sam_ellis

<p>I've used the pop-up flash to trigger slave flashes and it's just not reliable. Even using the SB-900 as a commander isn't perfect due to limitations with the CLS. If you don't have the IR receiver facing the right way, forget it.<br>

I purchased the Pocketwizard Flex/Mini system and have been mostly happy with it. It's not foolproof, but it's pretty good. The standard Pocketwizards are good too, but I like to be able to control the output of the slave flashes.</p>

<p>I'm trying to think of a creative name for a new service where I set up a mini studio (camera, lights, backdrop) and take group photos with silly props like funny hats, oversized glasses, inflatable guitars, etc. Some people call them photo booths, but it's not really a booth. Crazybooth, Smilebooth, and others are trademarked, so I'm trying to think of a name to use.</p>

<p>Any thoughts?</p><div></div>

<p>Great idea Nadine, I'm going to have to do this. I've never heard of drapery weights. I do a lot of beach weddings and wind is always an issue. One trick I use for the veil is to tuck a little into the back of the dress, just enough to keep it from getting out of control. A safety pin would be a good solution too.</p>

<p>One suggestion, when you contact photographers in your area make it a personal contact. Don't do an email blast to everyone or send a generic form letter. I don't bother replying to people who can't take a few minutes to address an email to me and not just a list of twenty other photographers.<br>

Keep looking on forums, I know there are several in the US where people post when they need assistants/second-shooters.<br>

Join local photography clubs and professional organizations and network.</p>

<p>I use Smugmug which uses BayPhoto as their lab. I also use BayPhoto for my base albums and Zookbinders for my upgraded albums.<br>

The nice thing about Smugmug is that your online gallery is tied directly to the print lab, so it's all seamless. I can retouch images before they're printed or just send them straight to the lab and they ship to the customer. Smugmug doesn't offer 40x60, and I'm not sure if BayPhoto does or not.</p>

<p>Your other three lenses are much lighter and shorter than the 24-70. What shutter speed were you at? I'm guessing if you're in the sun, you should have a fast shutter speed, but that's going to be the determining factor. Because of its weight, you're going to be shakier. The general rule of thumb is to keep your shutter speed above the focal length.<br>

I shoot handheld with a D3s and 24-70 all day long at weddings and rarely have a motion blur issue. It can take some time to get used to.<br>

Sam</p>

<p>This summer, I had an intern drop my D3s, 24-70, and Sb-900 off a 4 foot high shelf onto concrete. Everything survived except her, I suddenly no longer needed her services.</p>

<p>I'm looking for assistance in pricing model portfolio shots. I have an inquiry for a family portrait and she wants to do some shots of her daughter to start a portfolio. Generally, I charge a sitting fee with prints extra, no digital copies.<br>

I'm thinking I should do them seperately and charge seperately. Should I charge the same as the family portrait? I see a lot of trade for cd, but I don't want to do that. I work for money.<br>

Thanks,<br />Sam</p>

<p>I wish I hadn't read this right before going to bed!</p>

<p>You wish them the best and move on. They may already have regrets about who is shooting their wedding, do you want to make it worse for them? Some people don't have a choice. Hounding them about it isn't going to win you any clients.<br>

I've come to the realization that a wedding is different for every couple. Some people could care less about the photography. Some people get married in a courtroom. My sister got married the other week and I had my associate photographer shoot it. I knew she wasn't going to spend any real money on photos. In fact, we didn't even take ANY after the ceremony except the two of them.<br>

Photography is the most important thing to US, not everyone. I don't have a single wedding photo displayed in my house, but I have a ton of photos of my kids- THOSE are the most important pictures in my life. I think of it in terms of a car buff- some people appreciate a fine automobile, some just need a ride from point A to B. Some are willing to catch a ride with a family friend LOL!</p>

<p>I love that lens...but I don't use it as much as I should to make it worthwhile. It's great for a whole church shot from the back or when the dancefloor is jam packed and you have to work your way through the crowd to avoid too many backs of people's heads.<br>

I went into Lightroom to see how much I used it at one of my last weddings. Of the 494 photos that made the cut, only 32 of them were shot with that lens and 357 were shot with the 24-70! The rest were shot with the 70-200 or the 17-55 on a D300. The 24-70 is on my D700 most of the time and my associate uses the longer lens on the D300.<br>

I do love it though. If I absolutely HAD to sell it, I could live without it, but what fun would that be?</p>

<p>I've been with Smugmug (professional level) for three years now and have been extremely happy with them. If you want seamless proofing and ordering, then this is the way to go. Not only that, but they're my extreme emergency backup solution. I upload the full res jpegs and they save them on three different servers in three different states. Should I have a catastrophic failure here, I can get every single image I've ever uploaded to them.<br>

Case in point, a 2005 client asked to buy a copy of their dvd. I had been using Printroom at the time and only uploaded the thumbnails to their site. Somehow their backup dvd got misplaced and their files were on a computer that died so I couldn't provide them.<br>

Their service continues to improve. Recently they launched coupons/discounts/print credits and just launched packages. There are two labs you can use for fulfillment too- Bay Photo for professional prints and EZ Prints for things that are less important. Both are very good.<br>

To be honest, I'm not even sure what their annual fee and commission are anymore, I don't even think about it. Whatever it is, it's worth it to me. I can upload photos and not worry about print fulfillment (although I do a proof delay that allows me to do any retouching before a print is made).<br>

Granted there are other services that do everything I just described, but I have been happy with SM.<br>

Sam</p>

<p>Hmmmm, I was just reminded of a recent episode of Mad Men (TV show on A and E). Advertising executive is asked to look over a non-client's print ads for free and he refuses. Friend- "This is just a friendly matter." Ad man- "This is my business, what do you want me to do?"<br>

I think being asked for a quick photo is less than being asked for a photo lesson, but there is a line to be drawn.<br>

How many people have asked their mechanic friend to look at their car when something's not running right?</p>

<p>That's why I have a 21 year old assistant, I hand the camera to him :) Seriously though, I usually oblige the request. And I get them all the time even though I'm almost 40. I don't usually get them when doing formals, but moreso during slower times. In fact, the FOB asked me to take a photo of the father/daughter dance with his film camera Sunday. Crikey, I had to MANUALLY advance the film! I made no promises as it was manual focus in a dark room.<br>

As someone said above, if I see a group trying to do a self portrait, I'll step in and take a shot with their camera, but one with mine too. I usually joke about not knowing how to work a point and shoot. I'm a photographer, it's what I do. It's not like they're asking me to pour drinks. Wait, I did that Sunday too because I was behind the bar to get a photo of the groom and his friends taking a shot and they needed one more and the bartender was busy. Why wait...I almost poured myself one while I was at it :)<br>

It's not your age or appearance. It's that you know how to take a photo.<br>

Sam</p>

<p> </p>

<p>If there is one thing I would do differently should I be starting out, it's to buy the best possible equipment I could.<br>

I shoot mainly with a D700, my assistant uses the D300, and I use a second D300 on occasion. My main setup is a D700 with 24-70 and he's using the 70-200 for ceremony and 7-55 for general stuff. I'll pop the 14-24 on for special shots or crowded dance floors. It's a luxury lens and not needed for bread and butter shots.<br>

I like that there's an advantage to using a full frame lens on a DX body, even though the crop factor makes it tough to get wide enough at times. Conversely, if you use a DX lens on the D700, you lose out in resolution.<br>

My opinion- go with a D300s for the advantage of dual card slots and get the 17-55 2.8. Pick up a D90 (same battery? good to have if it is) for backup off eBay, but use your work camera for as long as you can if you can. Get two Sb-800s if you can find them reasonably priced. Next, 70-200. When you can, get the D700 or equivalant.<br>

What I said about getting the best, I think the D300 is the best for someone starting out. Save a little on the body and invest in fast zooms. Don't get anything less than a 2.8, it's just not worth it! I love the high ISO capability of the 700, but I still rarely go over 800 ISO. I use a Sigma 10-20 sometimes outside, but at receptions it's junk. Backgrounds go black because I can't stop down far enough.<br>

Just my opinion.</p>

<p>I've learned to talk to the officiant who is doing the ceremony, usually when I arrive at the church. The church managers will usually tell me the "house" rules, but ultimately it's up to the officiant since it's their preference.<br>

Funny story- a few weeks ago I did a Catholic wedding at a church I've shot at before. I introduced myself to the priest and asked for his guidelines. He told me that I wasn't allowed in the center aisle. "What about for the processional and recessional?" "NEVER!". Hmmmm, quickly thinking I asked him why. He said that too many photographers create a distraction- popping in and out of the pews. So I asked if I could stay behind the last row of guests and he agreed. Then he surprised me by telling me I could stand next to him for the processional! I was a bit intimidated by this 300 lb. priest, so I stood at the end of the first pew but he pointed to the floor next to him and had me move right next to him.<br>

He said all the churches in the dioces had the same rule, but I've shot more than a few weddings in Catholic churches in the area, including some very old ones, and never heard of that rule!<br>

During the ceremony, he even told the guests that this was a "Kodak moment" and everyone proceeded to pull out their phones and cameras. If I had been restricted to the back, I would have had a tough time getting a shot even with my 70-200.<br>

Oh, and he had no problem with flash! The church ladies weren't too pleased since they didn't know I had permission to be in the aisle. And he said nothing about the videographer who ignored the "stay off the altar" rule!</p>

 

<p>Love it Jen! Not everything is intended to be a textbook shot, it's good to flex the creativity a bit. I realize this is a learning forum, but not every tidbit is meant for a noob to go out and try to replicate. Sometimes you just have to throw something out there and do it for yourself. The fact that they like it can sometimes be secondary.<br>

I love the twist on the jump shot. I've got a great idea for a shot on Saturday now (not this, just to have the wedding party do something behind the bride and groom's back).</p>

<p>I use them, but I can't think of which model I order. They do great work! We haven't had any problems with them. Spreads always line up, pages are always straight, margins are always exact.</p>

<p>Here's my take on this discussion- the two "bosses" are evaluating the photos from different perspectives. The bride is looking at the emotion of the image. She may love a particular photo because of the subject and the memory it generates (grandmother doing chicken dance). The photographer views a photos based on technical merit- focus, composition, lighting. In an ideal world, EVERY shot pleases both people, but sometimes it's important to understand that the sentimentality of an image is just as important as the technical correctness. Depending on the subject, I may put less than technical images in the proofs. Last weekend, the ring-bearer sprinted down the aisle, threw the pillow, and planted his face on the floor. I got a shot of him laying there for a split second, but it's not perfect. I included it anyway for the memory of what happened. I'm not expecting any 16x20 orders for it or even any prints, but it was part of the day that should be included.<br>

In the example of the model shot, the important person is the talent director or person hiring the model. In that case, the photo should be both technically correct and aesthetically pleasing. If either are off, it reduces the chance of the model being selected for the job. A beautiful person not lit well will not be as beautiful. A model shoot is a different animal than a wedding. There's time to plan, create, adjust, etc. A wedding is run and gun, no retakes.<br>

I work for myself, my customer is ALWAYS the bride and groom.</p>

 

<p>You could ask the bride to do a fake toss. Sometimes the DJ suggests this, he announces like she's really going to do it, and then doesn't throw it. You get one or two test shots, then one or two real ones. You could also use a remote flash to light the girls. Oh, and telling them they don't have to be 25 feet away helps too.</p>

<p>The best explanation I've ever heard of for dynamic range is to thing of each pixel as a bucket and light is water. Too much water/light, and the bucket overflows/blows out to pure white. Too little water/light and the bucket has nothing in it, no information.</p>

<p>Per the lens recommendation, I forgot to mention that I was using a D700 (full frame) but would likely be using a D300 for regular work.<br>

Sam</p>

<p>What focal length lens is recommended for these? I thought my 14-24 2.8 would suffice, but it just wasn't wide enough for my test shots. I've considered getting into this to supplement the wedding and portrait business.<br>

Any recommendations for software that will do full-screen (or close) tours?<br>

Thanks,<br />Sam</p>

<p>Dan,<br>

I'm sure the couple will be quite happy with them. It looks like you did a nice job for people on a tight budget, definitely a step above snapshots.</p>

<p>I was waiting to pull the trigger on a video-capable DSLR because of the manual focus. I had been pricing HD camcorders, but the DOF of 2.8 lenses is much better looking. I think it's time to sell my D200 and two D300's to upgrade to the D300s. I like the dual memory card slot, it will make putting slideshows together at the reception a piece of cake. RAW to CF card, JPEGs to SD card, pop the card into a LCD tv and done. Maybe video to SD card. When the D700 revision comes out, if it has any dual card slots, I'll buy that too and sell my D700. I'll probably end up with the new 70-200 too. The 14-24 and 24-70 are awesome lenses and the 70-200 is good, but the vignetting is annoying.<br>

I wonder if I can pre-order yet? :)</p>