vicky2

<p>Thanks for the advice everyone. B Poulin, that's exactly what I find interesting about SuccessWare - the fact that it's focused on analyzing your business and helping you improve it, not just keeping track of expenses. I've also recently discovered <a href="http://studiocloud.com/">StudioCloud</a> - it's actually free for most of the basic features, and $30/month (no setup fee) for the rest of the features. It's not quite as extensive as SuccessWare, but check out all the features you get in a free version! <a href="http://studiocloud.com/comparison.html">http://studiocloud.com/comparison.html </a><br>

Does anyone have experience with StudioCloud and how it compares to SuccessWare? I'm sure SuccessWare is invaluable for a larger studio, but I'm wondering if I can get away with something like StudioCloud in my first year and still get all the analysis and tracking I need to become profitable.</p>

<p>Does anyone have experience with <a href="http://www.successware.net/products.html">SuccessWare</a> or any similar software? It looks like they offer great tools for business planning, accounting, pricing, etc.<br /> I'm working on setting up a home-based, 1-person portrait photography business, (after doing it on the side for a few years) and trying to do it the right way with a business plan, pricing strategy, good record keeping and a solid handle on my financials. I was planning on using Excel, but stumbled upon SuccessWare and was wondering if others use it and think it's worth it.<br /> Does it eliminate the need for QuickBooks? Is it worth the cost for a tiny business like mine, with no employees or complex scheduling needs? (I'm trying to manage my expenses as much as possible in my first full-time year, but if this will help me save hours and get much more organized about the financial end of things, maybe it's worth it?)<br /> Thanks in advance for your help.<br /> Vicky</p>

<p>Sorry, had to add one last note... I don't mean to ignore the post linking to ASMP, and currently am working on a plan to really figure out and document my cost of doing business and the minimum hourly rate that I can afford to charge. I've been doing photography on the side for a while, and finally getting ready to do it full time, which is why I'm just now working out all the financials. So I guess this question should be rephrased... I'm not necessarily looking for advice on how I should price my work because I know that will need to be based on my own cost of doing business, but I'm just interested in a competitive analysis of local rates and general pricing strategies (day rate vs. half day rate vs. hourly, ... usage rights, etc.) for this level of client. I know that someone in Kansas will charge less than someone in LA, even if their operating costs are somehow the same. So I'm just looking for some ideas on ranges in the San Diego area.</p>

<p>Thank you.</p>

<p>Also, here are the photos from the shoot, in case it helps: http://vephoto.smugmug.com/Children/Oopsy-Daisy-Mission-Bay/10521383_WzhLW<br>

password: vickyeydelberg</p>

<p>Apologies to those who responded months ago - I didn't get an email notification and didn't think to check, just reviewing my profile today and noticed your replies :(<br>

Glenn (or anyone else!), if you're still open to giving advice, the specifics are:<br>

- Client: http://www.oopsydaisy.com/ (that image on the home page is from my last shoot for them, although it looks like their graphic designer did some add'l editing on it to make it darker)<br>

- Time shooting - 2 hrs<br>

- Travel time - 1 hr<br>

- Editing time - 3 hrs<br>

- Rights - unlimited usage<br>

- There was no setup or scouting time really, they knew exactly what they wanted, where etc.<br>

- I hired an assistant just in case it was sunny to hold a diffuser</p>

<p>In regards to the level that I was performing the assignment at... This is my one "commercial" client, and for the most part I shoot natural light child/family portraits, and I also do some weddings. No lighting equipment was involved, and as I mentioned above, very little setup.</p>

<p>I will probably have requests for similar shoots for this client in the future, and would absolutely love some advice on pricing a job like this. It would be interesting to compare your suggestions to what I ended up charging for this assignment!</p>

<p>I've had trouble finding local day rates to help me get my prices into the right range. Does anyone have advice on average day rates in the San Diego, CA area?<br>

Also, if the shoot will only take two hours, is near my home, and will require almost no post-processing, should I charge half a day rate, a third of a day rate?</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your help.</p>

 

<p>I am going to be designing my first wedding album and I am completely overwhelmed by all the choices out there! Hoping the photo.net community doesn't mind helping me with a few top questions:<br>

1. Are most people printing their spreads at a lab as opposed to having the album company print them? Or are there certain album companies out there who have very good printing? (or maybe it's more a matter of seeing the prints before making an album?)<br>

2. For those who print at a lab, do you just print on the smallest size paper that fits your album spread? And the album company simply crops on their end?<br>

3. Does anyone have advice regarding which album companies are easiest to order with? In my research I've gotten the impression that many album companies are still "old school" in the sense that orders are placed with a PDF form. If two companies had equal quality, I'd want to go with one that provided easy online ordering and tracking. Currently I am considering Zookbinders, Leather Craftsmen, Finao, Collages.net (although I believe you can't send prints to collages.net), Miller's and whcc.<br>

4. Do you charge clients tax on albums? (assuming you don't have to pay tax to the album manufacturer if you're going to resell?)</p>

<p>Thanks so much! Even if you just have input on any one of these questions, it would be much appreciated.</p>

<p>I'm shopping for a ballhead as well, and looking for something relatively inexpensive (under $150), light, and easy to use. I found this interesting one with decent reviews on B&H, but it's a bit different... has anyone ever used something like this? My concern is that it weighs 2 lbs and I'm looking for something I can easily travel with - I have a very light Slik Sprint Pro 3 way tripod.<br /> <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=48595&is=REG#specifications">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=48595&is=REG#specifications</a> <br /> <img src="file:///C:/DOCUME~1/Vicky/LOCALS~1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /> <br /> <img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/48595.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="175" /></p>

<p>If not the one above, I'm also considering <a href="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=508013&is=REG#specifications">http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=workaround.jsp&A=details&Q=&sku=508013&is=REG#specifications</a> which weighs only 12 oz and has good reviews as well.<br /> <img src="http://www.bhphotovideo.com/images/items/508013.jpg" alt="" width="175" height="175" /></p>

<p>Does anyone have experience with either of these, or anything similar?<br>

Oh yeah, and I definitely need to have Quick Release :)</p>

<p>Thanks so much for your advice!!</p>

Can anyone recommend a good bag that can fit a camera as big as the Mark II, 1-

2 lenses, potentially a tripod, and still also fit some non-camera hiking

stuff?

 

I would love to find something that is comfortable to hike with, weatherproof,

and within carryon size.

Can anyone recommend a quality printer with online ordering, fast turnaround,

and GOOD PAPER? (Also one who can do small quanitities, I only need a few

hundred)

For those who recommended the Demb Diffuser - would you recommend the PRO or the JUMBO? (for my Mark II N and 580 EX flash)

 

Thank you!

Thanks for all of your advice! This is great.

Thank you Jim!

I have a brand new Mark II N and need to buy a flash that I can use for

portraits and potentially weddings in the future. I will not be using any other

professional lighting except for the flash. Based on advice from this forum,

I've decided to buy the 580EX II.

 

My question is - what type of diffuser would you recommend? On B&H I have seen

the following, and wondering if I could get some advice on which one to get for

my purposes?

 

Thanks sooo much!

 

OPTION 1: $14

SBM #0104 Supreme Flash Diffuser for Canon 580EX Flash

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=details_accessories&A=details&Q=&sku=408070&is=REG&addedTroughType=accessory_detail&addedTroughValue=348457_USA

 

 

OPTION 2: $49

Gary Fong P4 Lightsphere II Inverted Dome Flash Diffusion System (Clear)

 

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=435134&is=REG

 

 

Also, do I need anything of the other accessories that B&H is recommending,

like a FLIP BRACKET, TRANSMITTER, BATTERY PACK, SYNC CORD?

 

Thanks again!

I just did a major upgrade from a Nikon D50 to a Canon Mark II N and Canon 70-

200 2.8 lens (I must say I feel a bit nauseus from the amount of money I just

spent! Hopefully it's worth it!) I shoot mostly outdoor daylight sports

(races), but have some contacts who are willing to let me try some indoor,

nighttime events once I have the right equipment. I have never used any flash

(aside from the one that comes on the camera). Can anyone suggest a good flash

to start out with, and any accessories I need with the flash? I'll be shooting

events such as galas, awards dinners, social events, etc.) In terms of price

range, I guess I'm looking for something mid-range - a flash that will last me

a while and grow with me as I grow as a photographer.

 

Thanks so much for your help!

I'm having trouble consistently in the following areas and wondering if anyone

would be kind enough to give me some advice?

 

-- In the type of lighting/background situation you see in my example photo,

the colors always look off, the sky is flat. Is it me or just the lighting

situation? Should I have used a flash here so I could underexpose the sky? I

don't have a flash, but just wondering if I should get a powerful flash for

stuff like this.

 

-- I have so much trouble with FOCUS in pictures with moving subjects. I

usually do aperture priority and try to get the lowest (number) aperture I can.

Even when I increase the aperture (or decrease - what's the correct

terminology?) to F22 I still have trouble focusing sometimes. I have a Nikon

D50 and Nikon 70-300 variable aperture lens. Is it me or the equipment or both?

Any suggestions for improvement?

 

- How much does image quality decrease by going up to 800 ISO? I've been trying

to compare 400 to 800 but can't see that much of a difference. Is it still

preferred to stick to a lower number or has the technology been improved so it

doesn't matter?

 

Thank you so much, I know it's a long question and I appreciate your help.

 

(By the way the attached was shot at 1/320 sec, f/4.2, 122 mm focal length,

pattern metering mode, cloudy white balance setting. This is BEFORE any

photoshop editing was done)<div></div>

Thank you everyone for your responses. This is exactly what I needed, as I was pretty nervous about taking a chance with that amount of money. I think the stress I would go through in the process of waiting to see if I just lost a few thousand dollars might not be worth the savings :)

 

I've used B&H but never heard of KEH before... Just to be completely sure, is this the correct place: http://www.keh.com/onlinestore/home.aspx

Has anyone had any good or bad experiences spending a few thousand bucks on

ebay? I've been looking for a 1D Mark II N plus some expensive lenses... there

are some good prices on ebay and the sellers' ratings look good, BUT... it is

SOOO much money to spend with no guarantee. Would love to hear the experiences

of others and how they got over their fear (or regretted their decision?) of

spending that much money on ebay.

I'd like to start photographing at weddings I attend to get some experience,and

eventually would love to start pursuing wedding photography professionally. My

past experience with photography is only travel and sports, so I do not have

any experience with flash and have never owned a flash.

 

Does anyone have any advice? I would really be very thankful as there is so

much info out there that it is overwhelming to search. Looking for all advice,

and specifically:

 

1. What kind of flash to start with?

 

(I have a Canon 30D, 17-55 2.8 lens and 70-200 2.8 lens)

 

 

 

2. What other "equipment" do I need besides a flash?

 

 

3. Does the flash itself need to be set each time you take a photo, in addition

to setting the camera f-stop/aperture?

 

 

 

4. What's the best way to get into wedding photography?

 

 

 

Thank you for your help.

What are the various philosophies on cropping that are out there? Is there

a "common" or most popular philosophy on cropping? I'm thinking in terms of

the following... General professional view of cropping after the fact vs.

during shooting? Is there some specific height/width ratio that should be

maintained when I crop?

I have been doing SLR photography at an amatuer level for 8 years, but now

looking to become a professional. Although I'm definitely not a beginner - I

am also definitely not a professional, and there is still quite a bit I need

to learn about digital photography (had film until last year), lighting,

flash, etc. Can anyone recommend some good resources (books, sites, magazines)

for someone at my level? I am especially interested in magazines to subscibe

to as the web is a bit overwhelming and books are more expensive.

 

I'm looking to get into any photography having to do with people... wedding,

fashion, event, etc.

 

Thank you so much for your help!

Wow I just checked back on this site, thanks so much to everyone for their advice, this is great. Yeah I definitely meant LESS depth of field, so much for trying to sound like I know what I am talking about!

Thanks everyone.

I just received the Nikon D50 as gift this morning. I currently have a

very cheap Tamron zoom lens, and would like to buy a new lens of

better quality. It would be great if someone could suggest a lens? I

don't have a very big budget, which I know is a problem. Is there any

possibility of getting something that is high-quality but only a few

hundred dollars, ideally 200-300 max? The type of photography I love

and want to focus on is documentary-type PEOPLE photography. I love

catching people in the midst of a thought or just going about their

daily life, especially while I'm travelling. I want to try to capture

people at their best - which is when they are unaware that anyone is

watching and therefore being their true self. Because of this, I need

a zoom lens with lots of depth of field, so I can blur the background

and truly focus on the emotion of the person.<div></div>