4042 and 4390 are what I would pick from your blog. From looking at your set I would say your biggest hurdles to overcome are... get out of the harsh light, get some more light on her face (reflector or flash), get a better lens. The lens suggestion is subjective, but the 50/1.8 AF is not reliable in my experience, and forget manually focusing that lens, especially with moving kids.
Hi Kailey. There's some really good advice that's been given here by others. You yourself mentioned that you are an amateur, barely even a hobbyist. Based on the images you presented here (I also took a glance at your website), I think it might be premature to start charging for your services (not that you can't in the future). I just think you'd benefit from gaining more experience without the pressure to "deliver." Take families out for free. Build your portfolio. Develop a consistent workflow. Post pictures here for constructive criticism. See progress. And then you can start thinking about charging. I hope this helps.
Why does everybody that can take a well exposed and focused snapshot start believing they can charge for their work? Can you even leagally do that? Are you planning on paying your state and local taxes? Do you have insurance? How about the required permits? Until you do I think maybe you could let them cover the cost of materials but that's about it.
Steve, I don't ask lightly about charging people for my services. If people merely thought my stuff was 'meh' around here (locally not FM) then I wouldn't even consider it. I myself will never consider my work ready to be paid for. However, every time I mention this to people they suggest otherwise. As I said before, people looking for photographers aren't nearly as picky as the photographers themselves.
I make no claims to be a pro, but you have to start somewhere. At what point can you really say "yup I'm ready to be a pro". You can't just do free sessions until you are a world class photog, otherwise you'll never be able to get new equipment, or find new clientele as easily.
You are correct about getting a proper business set up first. Though around here it's not very difficult to do so.
It depends entirely on how much your time is worth. On top of that, the market will dictate. For example...if you are swamped with work, then your prices are most likely too low. If you dont have any work, your prices are too high for your product (assuming you are marketing yourself well enough to be seen).
So my advice? Start with a price that you are comfortable with...as time goes on, either lower or raise the price.
KAJed wrote:
"it appears you shot a lot of frames in hope of getting something."
I think to any photog that is pretty much a kick in the teeth.
I don't mean to add to the harshness here. I mean this as constructive criticism, not a personal attack on you or an attack on your talent.
But the above statement is not a "kick in the teeth" but rather shows a lack of experience. Amateurs think that if you put your camera on continuous and fire off 5 or more frames per second, you'll get plenty of useable images. Maybe you'll get lucky and this will be true. But the "shotgun approach" to photography doesn't usually yield photographs -- at best it can yield a snapshot.
Professionals spend time setting up the shot, positioning equipment, analyzing the light and carefully focusing on the subject. Yes, even with babies out in the park. There is little guesswork in a professional shoot. Everything is planned and the outcome is usually known. As opposed to an amateur, who presses the shutter and hopes for the best.
Photography is a craft and there are many things to learn. Even seasoned professionals learn new things now and again about their craft. The only way to get better is to practice your craft. In this case, there's no better way to practice than to take photos. So you're well on your way. Keep it up and don't ever give up -- no matter what anyone tells you on the forums. :-)
Why should she ge more experience? The market will dictate. If someone wants photos like these at a price, they will book. If not, they won't. Clients will decide, not strangers on a website.
dtomasula wrote:
I don't mean to add to the harshness here. I mean this as constructive criticism, not a personal attack on you or an attack on your talent.
But the above statement is not a "kick in the teeth" but rather shows a lack of experience. Amateurs think that if you put your camera on continuous and fire off 5 or more frames per second, you'll get plenty of useable images. Maybe you'll get lucky and this will be true. But the "shotgun approach" to photography doesn't usually yield photographs -- at best it can yield a snapshot.
Professionals spend time setting up the shot, positioning equipment, analyzing the light and carefully focusing on the subject. Yes, even with babies out in the park. There is little guesswork in a professional shoot. Everything is planned and the outcome is usually known. As opposed to an amateur, who presses the shutter and hopes for the best.
Photography is a craft and there are many things to learn. Even seasoned professionals learn new things now and again about their craft. The only way to get better is to practice your craft. In this case, there's no better way to practice than to take photos. So you're well on your way. Keep it up and don't ever give up -- no matter what anyone tells you on the forums. :-)
ALL of the following is written in a friendly tone of voice.
Every year this same story comes up.
Someone just learning how to use a DSLR posts a photo and others SLAM them as having used a "Shotgun" or "Machine Gun" approach to taking pictures.
I find that UNFAIR to the photographer who is learning how to use their camera.
What does "Shotgun" or "Machine Gun" mean anyway? By WHOSE definition are you making a judgment?
It MAY mean different things to different folks.
I happen to like shooting a double barreled (one barrel at a time) shotgun when I go to the Sporting Clays range.
IF I tried to shoot those flying clays with a single shot RIFLE, I would not have as much success at hitting those clay pigeons. As it is, I use a tight choke, but I would not try it without a shotgun.
And I like a nice bolt action Rifle when doing target shooting, requiring precision and slow methods of shooting. When my target is sitting there and not moving, a rifle is accurate.
In some situations, a FULLY AUTOMATIC "machine gun" can be just the right tool too (though I don't own one).
___________________
There is a bias that says...."IF you knew how to use your camera, you would not take multiple shots (shotgun or machine gun), you would get it right in only ONE shot."
(I find this advice funny.)
The Shotgun/Machine Gun approach works VERY well for sports photographers who use the 8+ frames per second to catch action shots...and they EXPECT the camera to do automatic focus for them using as many focus points as possible with a tiny computer tracking the moving subject. That sounds "auto" to me.
Tell a modern sports photographer to shoot "one shot" method and they would laugh at you.
Before DSLRs were invented with FAST frame rates, they DEPENDED on film cameras with motordrives. They wanted to take as MANY pics as possible. And they wanted even MORE than those cameras could capture. So they devised workarounds too.
Or...go tell a "Wildlife" photographer who DEPENDS on high frame rate cameras to capture a "Bird in Flight."
Or...maybe a "Team Sports" photographer.
Or maybe a "Surfing" photographer...
Or maybe a "Motorsports" photographer...
Or someone taking pictures of a Golfer...
Or the photographers you see with MegaZooms at the Air Shows.
Or, even a "Wedding Photographer" trying to catch the bouquet in mid-air, or the expressions on the faces at the moment of a kiss.
The development of cameras for "Action" "sports" and "PJ" work has pushed again and again for faster frame rates.
They are shooting "moving subjects" (just like moving kid) and they would NOT put their camera on "One Shot" because they might miss the one frame that would make a difference.
The future will probably be HD Video stills taken from a continuous stream of images at 30fps.
So..."machine gun" or "shotgun" IS used by MANY professional photographers.
My Simple Suggestion: EVERYBODY can use the "Shotgun/Machine Gun" approach when it is called for and may help them get a better image.
_________________
To the Original Poster who started this thread:
There are things you can try to use that may improve your "keeper" rate and those are likely related to modifying the light, adjusting EXPOSURE or aperture, and setting WB or PP or composition or choices about POV and Lens choice etc..
You should continue to try to use your camera to capture the active child. When you get THOSE things down or have more experience with THEM, then shooting "shotgun" or "machine gun" may be just the right thing for you.
And if that means shooting on "continuous" at 6-10 frames per second...I say...GO FOR IT.
Later I will send you a link (IF YOU WANT ME TO) to a special article and tips I have written just about this topic. I have not posted it on my site yet, but will within the next 48 hours. IF you want those tips or the link to them, send me a PM first. I suppose that goes for anybody who wants to learn.
_________
My Simple Suggestion To Everybody: Use the camera as a tool. Know what it can do, and if you need a particular feature for a subject or session, then try it. Experiment. Work with it. Learn how. Etc..
And don't tell people they should NOT use "continuous" or "shotgun" shooting or "machine gun" (multiple quick shots).
Why?
Because you could be WRONG.
IF they followed that and avoided using continuous (or other quick action methods) they could wind up missing those priceless moments that are best captured quickly.
Continuous or "machine gun" or "shotgun" may be just the right thing in many circumstances.
thank you Steady for a thoughtful and considerate response to the OP. I am always a little surprised by the rather harsh comments aimed at the newbies (and as I am in that position, I felt myself cringing when I read some of the "advice"). I belong to other forums (horse and doll, my other hobbies) and new people are NOT treated that way at all, those with more experience offer words of encouragement and helpful suggestions, that is what should be happening on this forum as well (and some people do indeed do just that). The OP asked a simple question, what would be a fair price for someone in their position as a self proclaimed hobbyist to charge. My thoughts are there is a place in this world for many levels of expertise and expense, there is a whole population of people out there who can not afford a true "professional" photographer with the resultant high fees, but at the same time would like to have a chance for a "photo shoot" and maybe get a few decent shots out of it. They will probably realize that they are getting a "beginner" but that is the choice they make, doesn't mean they should get it done for free, a photo shoot and editing can take a fair bit of time, especially when you are starting out. As long as the photographer makes it clear that they are in the learning phase and the price reflects that, I don't see it as a terrible sin to accept a token of appreciation for the work put into the job. Just my two cents as a fellow newbie also trying to learn the ropes.
I think charging a flat, low hourly rate is a good compromise (travel, shoot, edit, output). Make it clear to your clientele that you are learning the craft... like an intern, perhaps?
Today's tools (dSLR) is opening up a lot of photography opportunities where you *can* employ a shotgun approach, get a handful of *priceless* photos (in the eyes of the client), and learn as you go. fwiw, I liked the first two pics you posted.
btw, I am at the same place as you, OP, taking more and more pics of friends' and neighbors' kids. It is great fun. If they start referring me/us, then I'll have the same question... so I might check back with you then.
Steady Hand wrote:
ALL of the following is written in a friendly tone of voice.
Every year this same story comes up.
Someone just learning how to use a DSLR posts a photo and others SLAM them as having used a "Shotgun" or "Machine Gun" approach to taking pictures.
I find that UNFAIR to the photographer who is learning how to use their camera.
What does "Shotgun" or "Machine Gun" mean anyway? By WHOSE definition are you making a judgment?
It MAY mean different things to different folks.
I happen to like shooting a double barreled (one barrel at a time) shotgun when I go to the Sporting Clays range.
IF I tried to shoot those flying clays with a single shot RIFLE, I would not have as much success at hitting those clay pigeons. As it is, I use a tight choke, but I would not try it without a shotgun.
And I like a nice bolt action Rifle when doing target shooting, requiring precision and slow methods of shooting. When my target is sitting there and not moving, a rifle is accurate.
In some situations, a FULLY AUTOMATIC "machine gun" can be just the right tool too (though I don't own one).
___________________
There is a bias that says...."IF you knew how to use your camera, you would not take multiple shots (shotgun or machine gun), you would get it right in only ONE shot."
(I find this advice funny.)
The Shotgun/Machine Gun approach works VERY well for sports photographers who use the 8+ frames per second to catch action shots...and they EXPECT the camera to do automatic focus for them using as many focus points as possible with a tiny computer tracking the moving subject. That sounds "auto" to me.
Tell a modern sports photographer to shoot "one shot" method and they would laugh at you.
Before DSLRs were invented with FAST frame rates, they DEPENDED on film cameras with motordrives. They wanted to take as MANY pics as possible. And they wanted even MORE than those cameras could capture. So they devised workarounds too.
Or...go tell a "Wildlife" photographer who DEPENDS on high frame rate cameras to capture a "Bird in Flight."
Or...maybe a "Team Sports" photographer.
Or maybe a "Surfing" photographer...
Or maybe a "Motorsports" photographer...
Or someone taking pictures of a Golfer...
Or the photographers you see with MegaZooms at the Air Shows.
Or, even a "Wedding Photographer" trying to catch the bouquet in mid-air, or the expressions on the faces at the moment of a kiss.
The development of cameras for "Action" "sports" and "PJ" work has pushed again and again for faster frame rates.
They are shooting "moving subjects" (just like moving kid) and they would NOT put their camera on "One Shot" because they might miss the one frame that would make a difference.
The future will probably be HD Video stills taken from a continuous stream of images at 30fps.
So..."machine gun" or "shotgun" IS used by MANY professional photographers.
My Simple Suggestion: EVERYBODY can use the "Shotgun/Machine Gun" approach when it is called for and may help them get a better image.
_________________
To the Original Poster who started this thread:
There are things you can try to use that may improve your "keeper" rate and those are likely related to modifying the light, adjusting EXPOSURE or aperture, and setting WB or PP or composition or choices about POV and Lens choice etc..
You should continue to try to use your camera to capture the active child. When you get THOSE things down or have more experience with THEM, then shooting "shotgun" or "machine gun" may be just the right thing for you.
And if that means shooting on "continuous" at 6-10 frames per second...I say...GO FOR IT.
Later I will send you a link (IF YOU WANT ME TO) to a special article and tips I have written just about this topic. I have not posted it on my site yet, but will within the next 48 hours. IF you want those tips or the link to them, send me a PM first. I suppose that goes for anybody who wants to learn.
_________
My Simple Suggestion To Everybody: Use the camera as a tool. Know what it can do, and if you need a particular feature for a subject or session, then try it. Experiment. Work with it. Learn how. Etc..
And don't tell people they should NOT use "continuous" or "shotgun" shooting or "machine gun" (multiple quick shots).
Why?
Because you could be WRONG.
IF they followed that and avoided using continuous (or other quick action methods) they could wind up missing those priceless moments that are best captured quickly.
Continuous or "machine gun" or "shotgun" may be just the right thing in many circumstances.
