jenseay

David, I do the same thing with the "buy multiple images" but the problem is that if a person wants an 8x10 of #321 and two 5x7's of #254, once I get to the shopping cart, I don't know 321 from 254. When I click on multiple prints, there's an option to add the file number below each picture, but not within the shopping cart itself.

 

I've written to smugmug before to ask them about print credits, and as always, a person write back, but they say it's something they're working on...so it's not coming yet. The best thing about smugmug is the people, so maybe if enough of us write to them and ask for print credits, we'll see faster progress!

 

Jen

I'm with you, Kevin. In 52 weddings, I've only had about three where the bride and groom didn't mind seeing each other before the ceremony. I always suggest it (for the reasons that Paul T. mentioned) but they almost never take me up on it.

 

I took about 45-50 minutes for formals today after the ceremony (at two different locations), and that was my longest formal session in almost a year. Generally, I keep it under 30 minutes (my record is 14 minutes).

 

Jen

If you're photographing a Catholic wedding mass, and you're a Catholic

yourself, is it appropriate to receive communion during that part of the mass?

 

I photographed a Catholic wedding two weeks ago, and although I chose not to

receive communion, the question popped in my mind, and I thought I'd present it

to all of you. What do you think?

Saw the title of this thread and just had to throw this in... I took it last weekend.

 

Jen<div></div>

...so what made it your best?

At the wedding I shot last weekend, the bride and bridesmaids all had strings hanging from their dresses that they wanted to cut. They asked, "does anyone have scissors?" I'd never thought about carrying scissors...someone found a nail clipper, and it did the trick. I might carry scissors (or a nail clipper) now!

 

And I ABSOLUTELY agree with the Tide pen...I've been there for a wedding-gown-and-chocolate-fountain incident, and a grass-stain-just-before-Naval-Academy-Chapel-wedding incident - YAY Tide pen!

 

Jen

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Teddy Roosevelt once said, "Every man owes a part of his time and money to the business or industry in which he is engaged. No man has a moral right to withhold his support from an organization that is striving to improve conditions within his sphere." Just my $.02.

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Maybe raise your price to $4.99 and hold a "temporary price cut - 20% off for a limited time!!" Maybe people will want to beat the clock!

 

I'm a middle school teacher, but I don't usually put my school pictures up for sale - I tell kids they can have 'em if they want 'em. Occasionally, a parent will order a print or two (at $5 for a 4x6), but not often, especially when they can right-click and have it for free.

 

Best of luck....

 

Jen

I use a 5D and 580 EX with NO bracket. It's worked for me for 2 years...I just bounce the flash or use the flip-it, and keep my subjects away from the walls.

 

Jen

I use the Energizer 2500 mAh - a dozen of them last me ALL day in my canon battery pack and flach, with NO recycle time wasted. I bought my first set at Best Buy, but they have them at Sam's Club too.

 

Jen

I'll give you just my first impression (of the first page) since everyone else has given their critiques... on the title page, it says "Jeremy & Liz" but the person on the left is Liz, then Jeremy. Maybe it doesn't matter...but just thought I'd throw it out there.

 

Jen

I used a free photoshop action to create the picture below. Not REAL IR, but I thought it looked pretty cool.

 

Jen<div></div>

Gwendolyn,

 

Glad you added the "view galleries" link on the left side. That makes it easier to find your portfolio. I don't think it's necessary to make the link the actual URL of the photostockplus website - just hyperlinking something like "click here" might look nicer.

 

I still think you need to change the word "shoots" on the portfolios...just something simple like "photos" (or just "weddings," "children," "maternity") would make a big difference.

 

I agree that the intro paragraph is wordy. A better use of the first page of the site would be something like a slideshow of your best pictures - that would make an impact, as that's what people want to see when they visit a photography website.

 

The very first thing that hit me, though, is the very first word...it's spelled "persistent," not "persistant."

 

Hope this helps.

 

Jen

I went to skechers.com and found some great shoes under "Skechers Work" (the kind I wore when I was waiting tables in college). I found a 25% off coupon online, AND if you put your email address on their mailing list, you get free shipping. The $57 shoes came to under $45, and they're REALLY comfortable!

 

Jen

I second what Heather said - it's exactly what I did when I saw that I had to enter my email. I'm glad you removed that from the portfolio galleries. You might want to reconsider your wording on those galleries too - the word "shoots" just doesn't have a nice ring to it (like you took out your gun, not your camera).

 

I'd also suggest that you put a link to those portfolio pictures on the left toolbar somewhere... I missed it the first time I looked at the homepage, and didn't know where to go, to get to the portfolios.

 

Some of your pictures are really, really good - good exposure, lighting - then there are others that really look like snapshots that a wedding guest might take. I can tell that you've used the on-camera flash for some pictures (which I'd bet most pros here would never think of doing), but for other pictures, you really seemed to know what you were doing with the lighting. It's just inconsistent.

 

Sorry...I hope this helps you out.

 

Oh...and to Stephen W., who said "Honestly, I can't think of an instance" when he tried to recreate a photograph.... PUHHHLEASE! Give me a break! I think you're lying if you say you've never EVER tried to recreate a photo that you liked. I do it often, especially with the inspiring pictures I see on this site (Does that make me unoriginal? I guess so, but I'll just have to live with it).

On the subject of flash, the first thing that I noticed (because it's something I used to do) is that you bounced the flash off the ceiling directly above your subjects, leading to dark eye sockets. I have solved this problem by (1) using a diffuser (I prefer to use the flip-it (http://www.dembflashproducts.com/diffuser/) and the lightsphere interchangeably) and (2) turning your flash to the side and bouncing it off the wall (if there is one nearby) for some nice side (portrait) lighting. Hope this helps!

I've looked at people's pictures on pictage before, and got weekly emails about how I needed to order pictures or albums or whatever because the gallery would be expiring. I got really tired of it, and I didn't even know the couple that got married!!

Edsel said "A multi thousand dollar camera or lens, does nothing to improve one's technique and style."

 

My multi thousand dollar lenses didn't improve my technique and style, but sure made my images a hell of a lot sharper. And my $139 battery pack did nothing to improve my technique and style... but makes my life a lot simpler!!

During my ten weeks off from wedding photography this winter, I put a lot of

thought into what I'd need to purchase to make this year's wedding season even

better than last year's. I made a few small purchases, and there are still

other things on my wish list (like a 16-35 2.8).

 

My very best purchase, though, cost me only $139. It's the Canon CP-E3 Battery

Pack. At my first wedding of the year yesterday, I shot over 1000 images over

10 hours, and never had to change the batteries. And I NEVER had to wait for

the flash to refresh - not one second. The WHOLE DAY! I had no idea what I was

missing last year, when I changed out my batteries every few hours because my

flash didn't refresh quickly enough!

 

So here's my question...what was YOUR best off-season purchase this year?

 

Jen

Oh my gosh! I got a battery pack a few weeks ago, and tried it out at my first 2007 wedding last night. The pack with 8 batteries, along with the 4 batteries in the flash, lasted me over 8 hours, and recycled almost instantly the whole night! I second that... mine is a Canon brand pack, that I wear on my belt and plug into the flash with a cord. It's awesome! (can you tell I'm excited about my new toy?)

 

Jen Seay

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"The world's largest on-camera flash diffuser."

 

Is that a good thing? Wow.. I was thinking smaller was better, but I guess I've been wrong!

 

Seriously, could we be any more cynical and facetious about this? I own a lightsphere (two of them, actually) and take beautiful pictures with it.

 

Jen

I limited myself to 20 and just booked my 24th wedding of 2007. I finally put a message on the front page of my website that says I'm not taking any more 2007 bookings.

 

I have also had THREE 2008 requests just this week (all referred from ONE former client!). I teach full time, and have eight weddings before the end of this school year (starting this Saturday) and eight after school starts in the fall, then the rest are during the summer.

 

I think I'm too cheap (still) so my prices are going up again next year (they went up 25% this year). Oh, and no advertising...all word of mouth.

 

Jen