One-on-one tutoring

<p>Hi,<br>

I am trying to teach myself the ropes of portrait (and perhaps fashion/nude) photography (I do not plan to become a professinal, though). I feel that I am a bit stuck and that I need a professional to give me critique and advise me how to improve my pictures in the editing process. I have Photoshop C4 and know the basics.<br />I would be willing to pay a reasonble fee for some one-on-one tutoring. We could do this by email and Skype.</p>

<p>Shooting Fashion, and Shooting Nudes, are two completely different things and need to be approached in very different ways.<br>

For both it is important to make sure that your subject feels comfortable with you, and you with them. That photographer subject interaction and communication is probably one of the most important aspects of photography and the most overlooked.<br>

Next is pre-production or having some type of game plan for what your going to shoot. Granted in most cases you'll throw out the play book and shoot more freely once your on set but having a vague idea to start with makes the whole shooting process just a little bit smoother.<br>

Next the most important thing is the photographers willingness to "learn to see", which is very different than just looking at the subject in front of you. This only comes from shooting as much as you possibly can and learning from your mistakes. No class or workshop can teach you this so don't be fooled by anyone saying that they can change your approach to visualizing your subject or make you a better photographer by taking a class or workshop.<br>

You need to put in those 10,000 hours of practice just like a musician and you really will see the changes over time.<br>

Select 10 photographers whose works you admire book mark them or reference them some where, and then after each shoot compare and contrast your images with those your working towards. toss out the bad ones that don't measure up and shoot again. Never hold on to the bad images they clutter your mind. if you ever question whether an image is good or not it probably isn't so toss it and move on. <br>

Look at images everyday, look at as many movies especially old movies and study the lighting the shadows how the light falls off, were the highlights are hitting. study the shadow density which is the biggest indication of the types of lighting used. and never buy into the idea that a piece of equipment will make you abetter photographer.<br>

The photo market is littered with companies trying to separate you from your money by selling you some: "magic bullet" that will magically transform you into the next Avedon.<br>

Persistence is the only way.</p>