habsphoto

<p>Wow that’s so concise. My father told me not to be a mechanic like him. So true.</p>

<p>I thought I’d post about ‘Going Pro" and see what the general feeling was. I get the sense that since everyone has a camera in their pocket it has become much more common for people to consider commercial photography as a career choice.<br /> I’ve been a pro for over 25 years and I get comments like “I wish I could have your job.” All the while I wish I could create photos without a shot list, bride, art director or demanding client and have a day job getting paid every two weeks. I guess we all want what we don’t have. The barriers to becoming a photographer have gotten so low that everyone can take a terrific picture with their phone and at about the same time the public’s standards for what makes an acceptable image have been reduced to an 800 pixel wide over sharpened, oversaturated snapshot on Facebook. <br /> I decided to write a book called <em>DON’T SHOOT | 66 Reasons NOT to become a Professional Photographer</em>, because I remember it not being that easy. That’s not to say that there aren’t some very talented photographers emerging out of the Phone+Photoshop generation. I just felt that people should go into photography as a career with their eyes open ... easy it is not. If anyone here on Photo.net wants to see a review copy of my book just send me a note with your email and I’ll send you a PDF of the review copy. I’d lve your feedback before it goes to print.<br /> Thanks<br /> -Schaf</p>

<p>I second the “good head” comment. I had a Cambo ball head for a decade and used it for all my studio work. When I shifted into architecture I tried a small gear head and immediately decided that I was an idiot for not getting one sooner. I got a bigger gear head and that is what i use for all my architectural work now. If you don’t need the speed of following a moving subject or the fluid capabilities of a video head, borrow or rent a Manfrotto gear head and see if the micro adjustments don’t make you a believer. Then you can figure out which brand and style to get. cube, or geared, or geared ball.<br> I’d also figure on getting a tripod that is rated for 2X the weight of your kit if you want stability. Remember the heavier the tripod the more stable, etc. This is all negated by the concept of mobility so for hiking that advice doesn’t fly. You need to decide capacity, height, and where and how you’ll use your pod before you buy. I have a really tall nine foot aluminum Slik Pro heavy tripod and a 6 foot light-weight Bogen carbon-fiber for mobility<br> -schaf</p>

<p>I do not charge CA tax for this same reason and except for my HABS/HAER prints and negs (physical deliverables) all my regular digital architectural work is now delivered via a link to Dropbox. With no physical materials changing hands.</p> <p>-Schaf</p>