mike_godwin1

<p>I agree with full manual mode. I then set to 400 ISO about 1/160 and then aperture for the DOF I want. With fresh batteries in the flash so recharge times are short, you could bracket the aperture.</p>

<p>Just my $0.02</p>

<p>I use them for my event photography mostly and if a client wants theirs posted. I sell enough every year to pay for the site and a little beer money. I like the features they offer for display and sales but I don't do enough in sales to warrant me paying that much more. I'll look around or maybe offer the photos through my studio like everything else.</p>

 

<p>I'll second the "<em>do not</em> spend $200 on a lighting kit for this sort of shooting"! I did. What a waste of time and money and after that you realized you could have used that $200 on better lights. One of my cheap lights blew on the first shoot. No one carried any type of replacement bulbs. I then went with Alien Bees. I bit the bullet and bought 2 light kits to start with. I have since added 3 more lights. I also have spare bulbs. I've only had to replace 1.</p>

<p>Just my $0.02</p>

 

<p>Mine has been in the shop for 4 months now. It was sent to Canon for repair by a local camera shop. I got it back after a month and it cost me $250. I tried to use it that evening and got the exact same error. Lens flips out when zooming. Apt goes from the normal setting to 0.0 and back again. I took it back the next day. The shop sent it back to Canon and Canon said that we dropped it. The shop is fighting with them. I've always had good service from Canon on other repairs but this is really getting on my nerves. </p>

<p>If you're just looking for a regular photo printer, they are all basically cheap. The killer is replacing ink. It's sometimes cheaper to buy another printer.</p>

<p>The only photos I print anymore are passport photos. Everything else goes to a photo lab.</p>

 

<p>Not sure if this is the forum to post this but here goes anyway..<br>

<a href="http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/art_breaking_imo1lyGL5zNsGJ8CWTgBjN">Clumsy photographer breaks ancient African sculpture - NYPOST.com</a></p>

<p>Let's be careful out there...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Man, that's cheap! I thought I was cheap at $225 with a 16x20 print. And that's with using models that are working TFP. If I have to pay the models my price goes to around $500.</p>

<p>I don't know if you are shooting in a studio or not but watch your lighting. Remember, chrome is like a mirror. If you're using studio lights, use a large diffuser to cut the reflection.</p>

<p>If you want to stay with Canon, look at the 70-200 f/4L. It's a lot lighter and cheaper. I love mine.</p>

<p>I'm not sure how legal this is or if it'll hold up in court but when my son is shooting commercials at local restaurants and bars, he puts signs up outside the place to let people know a commercial is being filmed and that by entering the restaurant/bar that person grants the film company and restaurant/bar permission to use their image for commercial use. (it's a little more detailed on the sign)</p>

<p>They have never had a problem and they get some great shots.</p>

 

<p>Pick up a copy of Light, Science and Magic. We used that in our lighting classes at my local community college.</p>

 

<p>Add to what Allen listed:<br>

If you have the room, put in a cyc wall. The video company my son works for just picked up a studio here in Columbus that has one large enough to put a car on. They use it for model shoots and video. I'm going to start using it for motorcycle portrait photography.</p>

 

<p>So, how did it go?</p>

<blockquote>

<p>maybe whe can start scamming them by not sending them a check after whe get theres?... ; )</p>

</blockquote>

<p>The problem is that if you deposit the check it'll bounce and you'll still be out the bank fees.</p>

<p>I had a great experience with Canon. I sent my 5D in to be cleaned and checked. They told me they were fixing an issue with the shutter that was in a recall a few years ago. I never noticed a problem but if they wanted to fix something, go for it. I got it back 4 days later cleaned, adjusted, and fixed all for no charge.</p>

<p>This is how I would shoot this so take it with a grain of salt.<br>

I'd setup 2 strobes with large softboxes. (You may be able to rent them from your local camera shop for a day) One on each side of me raised high and aiming down. I'd have a ladder and shoot down while everyone was looking up toward me. I'd meter for about f8, ISO 400 and 160th. At 1/30, even with a flash, I bet you're getting subject movement that is getting picked up from the natural light. Posing would still be the normal stuff. Short people up front and taller in the back maybe in kind of a semi-circle.</p>

<p>Good luck</p>

 

<p>I tell them 2 weeks. Then with I get their stuff to them a week later they think I'm a miracle worker.</p>

<p>Instead of going with a new camera, check out a used one. There are some great deals out there and you could save some money. Later, if you decide it's not for you, then you can sell the stuff for pretty close to what you paid. It'll also give you more cash to spend on lenses. I've always had good luck with KEH. Bought 2 30Ds and a 5D from them. I sold one of the 30Ds a year later for a little profit.</p>

<p>Here you go David:<br>

<a href="http://www.cowtownphoto.com/Biker-Life">Biker Life</a><br>

I also do a little work for <a href="http://www.ridinon.com/home/home.htm">Ridin' On Motorcycle Magazine</a>. They are a small online mag in the Ohio, Kentucky, West Virginia, Western Pennsylvania and Eastern Indiana area. I don't get paid anything but it gets me into a lot of events for free. You never know, someone at a bigger mag may see something I did and offer me millions of dollars to be a big time biker photographer. Jet setting with super models and traveling the world. Hey, it could happen..</p>

 

<p>I do a lot of Biker Photography. I carry a 30D on the road with a 24-105 lens. I leave my 5D in the studio. The main reason is the dirt. If you do a lot of riding, you will get dirt on the camera. Also, the weather conditions here in Ohio can change quickly and I'd rather not have my more expensive camera in the rain. You can pick up used 30Ds cheap and they work great for Biker Photography.</p>

<p>I forgot to add, if you have any accessories such as lenses, flashes, battery grips, etc you should include them also since we all know once you use them on an old junky camera, they'll never work right on the newest one.. </p>

<p>Just me trying to help you..</p>

<p>If any of you are worried about how to get rid of you junky old 5Ds and Mark IIs in a safe eco friendly way, I have the answer. I'll do it for you. Send me your old, outdated cameras along with $20 and I'll dispose of it in an earth friendly way. Just email me for shipping instructions.. I'll even pay the shipping if you include another $20..</p>

<p>I'm waiting on the release that will make me a great photographer since that all depends on how much money I spend...</p>

<p> </p>

<p>And one more sensor dust vote. I've seen plenty of it..</p>

<p>Pictures from software ads are always going to look good. If they looked bad they wouldn't sell much. I tried chroma key for a while and it was a pain in the butt. If the lighting wasn't just right it was a lot of work to correct things. Some people are good at it but I just picked up a few backdrops from eBay. They work fine for me.</p>

<p>My 24-105 just went into the local shop for the same issue. Worked fine at 24mm f/4.0 but if you changed anything it would start chattering, the f/ would flash 0.0 and then it would error out. I guess it's a known issue..</p>