting to make money, believe me, but... This is not the business to get into from the angle of "making money." You really have to love it first because it doesn't always treat you nice.
I think the best advice that I was given when I decided to take things a step further in my business was this:
"Just because you got a brand new camera it does not automatically make you an effective and reliable photographer. Photography goes beyond cool toys and gadgets. Learn composition and develop a unique artistic vision. Some of the great photographs of all time were taken with manual cameras."
Everyone was so hung up on my starter camera that they didn't think it was possible for me to do anything worth looking at until I got something better. Although I had outgrown my previous camera almost right away, it was what I could afford. Because I wasn't relying on technology, I learned almost everything manually, and I think that has given me the gift of knowing the basics the hard way. There was no "auto pilot!"
I've booked 2 weddings for next year, and that is a huge step. It's a big responsibility. People expect a certain level of excellence from a wedding photographer, and I pray that I can deliver, and perhaps give them something that they can cherish long after the memories start to fade. I'm just not sure I want to be a wedding photographer. Maybe a couple small weddings ever so often would be just right, but I just don't know yet.
I guess I have a certain level of what I expect myself in a good photographer. What do you desire when you have portraits made? What do you consider to be a "bad photography experience"?
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Comments (9)
I love photography, and what I consider to be a good photography session is when they capture the essence of the moment, or the person. Sometimes this is hard to do!
Good luck with your future endeavors!
I love photography, it's not my calling, but I do like to do it every once in a while when I get film. Usually I take pics of my pets or friends (if they'll let me).
~Elizabeth
I love photography! I'm in advanced photo at my school. It's my favorite hobby and so rewarding.
Good luck with your future photography! (:
I love photography - I don't think I'm particularly creative with it but I would love to learn more about it and get better. I would really like to take some classes.
I do take some of my kids pictures rather than always going to the studio and they turn out pretty good (really good, sometimes :))
When I get my kids' pictures done by someone else I want to see THEM - not a studio posed picture, but my child's cute little personality shining through.
My mom instilled a love of photography in me from a very early age. She took several thousand photos of me and my brother as we were growing up. And thanks to her love and devotion, I have a ton of memories in books and books of photo albums that I may otherwise not have. A photo spurs a memory many times. Because of some of her photos, I can actually remember a couple specific events from when I was 2 years old. That's pretty cool, if you ask me!
As for me, I love photography! I am dying to get a good camera. I've got a Panasonic LZ7 and it does the job right now, but I want something with a great zoom, variant controllable shutter speeds, can use lense filters, ect. I've got the want, just not the cash right now. Once I get my camera, we'll see where my love takes me. But for now, my muse if my son and I'll stick to that. The few times I've taken him to have professional shots down, I've been dissappointed with the results. I wanted to ask them if I could just borrow their camera for half an hour. I'll get the shot I want, and perhaps even those unexpected great ones you get if you watch closely enough.
I love to see personality shining thru, and missing small details can break a picture, I love when a photographer gets excited about the time they are spending with me, show so energy!
I LOVE photography! It's something I've discovered just recently. I especially love taking nature and children photos. I've often thought of turning it into a business. I know that I have a lot to learn, but I love it. I love everything about it.
With four kids, we've had many bad photography sessions and a few good ones. My second son HATES having his pic taken. We've only been to one that was good and able to capture his sweet personality. She was patient and cheerful and didn't try the silly tricks you do with a baby to get them to smile. She took her time and tried lots of different things. By the end of the session, my son was the first to get over to his spot and smile! THAT is a good photographer! Not to mention the fact that she got some great shots with all of my kids personality shining from each picture!
I'mdeveloping a bit of a photography hobby, and it's mindboggling how much there is to learn-- both on the photography side, but also in the world of postprocessing, and one thing I keep hearing is also if you're wanting to make a business out of photography you also have to become a business and marketing expert. I'm amazed at moms who start doing this with kids, as I barely seem to have time to take any pictures most days.
how much do you charge for weddings?