jennifer_sparaco1

Thanks to all for your great suggestions. My books have not arrived yet, but I am anxious to get them. In addition, I have bookmarked all of the web pages you have recommended and am slowing sifting through all of this info.

 

You are all great and so willing to share information.

 

Troup...if you could share a few favorites from your library I would appreciate it!

 

jennifer

Momo,

 

I'm so glad somebody gave me a link to this post. You responded to a post of mine a few days ago regarding exactly this. I've been looking for a fairly inexpensive flash to do some portraiture at my home studio. I'm by no means an expert and wanted to start with something that is going to help me learn the trade without breaking the bank. Once I start making money off of my photos (well I can dream) I might be able to justify an upgrade. It sounds like the 383 would still serve as a great slave or backup flash in that case!

 

By the way, is it possible for you to email me. I had a couple of questions regarding the post you left. You had mentioned a bunch of equipment and being new some of it was over my head. Maybe you might be able to fill in some of the gaps. I would be in debt to you.

 

Thanks for your post and it's always good to hear about a good buy!

 

Jennifer

Hi,

 

I'd like some suggestions on a hotshoe strobe for my Canon xti. I'm looking

to practice shooting with studio lighting. I mostly shoot my children and

family, but I'd like to start practing on family friends' kids for senior

photos. I'm new to the DSLR world and am really enjoying the ability to see

your photo immediately after you take it. The learning curve is huge!

 

The first thing I'd like to take some photos of is a girls volleyball team

which will be in a gym. I'm not looking to purchase something specifically

for this, but if I could find something that might work for this as well it

would be great. But mostly the equipment will be used in a small studio

setting or a somebody's home.

 

I'd like to find somthing in the price range of $150-$250.

 

Does anyone have any suggestions? Do I need umbrellas or should I just use a

bounce flash?

 

Thanks ahead of time for any help you might provide!

 

Jennifer

Thank you so much to all of your for your suggestions. I've really found this site to be full of wonderful photographers and people who are willing to share ideas and suggestions. It's been a great place to get some good information for those of use from very small places that rely on the internet and books to get our information.

 

I'm going to try all of your suggestions. I've picked up the book suggested and can't wait to get it.

 

Nathan, can you suggest a starting point on where and what type of strobe and umbrella I should be looking for? It would be great to find something used right now just to play around with the thing and then upgrade when I feel like I'm making some strides.

 

Again, thanks to you all!

Jennifer

Mark,

 

I have actually checked out strobist. While reading I found that Canon seems to be non-compatible with what strobist recommends. Strobist is more advanced than I am ready for and I'm still confused by some of the recommendations. I've still been reading up but am not sure if the strobes are the way to go.

 

I will check out your first link right now.

 

Thanks for the quick response.

 

Jenn

Hello everybody,

 

I'm new to photo.net and an amateur photographer who is venturing into more

serious photography (meaning I want to learn more).

 

I've taken a course at the local cc...but I'm from a very small town and

there's not much opportunity for formal photo classes.

 

I have two questions...are there any really good books on photography

especially focusing on the hows and whys of lighting. I've been looking on

the web but some websites that claim to be geared towards amateurs are more

advanced than I understand right now.

 

Secondly...I have room for a small studio in my home. I'd like to purchase a

lighting package so I can begin to practice with studio lighting. I've been

playing a lot with natural light but would like to have other options to play

with. Most of my pictures are of my four children. I was recently asked by

the local girls hs volleyball team to take a photo of the team in the gym

(they won the state title) and would like a photo. Would a setup appropriate

for a small home studio do dual purpose in a gym setting?

 

Listen I have no visions of granduer, I'm not charging anybody for the photo,

or my time. I just like to take photos and would like to give them something

slightly better than what mom or dad might take. When I say we are from a

small town I mean small...so going to another photographer is not an option

for such a small project. I'd like to see if we can get the girls outside,

but the weather has been bad and I've been thinking of investing in a small

setup.

 

I am shooting with a Canon XTI and a 50/1.8 lens. I have a $200-$300 budget.

I've been looking at the alien bees set up but don't know if I should bother.

I've been trying to read some past posts to see if I can answer my questions

with that, but haven't been able to get the exact answer. Also I don't know

if I should just purchase an off camera flash or both.

 

Any help would be appreciated. I may be moving too fast with this but I'd like

your opinions.

 

Thanks a bunch,

Jennifer

An..I am a beginner so I won't even try to crit your work technically. As a consumer if this were my family I would LOVE the shot. You may be able to make it better, but I love the altered shot you first posted. I like the lighting...it may not be technically correct...but I think it is wonderful.

 

For what it is worth!

 

Jennifer

Thank you all so much for your responses! Wow...I completely agree with all you are saying. Carrie...thank you, thank you, thank you. I admire your work greatly and if I am not yet a great photographer at least I have an eye for beautifully photography (all agree with your wonderful work). So that has to mean something right? HAHA!

But thank you for the suggestions on the books. Specific books I mean. A lot of people tell you to read, read, read, but I come from a very small community and the books in the library are pretty much from 1970 and also the "Photography for Dummies" I actually think I am past that. So it helps to have names and authors for great books so I can buy or order from library exchange. Thank you for your comments on the photograph. It makes it a little easier to know that somebody at least "gets it". It may not make an international magazines or make anyone else happy..but bottom line it got across what it was supposed to and I guess that is what makes great photos great (sometimes)! I know everybody is rolling their eyes at my rationalizing.

 

Justin, thanks to you also. I know the photograph may not be all that..but it's nice to know that I might be able to take this somewhere! I have been completely offering shoots for free to friends and family...at least kids always grow because at this rate I will have photographed every kid in town for free ;)! Keep those babies coming!

 

Peter thank you. The would really love to do this. Two reasons, I love photography...creating a photograph you will look at with your children and their children and make you remember those special moments you will never get back. But two, like you said, I am very much a people person. I LOVE LOVE to laugh and make people laugh. I love to capture those moments.

 

You are all right and I want you to know that I intend to take all of your comments and move forward from here. I am not the type to give up and you can bet I'll have this biz one way or the other. All I want is to give people great photographs, of good quality (whether they know it or not) and have a good time doing it!

 

I've posted a few new photographs on the beginners section. I would absolutely love for any of you to crit those. I admire each of you and think you all do wonderful work!

 

Jennifer (sorry it took so long to post back. I didn't realize people were responding to this post as well. I am thrilled I checked!)

Brad,

 

Thank you for your response. I was afraid you were going to be overly harsh but after getting through the first sentences I thank you for your cc. It doesn't help much to tell somebody that the photo is no good in any way and then give no direction for improvement so it meant a lot that you did provide some direction.

 

My comments to you...

1. Actually the wrinkles and the fuzz on his back were what I was trying to capture. Now if I could only have one photo of my son...this would not be the one. But at a week old babies have this wonderful fine down on their backs and are often too small for their skin. This is what I wanted to photograph.

 

2. I do agree that perhaps I should have pulled out a bit and put the baby's face in the photo...but had the baby's face been in the photo and in focus would it have taken away from what I wanted to concentrate on? Maybe not.

 

3. After seeing the photo I would have liked to capture the same detail with a completely different lighting scenerio. It is a harsh...but at the time I had a photographer here...who has a very successful biz tell me "harsh light is the only way to photograph those details." I am not extremely well versed in lighting and exposure...I do know about aperture and ss.

 

I have to say I have been practicing like crazy and it makes all the difference with my new xti. I can take a photo from the same pov changing the ss and aperture and see the results immediately. digital is the way to go when learning. The immediate result really allows you to understand all that you have read.

 

I have posted a few more photos in the beginner section. I'd love for you to check them out and see how I am moving along.

 

Much thanks, jennifer

Thank you both for your responses. It means a lot.

 

Anthony...a question regarding your comment.

The photograph was taken using sunlight. Would I reflect the light back with some sort of white board? If so how far away from the subject should it be? Approximately? I mean...about the same distance the light source is from the subject...or is it all just a matter of playing with it? I wasn't sure if there was some "rule" to start with.

 

I really admire your work...you have some amazing photographs. I love looking at peoples faces and you have some real characters.

Jennifer

Here is one other.

Thought I would post here in the beginner section so you knew I am not

proclaiming to be an expert. What do you think? Being that I am very new at

photoshop I haven't made any changes to the photographs. There is a bit of

blanket in the photo that I don't like and if I could change one thing I would

make sure all of his fingers are straight. It kind of looks like two of them

are cut off...but other than that!

 

What is your opinion on the lighting and composition?

 

Thanks for looking.

Jennifer

I'd like to become a better, more understanding photographer when it comes to

the understanding of light. While natural sunlight is easy to come by...I'd

also like to practice using studio lights. I'll be setting up my own studio at

home and would like to purchase some cheap, but decent lighting to practice

with before I completely invest.

 

I have a 7 week old son I'd like to practice on as much as possible so I'll be

photographing a newborn and probably my other children. Can I get some lights

at a hardware store to practice by before investing on lights that would become

a more permanent part of my equipment list?

 

What light is best to photograph infants. I just want to practice, practice,

practice, but my budget is limited. I just purchased a rebel xti and a canon

ef 50/1.8 lens which I think will be a good starter tool.

 

I think I will also purchase some black fabic as a backdrop. Opinions on size

and type would be great too. Is this something I can purchase at say walmart

just to get going with it?

 

Thanks again for your input! Jennifer

sp-

 

While I truly do appreciate all the opinions I have received...your comment really made me "see" the photo. I do see exactly what you mean. I thought I was being "creative" and while I still love the photo I completely "get" what you mean!

 

It's hard to know where you've been and where your going when you don't have feedback from people other than those without an untrained eye (kind of like me I guess). I'm not sure if there is a good forum for beginners to post photos where we can get good feedback on how we are progressing. I sure wish I could get somebody to look at a bunch of my pics and tell me whether all of them are as far off as this one.

Thanks Katie...I'll check it out!

Sunshyne,

 

First thanks for your input. However, You say you must love it first (and I assume you mean the photo or do you mean photography in general) If its the photo I do love this photograph. I'm not a complete idiot and have a successful architectural biz. My degree is in architecture so I am used to crits and have a thick skin when it comes to getting work critiqued, but I do love this photo. I'm not expecting everybody else to and I guess that at least in this case only I need to be happy. I was sort of thinking at least the composition was good. I guess I need to keep looking at photos so I can make an honest critique of my own work. I've been researching and researching photographers doing the same subject matter. And while I'm totally not saying that I'm better than any of them I was sort of thinking I am not a complete photographic idiot....but maybe I seem to be. That's the hard part. I wish I could take some classes and get true crits to really analyze where I am going wrong. It completely sucks not to be able to take a class like this. I'm used to learning in a situation you can compare your work with others and I'm missing that in this situation.

 

Maybe its the fact that this photo is of my own son, but I have to say I like the photo. I'm sure everybody is rolling their eyes and what is considered to be my ignorance!

 

Jennifer

JW thanks for your response. I completely understand where you are coming from. My husband and I have owned a small architectural firm for the last ten years....small but successful especially since we live in a very small town.

 

I know how a passion or a hobby can sometimes be overshadowed by the business aspect. Quite frankly being that I have been in and own a service based biz I am not so worried about this aspect.

 

My big worry is formal training. I recently posted a pic for critique and am getting hammered. I had no doubt that my techincal experience and abilities are lacking, but because of my background and formal education in architecture I feel I have a pretty good grasp on composition and basic lighting. But apparently that doesn't seem to be the case, although of the three things I think lighting and (especially) composition tend to be more of a personal preference!

 

Bottom line is I have posted several pics on websites of my target audience and have gotten really good responses. I know I may not be formally educated and may not even know what I'm doing, but if your client is happy and feels you have captured the essence of her newborn...are you going wrong? Maybe you are.

 

Man, I really want to do this but am starting to think it's not in the cards.

 

Thanks for your time and responses all!

Sorry, I guess I didn't expect it to post here again. New user, please forgive!

Thanks Jeff...I was afraid of that. Would you suggest continuing to keep photographing and learn from experience. There is no opportunity for secondary education in my small town. I have taken the one photo class at the local cc but it wasn't what I had hoped for. Can one learn by experience and books?

OK, so I am completely prepared to be bashed although I'd really like to do

this so I guess if I have any sort of hope that would be good to know.

 

This photo is taken on 35mm film and then put on disk by Walmart. I am assuming

this is not the best way to get a digital photo, but my canon xti is on it's

way and in lieu of "real" digital photos I wanted to get a critique in time to

be able to return the xti if I need to..haha!

 

I just downloaded Photoshop and so I imagine I may need to become familiar with

that before I try to sell a photo.

 

Anyhow, enough excuses, I just wanted to give you the background of the photo.

Taken of my 1 week old son in a east window, early morning through sheers.

 

I posted this in the main board but meant to post it here...not that it matters

I just thought it made more sense here. I think from other critiques I have a

long way to go. I thought I was being creative here and actually I really

wanted to photograph that fine baby hair and wrinkles that tend to fade after a

few weeks.

 

Thanks for looking!

OK, so I am completely prepared to be bashed although I'd really like to do

this so I guess if I have any sort of hope that would be good to know.

 

This photo is taken on 35mm film and then put on disk by Walmart. I am

assuming this is not the best way to get a digital photo, but my canon xti is

on it's way and in lieu of "real" digital photos I wanted to get a critique in

time to be able to return the xti if I need to..haha!

 

I just downloaded Photoshop and so I imagine I may need to become familiar with

that before I try to sell a photo.

 

Anyhow, enough excuses, I just wanted to give you the background of the photo.

Taken of my 1 week old son in a east window, early morning through sheers.

Thanks to all of you for your responses.

 

Robert..yes I have a film camera that I love taking b/w pics of my kiddos with. I will always enjoy developing my own pics (my husband is even building me a darkroom). I have purchased a dslr for the "business". However, I have a lot of great photos and wanted to put some of those on a new website but first I have to get them in digital format. I don't think I want to purchase any equipment as I don't think I'll be doing a lot of this but I'd like to have an economical option of converting them to digital so I can put my work on the web. The Walmart option didn't work very well and I was looking for other options. Does Walmart not use a scanner...or just not use a very good one...or is it not possible to get a good digital image with a negative.

 

Thanks again, Jennifer.

Does anybody use pictage for their business and if so what do you think. I am

considering using this format for clients to view and order pics.

 

If I do use this do you recommend cropping and altering pics before you upload

to Pictage?

 

Thanks for any comments.

 

I am looking into starting a small photography business and I recently went to

a photographer who used this and thought as I client it worked fairly well!

 

Jennifer

Kelly,

 

One thing I looked at your photographs (I'm new here and just stumbled across that). The pics you take of people are they in a studio? If so what are the minimum things you have found you need. I have a good size room in back of my home that I my husband agreed to turn into a studio. It has beautiful old windows that I plan to put sheers on and even an old fireplace that would make a great backdrop.

 

I told him to paint the walls a white...does this seem right? I imagine it should definitely be a neutral color.

 

Should I invest in some sort of backdrops or lighting. I love pics that are taken with a black background. How do you get this? Is there a backdrop and something for the floor?

 

Again thanks, this forum has proved to have a wealth of information and peopl who are so helpful. I thought I would find a lot of "stuck up photographers" (sorry) who looked down on newbies with no formal education, but have found exactly the opposite! Jennifer

I am an amateur photographer who is considering opening a small business mainly

photographing children.

 

What brand and speed film do you recommend. I have recently purchased a

digital camera, but will still use film for my own personal use. I also love

developing film of my children.

 

I use kodak b/w that I can't develop at home when I am out of the ilford b/w.

I live in a very small town so good film is hard to come by.

 

I'd like to start ordering my film over the internet...any suggestions?

 

Also in an effort to get some of my images from negatives into digital format I

had Walmart put the images on a CD. This seems to have really lessened the

quality of the photos. Is there a way around this? How do you suggest getting

images from film into digital format?

 

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

Jennifer