rachael

...where to start...I'm new to the photography business, but not new to photography. I moved to Denver, CO a little over a year ago and decided to pick up my camera and see if I could make some extra cash to pay for student loans. I met a local wedding/portrait photographer and began second shooting with her about 6 months ago. Since then I've done about 10 weddings as the second and done one baby portrait. I bought a Nikon D70 about 2 years ago, and when I started the wedding photography I bought a pentex k1000 and flash off ebay. I bought the film camera because the photographer I'm working for encouraged me to do film along with digital. I personally still love film.

I've bought a couple of books, but mostly I checked tons of books out from the library. Most cost effient that way. I also recently signed up for a seminar (at the suggestion of the photographer). It's a two day seminar here in Denver for $500.

My biggest concerns are marketing, being able to get my name out there to do work. I currently have a blog, but a website is just to expensive at the moment. I'm determined not to make this 'second income' a burden on my main income. The money I make goes back into the business, I'm just not making a lot right now.

My hope and goal is that in 6 months (aprox. a year after started this venture) I'll be able to do a portrait a month and maybe a couple of weddings on my own.

Julie(the wedding photographer) has been a great mentor and inspiration for me to stick with it. She's been in the business for about 10 years and doing VERY well for herself. Since I went to school for architecture, I'm not ready to make the leap of full-time photographer, but I'd love to have the ability to make that decision some day.

Hope that helps

Rachael

Well done! It's to bad the wheat field pics couldn't have been taken closer to sunset, it would have added a little punch. How many weddings have you done?

I'm sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience on such an important day. I myself had a few issues with my wedding photography, mostly they didn't get shots that were requested, i.e. my mom and I.

I agree that this guy should have had the guts to tell he didn't feel 100% comfortable. I do have to disagree with on thing in your post though. I don't think you HAVE to HAVE more then a camera and an on camera flash. Yes it's important to know how to use them, but not necessary to have more then that. I'm a second shooter for another photographer and both her and I use nothing more then a camera body, couple of lenses and on camera flash. I personally hate a lot of flash, it completly takes the mood out of the photograph. It's prefectly possible to shoot almost an entire wedding without any flash with digital cameras, all it takes a higher ISO. I know there are people out there that think you have to use flash for everything. I'm just saying that's not always necessary and in some cases ruins a picture.

Anyway, I hope you can salvage something out of your experience and maybe even teach others.

My husband grew up in Wall, SD. You are in for a real treat! Get ready for cowboy hats, country music and beer drinking! We actually just went to his cousins wedding in Sturgis, SD. Although the traditions are the same the atmosphere is completly different. But still a ton of fun! Good-luck!

You make a really good point Jacob. I didn't think about it that way. Thanks everyone for your thoughtful advice!

I'm starting a photography business on the side and I'm wondering what

everyone's thoughts are on naming your business. I've thought of using my

initials or something more creative like 'Right Eye Photography'. I want the

name to be non-discriptive to a certain type of photography. I guess what I'm

wondering is from a marketing stand point what's better, your name or something

more creative. Any thoughts or experince is appreciated!

Thanks!

I'm actually right eye dominate but learned to shoot with my left eye, presumably because my father shoots with his left and I just learned from him. Fast forward a few years and I started having a horrible time focusing. Less then 50% of my shots would be infocus. And not just slightly, WAY off. So I went to the eye Doc and discovered I was actually right eye dominate and had bad stigmatism which just made things worse. So long story short, I retrained myself to shot with my right eye and things couldn't be better. I can actually see to focus! It can be done both ways, but for me right is definitely better.

WOW! I'm surprised. I'm occasionally a second shooter for a wedding photographer in Denver and I'm paid $25/hr. I do know her 'packages' start at $3200. It's not my main source of income so I guess I can't complain to much. Sometimes you take what you can get.