dusty2004

Maybe you should have, then you wouldn't be stumbling around so much in mid-life as you claim you are. And maybe if you focus a little harder and decide where you want to go you may actually get somewhere. Yes, I know they are harsh words. I just hate the thought of you stumbling around when you are old. Maybe by then you are rolling around. It would be a good life wasted. I believe you have what it takes, now go for it. Cheers.

Hello Richard,the best way is to check out the internet if you have this at your disposal. There are a number of companies that take submissions on a yearly basis for use in calendars. They will advise you of their requirments. The other option it to contact them directly. Or if you are confident with your material it sometimes pays to send in your work with a letter stating your intentions. Just a word of caution. It is hard work and there will be rejections. Best wishes to you.

Hello Richard,the best way is to check out the internet if you have this at your disposal. There are a number of companies that take submissions on a yearly basis for use in calendars. They will advise you of their requirments. The other option it to contact them directly. Or if you are confident with your material it sometimes pays to send in your work with a letter stating your intentions.

It worked for me why not you. Just a word of caution. It is hard work and there will be rejections. The way to success is to walk the road of failure. Best wishes to you.

I can answer some of your questions in regards to having your work published. First let me warn you that you must be able to deal with rejection. Second it is simply hard work and there are no short cuts.

Patience and perserverance and a dogged determination will help too. My first step into having work published was to enter competitions in photographic magazines. This helps your confidence. From there on I moved to greeting card companies. I simply wrote to them to see if they were open to submissions. If so I presented a portfolio of my best images. Quality is important here not quantity. I was fortunate that in most cases they accepted a set of images. This again boosts your confidence. From there I went upmarket and approached larger firms. Many larger firms actually seek submissions. Write to them for further details or check the internet for their requirments. I would like to stress that your work must a least match their quality. I had a least ten years of experience behind me before I even considered to submit my work. It is a very exciting thing to see your work on cards and calenders. My last piece of advice to you is spend a lot of time sharpening your axe before you cut down a tree. It will save disappointment. My best wishes to you Joseph.

Adam, I have taken the time to study your portfolio. I will give you my honest opinion, anything less than that would not be fair to you or me. You approach is probably a little different from what the market expects. You do not fall into the typical, for better want of words, genre. I understand that this is your first year and no doubt a very scary one. There is still a little work to be done on refining your skills. In particular with light and posing. Perhaps a somewhat more conventional approach may help. What you need to remember is that you are not an artist at liberty to do your own thing. You are expected to produce the images they want or have seen somewhere else.

I have done about a dozen weddings myself I got out because I lacked the skills and did not enjoy it. Adam I am not trying to rain on your parade but I will not lie to you. I think you would gain a lot of knowledge if you were able to assist an accomplished wedding photographer. Your time in exchange for knowledge and skills.

Only those who have nothing to fear have nothing to hide. Without shame there can be no honour. There will always be those that feel the need to put others down to make themselves greater. There are none so great as those who will stoop down to help those in need. Lets focus on those. Cheers

Good advice everbody. It's a wise man that heeds good advice. Best wishes to you James.

My experience with a workshop was a simple one. It simply confirmed to do my own thing and learn the hard way. In my case the photographer was more interested in himself and showing of his work. I learned to be wary of workshops. What I have also found is that all the information you require can be gleaned from the internet, books and many other sources. Often much cheaper than a workshop. Practise and patience will serve you well, not to mention being self motivated and dedicated. Lessons that are hard won are rarely forgotten. Buyer beware.

It's a T2 Tabacco Filter by Cokin.

Buy what serves YOUR needs best. Jot down what you need from a camera and make sure you get it. Or as close as. In the end you need to take responsibility for your own choice. Cheers.

With patience, perserverance and persistance. Something else called anticipation. As well as learning to use your camera manually and pre-focus on a given distance. I have photographed my children this way and has proved to be very successful. Yes, practise is certainly the key. Too many people want great results but are not willing to put in the time or effort. They expect the camera to do ALL the work. Whatever happend to refining our abilities, learning new skills and accepting challenges. Is it not more rewarding to get great results knowing you had a part in it. Maybe this is not what you wanted to hear Paige.

Define great. Depends on how high you set your standards. As your skills grow, so should your standards. And so the upward spiral begins to greatness. When the photographer himself embarks on greatness then so too will his pictures become great. Become great in spirit, your images will reflect this.

Hello Robert. If you are new to photography should you not at least have a basic grasp of photography before accepting commisions. Is it fair to your clients, assuming that you are totally new at this. Be wary. Just because your first foray was successful does not mean you will get a free ride. Can you guarantee success each time. Do you have the skills to deal with the unforseen. I think you should do your class first. Do you throw a child in the water and then when it has drowned teach it to swim. It is a wise man who knows his limitations. Seek not profit before knowledge.

Hi Emily. A lot has been said. The only thing I can add is that a 80-100mm lens is the one that most closely reproduces the image as we see with our own eyes from a perspective point of view.

Who cares what the current standards are, don't compare yourself with others. Set your own standards and become unique in what you do. Set your standards high and then become the best that you can become. Think for yourself, act for yourself so that YOU will become yourself. Do not imitate others. Learn your basics and some more. Practise your craft and patiently perservere. Shoot from the heart, care about people and your clients and they will come. Cheers.<div></div>

Hard work and much experience in the form of learning basic photographic skills. Then to continue learning and to apply your knowledge. To perservere patiently and persistently. To ignore your critics and listen to your heart. To feel rather than to imitate.

To think for yourself, to act for yourself so that you can become yourself. To try, try and try again. Never to give up. To grow old so that you will have the time to do all that is required. To love what it is you do. I have photographed my children with a passion. It turns out that they are the most rewarding images. If I can help you in any other way please ask.<div></div>

It was not my intention to offend you. But I have. Garry I am sorry. I guess I'll leave it at that.

Gary if something is wearing you out as you claim you have two options. Grow stronger or as Ghandi said, If one cannot do a thing with joy then don't do it at all. I think you get my drift. Stop complaining and just get on with it. TRY SITTING IN A WHEELCHAIR ALL DAY DEPENDING ON OTHERS TO FEED YOU, CLOTHE YOU, BATH YOU ETC. YOU THINK YOU HAVE GOT IT HARD. Maybe you would like to meet my friend Rhonda. Would you like to trade places ???? Maybe you need to change your thinking. Nothing is either good or bad only YOUR thinking makes it so. ( Hamlet, Shakespeare ) Have a nice day. !!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello Stefanie. I am going to agree with all the aforementioned comments.

However, I do not wish to dampen your spirits. What I would like to suggest is that you find a profesional wedding photographer who is willing to take you under his wing. No payment. Your time in exchange for guidance and teaching. It is amazing what you will learn by assisting and observations. I sincerely hope that you will do this.

Gain skill and knowledge BEFORE PROFIT. This will come in time. There is no shame in admitting you are not ready to take on weddings. People will respect you for that. I am sure you get what we are all saying. Be patient. Best wishes to you.

I prefer to concetrate on those beginners that ask for a FAIR AND HONEST critique. They want to learn and want advice and ways to improve their work. I think it's a sad day that some of us feel the need to be here for point scoring. I believe that we should help one another. They need someone that believes in them and inspires them. Points will come later, maybe.

The most important thing photography wise is to come DOWN TO THEIR LEVEL. Don't take all your shots standing up. Vary the angles, get in close. Become one of the kids at heart. Have fun. More important to aquire skill than to think of PROFIT. Make sure that you do cover ALL YOUR COSTS. Think of it as a means to gain experience and build YOUR confidence. Make sure that you always carry extra film or have an extra memory card. Nothing worse when all goes well and no more.