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 p.1 #16 · Could I be a second shooter? | |
coffee-black wrote:
Both your equipment and images are fine. If you go into this business, always keep one thing in mind...
"If you don't like your images, getting more equipment won't help." Photography can be an endless money-pit or things you think you 'need.' Funny thing is, it is not about the equipment, but what you can do with it. Master the stuff you have, then add more.
If you had $3000 budgeted for your new business, Take $1000 for marketing and sale tools--$1000 on educational tools and the last $1000 on equipment. Far too many blow their budgets on all equipment.
Work on techniques. Good photography techniques have not changed in some time. They may now have "catchy" names, but the core of the technique has not.
Some of your images are soft. My guess is it is NOT the equipment, but shooting technique. Get used to using your manual settings. This will help in your overall understanding of photography.
Work on processing. In vogue now are the multiple image composites with a logo. Take 3 or 4 of your images...put them on a single composite...then add a logo. You'll look like you've been doing this for years.
Best of luck....Show more →
This is all really great advice. I spent ~$850 on a workshop (Almost Alone with David Williams) and a bit more on the One Light Workshop DVD. I highly recommend both. I was planning on going to the Shoot with Beckstead Intensive workshop in Birmingham next week, but I can't swing the funds. Really wish I could, esp since most of the workshops in 2009 will be out of the US. I think the technique I have learned from both workshops (well, the DVD is like a workshop) have helped me tremendously.
You need enough equipment to get the job done -- so make sure you have enough backup stuff. That's important. 2 camera bodies, lots of memory, a few flashes, etc. But beyond that I know quite a few togs on the board that do weddings without extensive lighting. I, for one, want to master off-camera lighting, but I'm trying to do it "budget style" - so I purchased a few lightstands, some cheap ebay triggers (will get two PWs asap), and I am using strobes. Master natural lighting first -- There are a few primarily natural light photographers who I admire a LOT. They use light to their advantage. Then work your way to supplementing that light. I'm terrible with it now, but having some fun!
As far as equipment goes, cover your bases at a minimum -- I started with an 85 f/1.8, 70-200 f/4, and 28-75 f/2.8 Tamron. Not enough for low-light photography, but I could cover every focal length I needed. I upgraded to the 70-200 f/2.8 IS and have a 28 f/1.8 and 50 f/1.8 to cover low light situations. I'd love to get the 35L and 135L, but those are unnecessary as of now. In your situation, however, you could forgo the 70-200 and maybe get the 135 -- that would give you a good low-light lens at that focual length. But if you are primarily second shooting, you don't need as much equipment.
One thing I need to work on is my PP skills. I'm updating my LR to 2.0. I need to get PS, but I guess that's something I can get later (since I have a very old version on my husband's computer). Investing in skills and business is definitely teh right way to go. Just don't forego having enough equipment to cover yourself in an emergency.
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