lindsey holland

Tony - I wondered about a dvd burner. I do know another photographer who had one break during a trip - he only noticed after several days. That's the downside (the same as for drives that have no viewer): it's hard to tell whether everything's properly saved. Have you had better experiences with Sony ones?

 

Eric: the thing is, I can go through 5 x 4GB CF cards in one day shooting a full wedding. So, for 4 weeks, even though I won't be doing anything like reportage coverage of my trip, I'd need to buy soooo many CF cards to be sure of not running out whilst stuck on a remote island. That's why I thought a drive with lots of memory would be a good idea. I'm not overly concerned about the dealing with technology that's new to me - so long as it's reliable and doesn't require major surgery to maintain it. Do you still think CFs are the way to go for me?

I'll be touring Thailand for 4 weeks and need a cheap storage solution for my images.

 

I'll be using a 5D, and my husband will have a 30D. We'll probably lack any kind of discipline when it comes to

how many images we take. We don't want to rely solely on CF cards, so we're looking into portable storage

devices. Our budget is limited for this, though, so we wouldn't be able to buy a storage device, and enough CF

cards to not have to wipe any of them.

 

I've read that Hyperdrives are very reliable (something like an HD80 or the Space). Even so, I'm not sure I'd

want to just rely on one of these, and buying two is over budget. I'm also investigating cheaper alternatives

that we could buy two of, so that if one goes down, we'd have another copy. The probem with this is that cheaper

alternatives are just that - cheap and poorly built.

 

We've looked at getting an Asus EEEPC laptop/netbook, and then taking our two external drives as well - heavy but

maybe a better solution?

 

Another option that I'd like opinions on is getting a pocket surfer like the one they talk about here:

 

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/index.cfm?action=showthread&threadid=297830&forumid=2

 

and like this:

 

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Pocket-Surfer-Wireless-Internet-Appliance/dp/B000YCRRZK/ref=sr_1_42?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1225753460&sr=8-42

 

I can't find much information as to whether it's usb compatible though. Would this work?

 

I leave in less than a week - after a busy season, it's only now that I'm thinking about myself, this trip, and

getting into a last minute panic.

 

Please help!

C Jo Gough - "Why not just grab a frame from the video ::: that's how I see the next wave of photographers".

 

That's exactly the thing that will see videographers putting wedding photographers out of business. If a good videographer, who knows how to frame a shot well, can freeze any moment of it as a high resolution print, stills for weddings will be redundant. The only thing, in that case, that would save it is the fact that wedding photographers are able to get lots of different angles and move much more quickly from shot to shot than a videographer does. We don't have to wait in each place before moving to the next.

 

As for taking "800 or more photos, for one event....(being) like a video production", I don't see that at all. Occasionally, I've covered a full day wedding with my husband and the total shots have racked up to the 800 mark. We then edit through them and put together an album that's a mixture of candid and posed shots. Taking lots of candids is not the same as leaving a video rolling - we'll shoot one guest that we see laughing and within moments be looking for the next, the next. During confetti we'll fire off lots of shots whilst moving from high to low angle, back/forth within seconds. That's not like leaving a video rolling. Generally, we're far, far more active than videographers - you have to be to get the different angles.

I pre-ordered the 5D mk ii the day it came out. I have absolutely no intention of using it for video, except possibly for my own holidays, and even then I'd rather use a separate video camera. It frightens me, in a way, that Canon seem to think the market might be heading in this direction. I wonder whether it's the current trend for cramming as many technical wizardries into one unit as possible (Canon Japan being responsible), or whether it's an accurate guess at the way photographers are likely to be working in future.

 

Of course, it isn't just designed for wedding photographers. I could see this feature being useful for commercial and fashion photographers. But some wedding photographers, I'm sure, are likely to start offering video as well, and it will be truly awful (possibly even worse than the average videographer out there. I'm speaking for England here - maybe in the US, land of filmmakers, you're generally better in this respect). Surely there'll always be a place for true quality and specialism.

 

So, the real question as I see it is "do we all have to go fully multi-media now?".

Until someone starts making multi-media wedding albums, I don't see how this fits with what we do.

My only real blunder (thankfully) happened this year at a wedding in August.

 

I'd been with the bride at her house and then gone on to the church ahead of her. There was a balcony which we'd

planned for me to use for the processional so I went up there to take readings. The church had two aisles - the

bride would go up the left aisle and come back down the right aisle, so I knew to position myself to the left of

the balcony rather than the centre. Once up there, I realised that if I went too far over, although I'd be over

the aisle, I'd have a chandelier-style light-fitting underneath me - in the way and ruining my exposures. The

videographer had set up her spare tripod a yard and a half the other way, so I wouldn't have much room to maneuver.

 

Once the bride had arrived and we'd taken the usual shots outdoors and on the church steps, I had to race up a

spiral staircase, reset my camera and get in position very quickly. I ran over to the left, above the aisle, and

was just about looking through the viewfinder when the processional began.

 

I then realised that I'd run so far over to the left that, although I was directly over the aisle, I was over the

light-fitting. The bride was now below me. Still looking through the viewfinder, I moved to the right, straight

into the videographer's tripod which came crashing to the floor. Even worse, on the other side of the balcony

railing was a large, old, heavy tapestry. It was mounted on a wooden frame and suspended from a hook which I'd

also managed to knock. The whole thing banged into the church wall, making an even louder noise. The shots I

got show several members of the congregation looking up at me instead of the bride. The bride dutifully kept

walking up the aisle but I did hear her say "what the hell was that?" (don't think the vicar would have

approved!). She mentioned it later and thankfully she found it funny. The videographer actually apologised for

leaving the tripod there - she had a feeling it was in an awkward position and had meant to move it.

 

I'm just really glad that the bride and her guests were an easy going group. Still, I did feel like a clumsy

oaf. A lesson absolutely learnt - never focus too hard on the world you're seeing through glass because the real

world might just jump up and bite:)

I'm designing a new sample album and am considering using several weddings for it. All my other albums follow

one wedding from start to finish. The idea behind this is that it will show different couples at the same stage

of the day, with the images being edited so that they match and complement one another.

 

Do you have any albums like this, and do couples like them? Do you think it's always best to just follow the one

wedding from start to finish?

 

Thanks for any advice you can offer!

I'm thinking of buying either the Dell 2408WFP or NEC LCD2470WNX. Unfortunately, I can't afford to spend more on

this right now and really, I should be spending less.

 

Am I looking at the best options, or is there something else you'd recommend in this price range, or even better,

something that costs less without losing quality? I want at least a 24" screen - I'd possibly settle for 22" but

would rather not. It's to be hooked up to a Mac Pro and I'd prefer to avoid glossy screens.

 

If you don't know of any particular models, what do you think are the most crucial things I should look out for?

Is it just a case of avoiding TN screens?

Which of these should I buy, or is there something better in this price range? It's to be hooked up to a Mac Pro.

Edmond - thanks. The link you posted is to the model up from the one I was considering though - the wnx rather than the wvx. I still can't find any proper reviews of the wvx.

 

What I'd really like is to hear people's experiences with monitors in this range for photographic work. Which should I be considering?

I'm looking to replace my current 19" Dell 1905fp. My budget won't stretch too an Eizo, Lacie or NEC 90 range,

and I want as large a screen as possible, hence I'm considering the NEC 2470. I can't find any proper reviews of

it and wondered if it would be suitable for image work.

 

Obviously, whichever monitor I get will need to be calibrated. One thing I've loved about my Dell, though, is

that it's hardly ever needed to be altered - it literally almost matched the lab straight out of the box.

Another monitor like that would be fantastic as I'm no technical whizz when it comes to calibration and won't be

able to spend on the more expensive calibration software.

 

I'd also rather not have a glossy screen, but that's not too important, so long as the gloss doesn't increase

contrast too much (ie, it's easy to calibrate properly!).

 

I hadn't expected to be buying a new monitor right now, hence the lack of budget (just ordered a new 5d mk ii +

lens, plus company car). The Dell needs upgrading though, and I have an exhibition next week for which I'd like

a decent screen for slideshows - might as well kill two birds.

 

I use Mac - not sure whether that's relevant (Mac Pro Octocore). I'm wary of buying Dell again as I've read that

the model I have was just a particularly good one. My colleague has a Samsung which is ok, but it's gloss and

only a 22" - I'd like at least 24". I'm looking at NEC as I know they're high end monitors are amongst the best.

 

Is there anything else in this price range that you'd recommend? I'm looking at spending £400 at the most,

ideally less (I'm in the UK. $400 monitors in the US would still cost about £400 here). Even though my budget is

tight, I also can't afford to buy a dead horse. What do you suggest?

Patrick - that'd be really helpful. Thanks.

Steven - Been looking further into Livebooks. I like their sites, but their basic package is $800 and wouldn't be comprehensive enough for me. The next step up is $1700. Where did you see one for $500?

Hi Steven, - Thanks, I"m looking into the Livebooks option. I don't think the slow sites can be just because of image size, although obviously you know more than me about it! I find even the designers sample sites slow (Bludomain, Bigfolio), and they only include a few images which are all presumably optimised. Clickbooqs' sites seem much faster.

Thanks Patrick. I'm seriously considering Clickbooq. Out of interest, do you know how many images you can download to private lightboxes? I've been reading the info on their website, and the main portfolios are limited to 36 images. I presume this isn't the case with the private sections? I currently have a huge number of images stored up in galleries that customers need to be able to access for several months.

Your site's looking good, by the way - really nice work.

 

Any other suggestions before I go and blow a load of cash would still be much appreciated!

 

Thanks!

Paul - no, a shopping cart won't need to cost much more. I have one at the moment and my site cost £350. I

designed most of it myself - everything except the coding. Only problem with it is that I have to spend the same

again each year and it isn't even flash. I don't need a fully functioning e-commerce site, only the function for

people to be able to select their chosen images and send a list of them to me.

 

Patrick - I"m not sure what you mean when you say 'per is around what you want'. Do you mean Cliqbook? I might

be being very stupid here as I've read a number of posts about Cliqbook, but when I put in 'Cliqbook.com' I get

redirected to Concur.com, an Employee Spend Management services company. Please advise!:)

My website is due for a facelift - something that will launch it into the realm of 'high end' photographers and

scream professionalism from the first click, not to mention do justice to the images.

 

I don't want to launch another long debate over the pros and cons of Flash. My personal take on it is that it

definitely adds to the overall impression of a site. The more sensory a viewer's experience is, the more chance

they'll be hooked.

 

Having said that, there's nothing like a slow slideshow to make me close a site. This is my big dliemma.

 

The companies that have been recommended to me are Bludomain, Bigfolio and Creative Motion Design. All of their

sample sites are slower than I'd want. Brian Dorsey's is nice and fast, but I can't find who built his, and his

images are fairly small. It's obviously possible to have a quick site with Flash though.

 

Things I need the site to do:

 

Private galleries with 300 + images in each, and a basket feature.

Several text pages (although I am looking to reduce the amount of text)

Several galleries

HTML duplicate site would be good.

Easy to add links

Easy to update

Easy to work on SEO

 

And... not ridiculously expensive. I'm in the UK but I'm looking worldwide. Something in the region of $500 to

$600 would be fine.

 

My current site is: http://www.aganphotography.co.uk

 

Any recommendations?

Thanks for the answers. I've been looking at Forklift and Quicksilver and they seem very good for quickly

accessing individual files and folders. I can't find any mention of whether it's possible to put in a list of

files for them to find though, and that's the main thing I need. If, for example, a client emails me with a list

of 50 images, I then usually copy the list into a text file and save it, and then manually have to select each

file individually, using the list as reference. I can see that some of these programs would speed this up a

little, but it looks as though each file would still have to be inputted separately. What I'd like to be able to

do is paste the whole list into a program and have it find all of the files within the folder. Do you know if

this is possible?

 

Regarding Lightroom - I use this myself. I haven't found a function in it that can select many different files

in one go though.

How do you do it?

 

Thanks again!

I'm looking for a program to help speed up my file selection process.

 

It's not for during the processing stages but for after the images have been archived in a semi-edited state.

 

At the moment, clients send me a list of images, sometimes with thumbnails next to them. I then have to go into

the folder and pick them out one by one by the file name, ready to load into my album design software, to burn to

CD, etc. If it's a full day wedding, with 500 + images, and they've chosen 140, this is a pain, and isn't

exactly time-efficient.

 

I haven't found any software from searching Google, and the articles about file management software I've read in

pro magazines always seem to be for archiving and applying metadata, which wouldn't help with this. What I

really need is a program that recognises text file names and locates them.

 

My system is Mac.

 

Is there an alternative that I don't know about? What do you do about this?

 

Many thanks for any suggestions!

Thanks for all of your responses - that's a big help.

 

As for standing out, on the one hand I won't because I'm 5 feet tall, and on the other I will because I'm even paler than most westerners!

 

The lenses will be split between myself and my husband, hence taking three - don't think I'd attempt to carry all that weight on my own.

 

Another couple of questions... for those of you who've already travelled around this area.

 

When I've travelled in Europe I've taken the 'figure it out when I get there' approach, usually hired a car, generally been on a very low budget. For this trip I'll obviously not be able to take the hire car route (although I'm still tempted by this for some of it). I'd also like to not have to rough it quite so much. So, the questions are, what's the best way to get around, to what extent would you recommend organised tours, and how readily available is reasonable/nice accomodation?

 

Thanks for any other ideas you have!

I'm planning to visit Thailand, and hopefully a couple of neighbouring countries as well (Laos,

Cambodia and/or Vietnam). I'll visit the usual cities, temples, jungle and beach resorts, and

hopefully stray from the usual tracks (although not into any Cambodian minefields - I'm aware of

this being an issue).

 

Travel guides warn of camera theft being a problem on the street and in guesthouses. I'd really like

to take my 5D, L 70-200 IS, L 24-70 and L 16-40. I can't afford to have this stolen though!

 

I notice that previous Thailand-related posts don't mention any problems with theft. Is it a case of

being careful, as ever, but not unduly worried?

 

Also, any advice on what the climate is like in the north and south in November would be much

appreciated. Guidebooks are a little vague about November as it seems to fall between seasons.

 

Thanks!

I have a couple wanting to book me for their wedding abroad. The issue is

that while my husband (who works part-time for me on weddings and full time in

a portrait studio) is available, I've already taken a booking for their date.

The booking I have is for one of my lowest ever packages. It's a local

wedding and the couple are aware that my husband works with me. At the time

of booking them, I didn't specify whether the photographer would be myself or

my husband, although they probably assume it will be me. As I have more

experience of wedding photography, really I'd like to do the foreign wedding

and have my husband do the local, smaller one (also, I'd like the travelling

for myself, but I'm trying to put that to one side!). I'm not sure how best

to approach the couple who have already booked me, if at all. Should I

explain the situation to them, and ask whether they have a strong preference

for me over my husband?

 

Many thanks for any advice!

I have two consultations coming up, one today and one on Monday, with couples

who potentially want to book me for the same day. Both will be full day

coverage and both have seen my work already and seem very interested. The

second bride only arranged to meet me today after having rearranged her

wedding venue and date. Looking in my diary I saw that her new date is still

free and told her that I'm available, only later noticing that the other

couple are interested in the same date.

I've had this before, but usually with more time to talk to the couples about

the situation.

I'd like to know what other photographers do about this, and what steps you

take to avoid it, if any. Do you keep a note of all dates people are

interested in, as well as booked out ones? Do you ever cancel consultations

at the last minute because you've just been booked?

 

Another issue is that, while I work full time, my husband is also a

professional photographer, working part time for me on weddings. This is

usually when a couple wants two photographers rather than one. Generally,

brides seem to favour me because I'm female (as well as liking my style), and

this may well be the case with the two couples I've mentioned above. One

option, though, might be to have my husband cover one of the weddings on his

own. He's done fashion and commercial work, and he's currently a full-time

portrait studio photographer, but he's never gone solo on a wedding before,

and can make the occaional slip which I usually cover.

 

Any advice, thoughts or anecdotes will be greatly appreciated:)

 

Thanks!

I also recommend Capture One. I'm using version Pro 3.7.3 and it's really simplified and speeded up the process. It automatically saves changes you make to the raw file without them being permanent, if that makes sense - you adjust sliders and it keeps them at whatever point you left them at. When you want to send an image, or a batch, over to Photoshop, you just highlight them and press the button.

Does anyone know of a UK company that offers cheap liability insurance? I'm

doing a show at a National Trust property, for which I have to have it. I've

tried Winsover Howden who quoted me ﾣ86 for the year, which I'll possibly go

with, but would rather not jump at the first option. Also, I'd initailly

hoped to just get insurance for the day (my budget's tight at the moment after

my computer & car both blew up this month) and then buy more when I can.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

Yaron - you sound like the man to ask about security. given that no firewall will be 100

percent effective with XP anyway, and we're talking damage limitation, what do you

recommend?

Thanks!