kim_l.

I shot my first wedding last night as a favor for a friend and will be uploading the shots to Smugmug in case

they want to order prints. Camera used was a Nikon D80, in Raw.

My question is regarding how to properly crop the photos for the VAST variety of print sizes available. Since

not all print sizes are the same proportion... 4x6 is different from 4x7... 8x10 different from 8x12 etc... do I

need to prepare and crop each one of my shots for EVERY different available print size? This seems like a lot

more work than I can do for over 300 shots of a wedding. I currently only have Photoshop Elements. (Yep I know I

need to get full version Photoshop)...

Or is there some standard size that most folks crop to that will work for most sizes? I'm afraid of using a "one

size fits all" approach because I don't know what might end up being cropped off by SmugMug or the person

ordering the prints.

 

Any advice is much appreciated.

 

Kim

I have a Nikon D80 and SB800. I'm really confused as to how to expose correctly

when using the flash. If I set my exposure (aperture and shutter) for a

shot...that initial metering is done without the additional light from the flash

since it hasn't gone off yet. As soon as the flash goes off and adds additional

light, won't the shot then be overexposed?

If so, how would I adjust for that? How do I know where to even start for my

aperture and shutter settings, if the flash will be adding additional light that

was not taken into account when metering? Hope that made some sense.

Should I set the flash on AA.... or TTL....does that make a difference? The

manual seems pretty cryptic to me.

 

Thank you!

Just wondering if anyone has used www.exposuremanager.com for their work. If so

how was your experience?

 

Thanks

Hi...

Does anyone know which technique produces lower noice levels in low light

situations... using a higher ISO or using a longer exposure? I'm using a D80.

 

Thanks

Here is the link for "dreamy focus". Hope it's what you're looking for.

 

http://www.autofx.com/freeplugins/dreamyphoto.asp?id=4e

Sounds like so far you are remaining professional in your responses to them. Whatever you decide to do, one thing I'd recommend...I don't know how it is there in the UK but here in the U.S. you have to be careful how you word things so that it doesn't suddenly turn into a discrimination lawsuit against you. Unfortunately sometimes when people who have in the past genuinely encountered discrimination whether it be based on their race, sexual orientation, gender, Nikon vs Canon users ...whatever..they often tend to read discrimination into every difficulty that comes their way. Just my 2 cents.

Hi Robbie... does the link not work?

Thank you for your honest and straight forward input. Shawn...no offense taken at all. I appreciate all advice. I don't expect to be able to just jump into something and have it be a "get rich quick" gig. I know that I have a lot of hard work and a lot of learning to do if I want to pursue any kind of professional photography, much less weddings.<br><br>

 

In my "real job" I do airbrushing (temporary tattoos, t-shirts, etc) at Bar & Bat Mitzvahs, company parties, corporate events, etc. and so as I already have somewhat of a clientele in the event planning industry, I'm hoping that I can get competent enough to be able to offer photography services to these folks and possibly weddings as well.<br><br>

 

I hope I'm not seen as one of those folks who show up on a board and expect everyone to just "tell me your secrets". On the forums that cater to airbrush artists I know how annoying it is when someone shows up and just expects everyone to turn over their hard earned knowledge without any knowledge or expertise of their own to contribute to the community in return.<br><br>

 

Here is a link to some other photography I've done...do you think I have any potential?<br>

<a href="http://kimlunningphotography.blogspot.com/"target="_blank">Misc. Photos</a><br><br>

Thanks again

Kim

Hi..

Maybe this has already been asked elsewhere...

I wonder if anyone would share their thoughts on building a wedding portfolio. I

am very interested in pursuing this field, but have never photographed a wedding

and therefore have zero wedding pictures to show a potential bride.

 

I spend hours reading all I can and learning all I can about the business, but

I'm seriously lacking real world experience. And obviously a lot of it can only

be learned through hands on experience.

I don't have any friends getting married, so that's out. It's sort of like the

old "how do you get credit if you have no credit already" scenario.

I'd be more than happy to do some shooting for free if I knew where would be the

best place to offer this. Churches? Wedding gown stores?

 

I believe that shooting a couple's wedding is a big responsibility to a

photographer... a bride is only going to have this day once in a lifetime.

(well...that's what she thinks anyway, and hopefully she is right) so I would

not want to seem flippant about "oh I'll shoot your wedding for free" as if

their day doesn't deserve a "real wedding photographer", and plus sure would

hate to screw up someone's important day. But you have to start somewhere and

I'm just racking my brain for ideas.

 

Your thoughts, suggestions and experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Kim

Horrible! I signed up for their promotion of 6 months for $20/month and a "FREE" album. Turns out the album is not free at ALL. It's actually $150 off the BINDING... you have to pay the printing and shipping.

 

I spent about 4 hours last night attempting to navigate their terribly confusing system in order to design my "free" album. Finally in trying to order it and not finding the "free" version anywhere, I called them to have them walk me through it. (Good luck finding the phone# for them on their site. They hide that pretty well). After talking with the sales rep and finding out that the "Free" album was actually 50% off just the binding (up to $150) of only 10x10 or smaller albums and printing is extra...finally I gave up and cancelled the whole order.

 

If I really want the album I will have to go back and start a whole additional album at the correct size.. wait for their confirmation email... release the album...wait for another email... then try to order and PAY for my FREE album.

 

And that's just the beginning... I won't go on, but there is no way in H#ll I would ever subject my customers to this nonsense. Their system is just too frustrating to put up with. I'm currently hoping I can cancel my $20 per month before the $100 per month regular price kicks in!

 

You've been warned.

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Thank you for the answers... they helped a lot. The video from www.radiantvista was outstanding.

 

Thank you!

Hello...

I'm trying to learn about using adjustment layers. I understand that they are

used so that you don't damage your original layer... but I don't understand the

benefits of using an adjustment layer rather than just making a duplicate

layer... making my changes on that and then merging it with the original layer.

How are adjustment layers preferable and why? Also... I've noticed there are

different types of adjustment layers... can anyone tell me what those are for?

 

Thanks

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Question... Russ said: We use two Nikon SB800's with umbrellas - one on each side of the photographer with another SB800 on the camera body -...

I'm new to using off camera flash and just got my SB800... can you tell me how to use this with an umbrella? Is it attached on a stand somehow?

Thank you.

Hi... I just purchased an SB800 for my Nikon D80. This is my first experience

with learning to use a speedlight, and the manual for this light is just awful

unless you already know what you're doing with flash. Does anyone know of any

books or links explaining how to use it in plain English?

 

Thanks

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What do you think about renting lenses as a tryout before spending the money if you are not sure which lens is right?

 

Kim