Woo hoo! You got questions, I got answers! I love when aspiring photographers write me or Facebook me questions. When I was starting out I had so many wonderful photographers who would answer all my questions. Just being an open book. It was so helpful to have professionals helping me expand my knowledge and business. Now, I know there are lots of other answers to these questions that are asked and I want to state that these are my answers that are to the best of my knowledge but not everything I do is the right way or the easy way. Just sayin’.
Craig asks:
Hi Rachel,
How the heck do you get an image like that with the bridesmaids. Really awesome, natural, but kinda surreal at the same time. Do you offer advice or have an action set for post process you have for sale, as I don’t think I have seen you selling advice. But well done, very impressive. I shoot pretty well, but would like to have a consistent style, but those sort of shots are what I aspire to do, like you have in your kit, so no better person to ask.
I think the picture Craig is referring too is this one:
Blessings
Craig
This shot was fun, these GIRLS were fun. The positioning was easy I told them all just to gather around and get to a place where they could all see me. Once they gathered into this position I told them to freeze. Because, well, it looked B.A.
You are correct my sir, I do not sell advice. Yet. Maybe come 2011 I will host a workshop
but for now Im free advice. I process all of my images through Lightroom. I honestly would be lost without it. I also shoot RAW which allows me to be in more control during the processing process ha! I do have an action,Sassypants, I use for SOME of my shots but honestly 90% of the images you see on my blog were processed in Lightroom and then very little sharpening added through Photoshop. I find your consistency will be a lot better when processing through Lightroom. I would hate to process all my images through Photoshop. Bleh. I don’t sell any actions or presets at this time. But, maybe in the future!
Kristin asks:
Rachel, who is YOUR favorite photographer?
I get asked this question a lot! I definitely have my blog roll of daily checks! Here are some just to name a few.
Jasmine Star
Jose Villa
Bobbi and Mike
Tanja Lippert
Leo Patrone
Gabriel Ryan
Jessica Claire
[b]ecker
I would have to say my favorite out of all of them though is Jose Villa. He shoots all film and I just absolutely love the look and feel of his art.
Tiffany asks:
I’ve been doing a lot of research on which camera to purchase and think I’ve narrowed it down. I think I’m going to buy the Canon 50D. I’m on a budget, and want to get a nice lens…do you have any recommendations?
Tiffany, I have to say Im a huge fan of prime lenses. 50mm 1.2, 35mm 1.4 and 100mm 2.8 are some of the only lenses I use. But, with being on a tight budget I highly recommend investing in a 50mm 1.4 for your first lens. If that might be a little too high in price check out the 1.8. I honestly can shoot an entire wedding with my 50mm 1.2 and maybe switch out during the ceremony.
Karen asks:
I was wondering if you went to college to be a photographer, and if you did, where?
You inspire me so much. I had almost forgotten that it was my dream to be a photographer as a kid, I got my first camera when I was only 8.
I do have a couple of more questions, but I don’t want to bug you
Thank you so much
First of all, no one bugs me with questions. I LOVE getting asked questions and it makes me feel so wonderful knowing I inspire you. I have to say, I started out in college for nursing. My first sight of blood and I was swaying back and forth like I was standing on a rough watered sail boat. That was my last day of college. I, technically and artistically, am a self taught photographer. I just read book beyond book to get my first knowledge. I second shot for a few photographers and then took off on my own. I highly recommend reading these two books when starting out. Digital Photography by Scott Kelby. I read mine so much the pages are literally not attached anymore. And then Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. I carried these with me everywhere and studied them beyond belief.
Amy asks:
I’m so conflicted. I want a website, just so that I can have a portfolio. I do not know when, if ever, I will feel comfortable accepting money from people. Can you look at my pics and tell me how I can make them better/give me some tips? I want to take it to the next level, but I honestly just don’t know how to go about doing it. when did you know you were good enough?
Practicing is all I know to do.,,….
Any other suggestions?
Amy, the choices on websites are endless. We currently have a Bludomain website but have recently purchased an Into the Darkroomwebsite for our new and upcoming brand. These can get to be a tad expensive if you are just wanting to show off your portfolio. I recommend starting out with a Blogger Blog, if you’re not looking to make money just yet, to update your friends and family on what you’ve been up to. The leap from taking your photography from a hobby to a money making machine is definitely a tricky situation. But, you can be the worst photographer EVER and still charge people money. And MAKE money at that. Its all in how you perceive yourself. You have to make your client and your subject feel like you are worth what you charge. And you need to believe you are worth it as well. My advice is to start out low and casually keep building your price. Your first paid shoot will feel weird, awesome and new all at the same time. When we first started out our portrait sessions were free for a month (to build portfolio) then anything after that was $50. I felt like I was over charging because I was definitely not as good as “so and so”. But you ARE worth being paid. Not everyone can be an artistic photographer.
I hope atleast one person took away information from this blog post that helped them out. I would love to answer all the questions in one blog post but Im going to leave more for another questions post in a couple weeks!
A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her. ~David Brinkley
)
by The Jacobus Duo
1 comment