jim mucklin

Two things that come to mind, What would you look for in choosing a photographer for your children?

A website that displays their work. Second, with the price of fuel, Where are they located, hours of service and most important phone number? <p/>

Goggle and check out the same in your area to get ideas.

Dust on the sensor is not going to give you a "blurred" picture. Is it blurred on the rear display when viewing the shot or is it blurred when you print a photograph. <p/>

Go to <a href=

http://www.copperhillimages.com/index.php?pr=Tutorials/>Copperhill</a> it will explain all how how to take a shot and see if you have dust on your sensor. If you do buy a brush and a cleaning kit the one with the eclipse fluid and pads for under a $100 and clean your own sensor forever or get ready to drop a $50 and some time when you send it in to be cleaned. Take a cleaning cloth and wipe off the lcd and the lenses first. Did you buy this camera used? But really you got to read the manual even if it gives you a headache unless you want to just put it on P and point and shoot.

Don't get taken advantage of, how much does she make in three days? Your time, equiptment, talent is worth a lot more than a couple of bucks. In the beginning I passed on some jobs because I knew I was going to loose money just trying to do the job.

Contract: Please, please, do your self a favor and sit down and write up a contract for each type of event you do an cover all bases ahead of time.

Whenever I heard I want it on CD, it's like nails on a blackboard. It means that they will print at the local #al#art store and charge money for your work that you will never see.

Equiptment: Do you have flash equiptment that you have or can rent that can pound away for 300 portraits.

Staff: Like a wedding, how much time will go into lining up the people, matching them with the image #, post processing. As Bob Sunley said your going to need help and help cost money.

My suggestion is to base your cost on your expenses, travel, etc.and along with a signed contract that you'll set up one or two stations to do the head shots, provide event coverage and provide her with a low res disc for viewing only and after final payment you will provide her with the photo files for the yearbook only and as stated in the contract, this will be for their usage and if they would like prints or to buy print files, they will be $XXX. This protects you, because if you give her the full files without any money or contract you will probably never see her again. If there are a couple of photograhers in your area that you know you can put them to work, or you might even find someone on this site in your area.

Don't get burnt like I did

Long before the net there were photographers who had cards with there name, address, and phone. If you are going to do business in a large community and deal one on one that may be the way to go for you. If you want to reach out to a bigger audience go with a site, especially if your doing any type of event photography and want to display your work then thow up a site (IX webhosting) is what I use. But I agree with Ralph they want to know they can contact you.

Robert, please don't worry about scaring him off he probably has a point and shoot camera, but most of all figure your cost to do business which includes all your time and expenses. When you see some charge a day or 1/2 day rate it's because it's a lot more than the 20 minutes or 2 hours it takes to shoot the job, it's travel, taxes, post processing time. Like stated you will read horror stories about clients and photographers who have been taken advantage of or who have lost their shirts doing a job.

Good luck with your venture

Joe, I noticed by your other posts, if I can try to clear up some questions.

1. You can use Photshop and other software to make graphics

2. You will need a way to make a site, Dreamweaver, Front Page, a talented web designer to create the pages on the site.

3. You will need a "host" a server that will link the world to you site, you can either store the site on their server or your computer. Also you will have to register your domain name.

Check out <a href=http://www.ixwebhosting.com/index.php/v2/pages.dspmain/>IX webhosting</a> hosting for some info.

I went this route and it's a long journey my friend, I used Front page an IX to get up an going.

Time spent with the bride is for you, that way you won't have to spend 15 minutes on the net explaining how there is a problem and how no one had time to discuss it before hand. I'm missing something, I thought that the face to face was to sell your services, discussing their needs only adds to your profits. I'm sorry to be rude, but if your that busy that you can't meet with me or have the time to talk to me on the phone I woudn't do business with you. Just search this site and the wedding forms and you'll hear about the aftermath of non-payment, lawsuits, wanting legal advise because someone didn't have the time to discuss it before hand and to get it in writing and signed.

But do you get my point?

April, just your time in the shoot, travel cost, post time, etc will eat up more than the numbers you have listed. It seems like you'll be loosing money when this is done. As Rebecca said, you have to figure all costs into pricing, your time, your equiptment, insurance, taxes(I'm not an tax account, but in my state if you accept money for services you have to pay sales tax) one of the photographers in the area made the IRS and state aware that I wasn't charging sales tax, even though I was included in my package price. Don't make the mistakes I did by not charging enough, because next year or next school will want it cheaper, you have to base your prices on your what it truly cost, not on income of an area or what someone else is charging. I include a gift shot as a gift, just that. If they are price shopping and can find someone cheaper then I suggest that they go that route.

What type of system are you running? I use CS2 and batch rename from bridge. But if I rememeber correctly someone on this site showed me how to do it in windows XP.

Google is your friend. Try Dr. Russell Brown.

It's true there is no sync port to plug into on the 600, What you need is a 1' hot shoe to 3.5 mini cable made by paramount. <a href=http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/421306-REG/Paramount_PMMHSF1_Miniphone_to_Female_Hot.html/> Like this one</a>.<p/>

You put your 600 in the shoe and plug the end into your pocket wizard and attach another pocket wizard to the camera, if you are using pocket wizards. The shoe will work for all speedlights but make sure the other end will plug into you receiver/tranceiver.

Hope this helps

<a href=http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/technology/speedlight/index.htm/>Nikon</a>

 

<a href=http://www.softstonegroup.com/sb-800.html/> And here</a>

Thanks guys, I shooting like RIchard with a D2X and I'm going to throw a background light up.

I looking to shoot some single head shots with a 85mm and was wondering about paper width and filling the frame

without having to carry a 102 inch roll on location. I noticed that B&h had 31" and 53". It seems I should be right in

the middle. Could anyone recomend a width that they use or and background panels that they use just for this.

Thanks

Check out utube on using a sekonic light meter or shootsmarter,it will help you if you have been given wrong info on

how to meter.I'll try to confuse you more, Sync speed is the max speed you can shoot with flash before the second

shutter starts to close and you get the black line across the image. Try it your self, pop on your flash and shoot at

1/1000, that's all. Now manual camera and manual flash: the slower your shutter speed the more light you let in

(ambient). the more you open the lens up by making the aperture larger the more light you let in (flash). It's the

balancing of shutter, aperture and ISO that determine your exposure, so there is no "shoot high ISO and low

aperture" that is right for a given circumstance. You mentioned "fill" Here's your homework, do a mock setup

indoors,set camera and flash to manual and set at full power, set ISO at say around 400, start with your shutter at

1/250 and F/8. Position your camear about 5 feet from your subject and and flash about the same distance of

camear and fire using your pw's. Even in my dim lit office I get a way overexposed image, which means to much

flash power, now cut in back to 1/2 power and try again. You should see a difference, now when you get to 1/4

power take a series of shots and vary the aperture and see it's affect. Digital film is cheap. The way I remember it is

to alter the flash and ambient open up the aperture(let more light in) to change the ambient but not the flash, adjust

the shutter. To change the flash but not the ambient, adjust the aperture which alters both and compensate for the

ambient by adjusting the shutter the other way. This is just a sample your room may be have more or less ambient

light. No special magic, just cause and effect. This is why they make point and shoot cameras. A little time learning

the basics and your equiptment will go a long way. If you have about a year to study, start with the strobist site and

101, before that I hated flash.

Hope this helped.

Tim, trust me, contact a lawyer in your area. I was given permission to do a shoot for a small private school buy the owner, parents wanted me to come. I was informed by two parents that if I took one photo of their child or posted one image on the net. I would find myself in court. Make sure you have a model release of each child and something in writing from the event/school. It's sad but since the pervs, parents freak. I have a friend who's son plays on a league and they have all know each other for years and she doesn't have a problem.

Jason, I know nothing of advertising, but I want to make some money at it, how much should I charge.Does advertising cost the same in all places in the world? Of course not. I don't mean to be harsh, but it's like asking what kind of car to buy. There is no correct answer.

Base your prices as you would for starting and business, based on your business plan. Where are you located, big city, small town? Are you starting a business or do you want to make some fast cash? Wedding? Pet photos? What are you and your time worth?There are some many variables.

Karen, Teaching someone who wants to learn is rewarding, but someone wanting to copy is like me asking Rembrant how to paint, I can't even draw a straight line let alone paint. People want it now and for free, there is no apprenticeship, no learing curve. How many times have you heard"I don't have time to read the manual" just like the guy in school who couldn't read the assignment. A lot of us "oldies" have spent a lot of time and effort to pursue this adventure which some take as something that is learned on a weekend with a good camera and a couple of websites. Sarah hit it on the head. I get strange looks when I show them my camera and it's set to manual. Just tell her there is no magic, it's just exposure and the light is always changing.

Tom check out Chase Jarvis's site, he just redid a studio. You can also check out Bill Simone's.The thing I liked at Bill's was all his work stations were portable glass carts so he could wheel them to the area of the studio and shoot and view where he was working, they were all networked together, no wires. I only things I can add is light control when editing, sunlight and ambient can make it hard on the eyes.

Jim

Brian, I shoot a lot of MX and other events because I'm still looking for the one special photo. I use to print and bring photo books to events and I did quite well, spent hours Saturday night stuffing 4x6's but they bought.

Printing on site was out of the question. Many of my competitors have come and gone because of the time to do the event,post process,etc. Maybe it's all the hours added up that they feel they can make more money doing a wedding.

While it is easier to use a service, they take their cut of your profits,for posting your photos when you have a website. I also like to retain control over the product that gets delivered to them. I still do business the old fashion way, I have a couple of local and pro printers and still do the mailings myself and don't take credit cards.Yes it takes a lot more time but if I found out one thing, sales is different than taking photos. Case in point was one guy who took great photos but had such an attitude that he didn't last long. It depends a lot on what type of event. Large races, mostly online orders. Birthday partys and small event are mosty by phone" I saw your photos on line and I want to buy" What I think it comes down to is service, if you and I stand side by side and take the same photo, they will probably be close in quality, it's what happens after that, what can you do to make the customers life easier. Me, I have tried to find a niche by providing affordable prints, posters and composites. I found by giving away a couple of 4x6's or 8x10's to the right people have opened doors to other sales that I would have never had. If I can help in any way feel free to contact me off site.

Jim</p>

<a href=http://www.jimmucklinphotography.com/>My site</a>

Carol, wow, I'm always late to the good post. With due respect to all others, only you can answer your question and that being based on your business plan. Only you know your time and costs, I'm starting to sound like a broken record. I like the pulling the wool over the eyes, that's choice.Many professionals use to make a living from their fields, two that come to mind are photography and moving freight what most call trucking. Many people in the latter field have parked or sold their equiptment because they can't make any money because they didn't figure all their costs when it comes to doing business, this weeds out the bottom feeders, they go out of business quick. but it hurts your or I when we go to the grocery store and find that head of lettuce is doubled because it took $2100 dollars in fuel only to come from the coast versus $1000 last winter, your cost vary. The point I'm trying to make it to figure all your cost, web site, business expenses, taxes, equiptment, etc.Then you wages, are you supporting your family, are you doing this for fun? How much do you want to make for the hours you work? Would you drive my truck to California and back for free? of course not, but with your time, travel, post processing, insurance, the list goes on, etc there has to be a cost per hour that you will have that will make you a profit and determine if your in business next year. If it's your friend tell her it's for free, absord the cost and you'll have a referal forever, tell her you wouldn't feel right charging her period. Other wise if you get to be know as the $70 senior portrait photographer you will never be able to raise your prices, no matter how good your work is. You will work your fingers to the bone and the money won't be there. It's easier to mark down than up, trust me. You could give discount of say 10% to friends or family but make them understand that it is a business. Prices are also different base on your population Buffalo is not the same as Chicago. Mike hit right on the head, gone are a lot of professional photogragher and printers, replaced by box stores and a kid with 4 hours of trainning to "ugh, dude what's magenta?"Now we have a lot of "I'm not really a pro, but I have a lot of pro gear and just looking to make a couple of bucks. Sorry for the rant. Now if only I could find a blog on how to do open hear surgery and trama at home, my friend only saves lives but he charges to much for something that only takes a few minutes. Good luck to you, set your prices and stick to it, no matter what they tell you. I shoot a lot of events and I have a lot of customers/parents with cameras and the only things I have is service/product and they can't do it themselves or get it done in a box store cheaper.

Lisa, the only thing that seperates them is customer service. Check out IX webshosting, 24/7 with real people.

Sudhir, a.The photographer makes the photos, at slower shutter speeds the shutter is open, if you or the camera moves the result will be blur. when I was younger I could do well, now I brace my elbows, use a table, stack of books,tripod an whatever it takes to keep it steady. As to your questions. IMHO, the quality comes from the glass; if you look thru a pair of any type of optics from a telescope to hunting scope you can see the difference, it's usually associated with cost, but the point is the camera "see's" what the glass does. Next comes exposure, digital is not as forgiving as film one stop either way is the difference between ok and really good. Photoshop or any editing tool is just that, a tool but the old saying still holds true, bad in and bad out, it will just be good looking bad. Raw vs Jpeg, that will have to be your choice, you will gain some more control with the "digital image" the cost is your time editing. At the risk of getting verbally beaten I am from the old school of get it right in the camera(yes I do shoot raw sometimes). Some of the best digital images I have made were with a D70s and a 85mm. The point I beat to death is that it depends on the shoot, the most usefull tool on your camera is the ability to bracket. Set your bracketing for say 3 shots, 1/2 stop above and 1/2 below, then set it to continious, press hold the shutter and bingo 3 different exposures, you could set it at 5 shots and 1 stop apart if you want, the point is back in the day we begged for these bells and whistles and most poeple don't use them. I call it "in camera processing" No one will ever know except you because digital film is cheap. Sorry for the rant but this may save you time, reshoots, missed shots and hours of post processing. Next is painting with light, not with flash lights but with natural, flash, bounced off a card, what ever light you can put or add to. Lastly, color, computors, printers, monitors don't play well. The next time your in a store that has all the big, expensive tv's playing the same channel it's hard to find two that are even close to each other let alone correct. Calibration and profiles make my brain hurt, my test is just like with film, shoot a box or crayons or a color card, take the card to one,two, or three labs and ask them to print you a "straight image" right from the card NO adjustments, then lay all three side by side and your brain will hurt. Pick the best one and you will know what your camera is doing and which lab to use. Good luck on your quest.

Benhai, please reconsider a dedicated flash, you'll have TTL, that way you won't be guessing, I would hate to see the look while you run a string to the piano to get the distance or shoot a couple of shots and chimp. As Todd said distance and stage light are the main factors that will limit any exposure. I use to shoot with a SB-28 and my D70s at events and while I was close, it seem that I always missed the exposure on the important shots.

Good luck

Keith, set your cameras menu to srgb. Zero out your exposure. Take a shot of a box of crayons or something with red green and blue in it. Do this at each white balance setting and use matrix metering. Take the card to a good printer and ask them to print it straight with no corrections. This will show you what the camera is doing, as Rene' mentioned calibrating a monitor to printer can be a pain if your printing yourself. That's white balance cool on the blue side and warm and fuzzy on the brown side. In your next part you mentioned exposure that's a different animal. Let me know if the camera was set to rgb in the menu.

Good luck.