kevin_b5

<p>I have to disagree with you a tad bit Peter... your points are all valid, but there IS a particular order. Learn some business sense. I've seen a number of untalented photographers with business sense who are successful. I've yet to meet a talented photographer with no business sense who is successful.<br>

In the business of photography, you are mostly selling yourself over your photos.</p>

<p>Hello All,</p>

<p>For a school assignment, I need to interview a person who holds the position of Photo Editor for a newspaper or magazine. If anyone here holds that position, I would love for you to send me an email with a method of preferred contact so that we could schedule a time to briefly talk about your position, daily duties, etc. I would guess this interview (via phone) would take about 10 - 20 minutes.</p>

<p>Thanks for your time!</p>

<p>Kevin</p>

<p>Lis,<br>

Most students pay for the Hallmark experience through loans and savings. In addition to the tuition, figure another 15 - 20K for life expenses. This all depends on how you budget for daily living in addition to taking advantage of trips during breaks and purchasing various software, books or other items that you can get as a student.<br>

I've researched many different schools and compared costs and in the end, when <strong><em>everything</em> </strong> is considered, it all pretty much comes out the same.<br>

Brooks is cheaper by the year... but its a 4 year program so in the end, its more money... but, its a Bachelor's Degree to have in hand. Also remember that to get that Bachelor's degree, you'll be required to take classes that have nothing to do with photography... humanities courses, science courses, math, etc. This is true of all four year universities regardless of the degree you seek.<br>

CDIA is similar to Hallmark in that it has a short course photography program, and it too is cheaper tuition... but there are caveats. CDIA has a number of different educational programs... film making, digital animation, graphic arts... in addition to photography. This means the school's resources are spread out amongst those disciplines... It is not dedicated soley to photography. The program teaches you only digital photography strictly using DSLRs. You will not learn film, medium or large format photography. CDIA is a 9 month program that is pretty much part-time attendance. You do not attend classes all day, 5 days a week like you do at Hallmark.<br>

Like Hallmark, CDIA's faculty consists of proven working professionals, however they only teach part time. You will have an instructor for a week or two during the early portion of the program, then never see him/her again until near the end. Whereas, Hallmark's staff is contracted full time... they are there 40 hours a week, each week for 10 months and are available to you every day. I believe this builds a better teacher/student environment and enhances the learning process when your instructor can watch and evaluate your progress on a continuing basis.<br>

Sure, as Leo said, you get to keep your equipment when you graduate from CDIA... but you have to purchase all of it separate of tuition. CDIA supplies you with nothing. Like Hallmark, they do have equipment you can check out to use while in school, but their equipment vault pales in comparison to Hallmark's.<br>

NESOP is a two year program located in Boston that is cheaper in yearly tuition, but when you go for two years (while living in Boston), the total expense is the same or higher in the end. NESOP also focuses more on fine art than business.<br>

RIT and other programs are comparable to Brooks. They are longer programs offering BA degrees.<br>

I am not advocating one school over another and I think its rather naive and/or arrogant to claim one program is better than the other. Its like stating that a Nikon is better than a Canon or that Toyota is better than Honda. In the end, each program will give you the tools you need to be successful, just in their own particular format or style. A Chevrolet will get you just as far as a Lexus... the ride is just not as luxurious.<br>

Look at what your needs are and find the program that best suits those needs. Then ask yourself if you can afford that particular program and what you're wiliing to do to make it happen. Also remember that no matter what school you attend... for every graduate that is a success, there is a graduate who is a failure. This has nothing to do with the program, it has everything to do with the person.</p>

<p>If you do a search, you will find a number of threads about Hallmark. But to give a brief answer to your questions... Hallmark provides you with a Mamiya medium format camera to use which includes a digital back. You do not get to keep this when you graduate. They do provide tripod, case, light meter and other items you do get to keep. They have DSLR's for you to use as well... Canon and Nikon. Again, you use these, not keep them. Housing rental in the area is anywhere between 500 - 1000/month depending on the place and how many people are living in it. I've been told by graduates that its best not to get a job while attending school.... you'll be putting in many 10 - 14 hour days with photography.</p>

<p>Actually, I would do the opposite and shoot with a narrower aperture on the portraits. By doing this you'll get more light fall off from the strobes and ultimately darken the background. You won't need to worry about the distracting reflections off the bleachers then. Play around with it and you'll see what I mean.</p>

<p> </p>

<p>Crop tight and get those facial expressions. Soccer is great for good facial expressions.</p><div></div>

<p>I think we need to revisit Greg's initial post and reconsider some of the advice given. By his own words, Greg is <em>"very novice"</em> and looking to buy his <strong>"first"</strong> camera and lens... and furthermore is <em><strong>"not looking for a Cadillac"</strong> </em> . Given this, I think its a little much to suggest he get the $5,000 Nikon D3... don't you?</p>

<p>If the words "budget, beginner, and sports" are spoken in the same breath then I would suggest the following...<br>

Get a used Nikon D2H, you can pick one up easy for $300 or less nowadays. Pick-up a used 70-210mm F4 AFS lens for outdoor activities... you can pick one up easy for $150 or less. Then pick-up either a 50mm or 85mm f1.4 (or both for that matter) for indoor basketball and volleyball.</p>

<p>This would be an adequate, yet economical, system that allows you to capture shots your local paper will accept and quality 4x6 prints that parents would be willing to buy while you learn and improve the techniques required for good action photography. As your skills grow you will have saved enough to make the upgrades to the D300, 70-200mm F2.8 VR and 300mm F4 AFS without feeling such a pinch in the pocket book.</p>

<p>Think about this for a second.... if you are the friend or family of the client who has their own cd with a reprint release... why would you bother to buy prints from the photographer's website when the client can get you a copy for less? Not a wise business model. What do you think your clients do with that cd you give them? They burn copies and give them away.</p>

 

<p>I too have used smugmug, but Jairy and Brian have quoted the price incorrectly. In order to sell your photos for a profit on smugmug you need to purchase a pro account. This costs $150/ year and the commission on your photos is 15%. You can purchase "standard" and "power" packages for much less, but those will not allow you to sell your photos for profit. Once you sign up with a pro account, they automatically rebill your CC unless you cancel ahead of time. Smugmug prints the orders through a company in Georgia.<br>

I believe Exposure Manager is $99/ yr and 10% commission.</p>

<p>You can try smugmug, zenfolio and eventpics. For a price they all host images, print, process sales and ship them to your customers. I use smugmug myself.</p>

<p>H.S. Hockey...</p><div></div>

<p>80a filters aren't that expensive, depending on your lens size. I have a promaster brand glass 80a filter for a 52mm lens if you need one. Its in fine shape and I'll part with it cheap...</p>

<p>Take heed of what Lex said above. The D2H is great for fast focusing and capturing action, but if you're selling prints, its not so hot. I use it for sports and sell photos on smugmug. Parents have told me that the 4x6 and 5x7 prints looked great, but 8x10s look grainy. If you do any cropping, prepare to lose quality. You made need to use a longer lens to avoid low quality crops.</p>

Very nice... congrats

I disagree about the golf analogy. A better camera does not make you a better photographer... BUT a new Titleist 909

Driver definitely makes you a better golfer! At least that's what I tell everyone! ;)

You're making some assumptions here Brian... no one needs to be better than the other to have a reason to be shooting the game. Let's

say that all the photographers you observed were at the same skill level and using the same equipment. Sure, they would all have similar

photos, but each photographer is probably shooting for a different publication or company and thus having a different purpose for being

there. Actually, a dozen photographers is low for NCAA Division I football game. And just because 4 different photogs were located in

the same area of the field at the same time, it doesn't mean they were shooting the same player... there's 22 guys out on that field at one

time. One may be shooting the ball carrier, another shooting a safety, another the QB... you get the idea.

I don't think the CLS is a waste of time or money. I've had good luck with it. I set-up a small, inexpensive studio in my basement. The shot displayed was done using 2 SB800s and 1 SB600. Backdrop is clamped to a wall, an SB800 on a stand with an umbrella to camera right, a 2nd SB800 behind subject shooting at the back drop, and a SB600 clamped to a ceiling joist above and behind subject pointed at her hair. You already have an SB600, and you could accomplish the same shot below with a 2nd 600 plus 1 800.

 

SB800.... $300

SB600.... $200

Umbrella.... $10

Stand...... $30

Clamps..... $10

Backdrop (black bedsheet w/ colored gel)..... $10<div></div>

I had the same shooting etiquette situation happen to me this morning. I've been shooting actions photos for our

YMCA's junior tackle football team. I don't get paid or make any money for this, its all volunteer. I sell the

photos and give the money to the YMCA. I also give them photos for promotions and newspaper articles. This year

the director set a rule that no one could freely roam the home sidelines shooting photos except for me.

(Apparently coaches were complaining the sidelines were becoming over crowded with parents). No one complained

and everyone complied.

 

This morning, eight different pairs of parents from the opposing team showed up and pitched camp along our

sidelines. They had video cameras on tripods as well as still cameras. Not only did they set up along the

sidelines, but they also set up inside the coaches boxes. One of the coaches almost tripped over a tripod!

Worse yet, they started shouting, cheering for their team... from our coaches boxes!!

 

One of the program directors began to approach each set of parents and politely told them they are not allowed

along the home sideline. Each one took issue and started hassling the director. They all then pointed to me and

asked why I wasn't being booted. Even when the director explained that I am a part of the home team's program,

they still argued and accused our town of not being hospitable for not accommodating their desire to shoot from

our bench. I have never seen such rude actions before.

 

When I go to away games and decide to roam the field, I first speak with officials and coaches to get their

blessing about what's okay and what's off limits. You're on their turf and its because of their game that you

have an opportunity to take photos. You need to respect that by accommodating their wishes and by further being

a neutral, unobtrusive presence.

7th grade<div></div>

More 8th grade<div></div>

8th Grade football<div></div>

Another...<div></div>

Just 8th grade football... I don't have anywhere near the diversity of sports as many of you.<div></div>

Well if that's your first time shooting soccer, I would say you nailed it. Your exposures looked good and I thought you did a good job with the DOF to keep background distractions (like the school bus and parking lot) at a minimum. It looked to me like you shot them wide open. There are a few you could have cropped closer, but overall they looked pretty good. Parents will certainly be happy with what you have there.

 

You'll find the 70-200 can be short at times for a large field like soccer... I always thought it was when I shot my nephew's games.

Thanks for the responses. I will skip on a monopod for when I can finally afford the 300 AF-S 2.8. I figured it wouldn't be a problem hand holding this lens. I usually cover 2 - 3 consecutive games with the 70-200 and never got tired, I just wanted to see if anyone thought differently.