laura_kamler

<p>Wow, I'm glad it was just your wallet and a few bruises. Ya, valet sounds good from now on. I don't know how you city folk do it. I've been into STL a couple times on weddings and it scared the bejabbers out of me. I guess you have everything cancelled by now, cc'ds, atm, ckg closed etc. Can I ask why you didn't call the cops and notify hotel security immediately?</p>

<p>Joey, nice site. I think your wedding portfolio is too random on your website. Lots of good shots there, but no story told.<br>

Also, late August when everyone is going to back to school is not the time when most brides that age are planning, they have to finish their degrees etc. Not sure if you are catering to that group or not, but that is one explanation.<br /><br />If you don't grow in services and knowledge you won't just stay stuck, you'll bomb out eventually.<br /><br />Either bump it up and find some more ways to get your name out there or give discounts and work for nothin'. Either way, time for some creative thinking.<br /><br />Also, your "About" page is too detailed. They don't need to know how many weddings you shot last year. A picture of you would be better than the unity candle.</p>

"be as harsh as you can :)"

 

Take some time and look at some professional wedding photographer sites to see what they catch. These have to much going on in them and no true focus on subject and way too much "stuff".

Learn how to use the white balance setting on your camera. Watch your backgrounds, they are filled with things that don't lend themselves to making beautiful pictures. (ie lawnchair in 61)

 

NO amount of PS will make a snapshot a wedding photo. Spot coloring may be fun, but it almost never looks like anything other than just that, fun, and sepia, softening and spot color DO NOT a wedding photo make (83).

 

Study and keep shooting.

<p>Annette, what is enough money? To do a wedding you are going to need a lot more gear than one body, one lens and one flash. You need a backup set at least. Did that just roll you over? I know when I thought about it the first time it did me too, but it is a necessary part of the game. You'll need to start shooting first though and you can always rent a back up, so let's buy a camera.<br /><br />I would also consider buying Nikon. My research led me down this path and I'm so glad. I wouldn't buy less than a D90 and I wouldn't buy the kit lenses that come with them. They will not give you satisfactory performance for weddings. I love buying local, but I can't afford the few hundred extra plus tax the camera store wants, so I buy my equipment from B&H 99% of the time. Buy a body. Then if all you can afford is one cheap lens, to go with it, buy a prime 50mm 1.8 for a couple hundred. You will be amazed! No zooming with this except with your feet. Then save for the better Nikon lenses and plan on $2k a pop for the 2 best of the bunch. Glass (or lenses) will make a huge difference in your shooting. My first off brand lens was enough to make me swear off of anything without the word Nikon on it.<br /><br />If you have to go Canon, start with a 50D perhaps. I wouldn't buy anything not listed on the major camera sellers sites like B&H or Calumet. That is a sure sign it's a dinosaur or about to be one.<br /><br />I will say this, if you start with lesser equipment you will kick yourself in the end. You'll wonder why your images don't look like others and you'll cuss your lesser investment. Also, as far as difficulty the difficulty is the same. There is no point and shoot that will give you what trained photographers produce. Stick the darn thing on manual and learn how to use it. You will thank me for that tip too. I spent way too much time fiddling around with other settings until I figured out the "M" is where it's at. <br /><br />Understanding "M" (Manual)...<br />Now there is a book I would recommend too. Understanding Exposure by Bryan Peterson. While you can find a lot on the internet, this is a good book to put next to your favorite tv chair. Read it and look at all the great examples. It will help you understand what it takes to produce a certain look. That will be a great help and give you a HUGE jumpstart with your images. Then shoot, shoot, shoot! The plants, your friends, your kids, or whoever or whatever. Then evaluate your images and see what worked and what didn't by looking at the exif data.<br /><br />Ok, that is enough to think about for now. Your head should be appropriately spinning. Best wishes on your purchase. Give it a whirl and let us know how things came out and then come back for more... good group of folks here that are willing to help.</p>

<p>What is your off camera set up for a single SB 800/900 for wedding portraits?<br />I'm looking for a super simple diffused setup for one flash? I can do a light pole,<br />but want a sizeable soft box that goes up fast and a stand. I don't always have<br />help available. Include your mulit-flash or light set up if you like and examples too!</p>

<p>After a pre-ceremony session to you all check your lenses for hair spray? Does anyone send in your lenses on a regular basis for cleaning etc? or just as needed?</p>

<p>For those of you who have been in photography a while, would you please share your tips on storing lenses, bodies, and flashes appropriately. Please include cleaning tips and routine care that you have found helpful for your business. I find this topic sorely overlooked everywhere.<br />Thanks,<br />Laura</p>

<p>Shae the answer is yes. If that's what everyone else is wearing. I wear colored jeans, always black or a darker color or kaki colored capri's usually. Some kind of a nice blouse or shirt. I don't wear t-shirts and I don't wear polo's or anything else with the studio name on it. That to me looks tacky. I know one big time photog who tells his brides that his attire resembles black combat attire, boots included, because that is what he is comfortable in and does his best work in. He then offers to wear a suit. He said he's had like 2 or 3 takers the whole time he's been at it.<br>

Be comfortable and appropriate is my motto. Even the photogs I've been with (shooting video there) at the Ritz don't dress like the wedding party or guests. I used to dress up and it got in my way and made me hot. <br /><br />I think "When in Rome do as the Romans do..." would apply here.</p>

<p>Kevin, it looks like you have the same problem I do. You are prone to shooting uphill (up their noses/tree shot). I am only 5'7" so that might have something to do with it, the rest is just remembering to go ahead and shoot for the cut. Head and shoulders=eye level, 3/4 at the calf=chest level, full length=waist level shot. If you are going to shoot up shoot from way down, like laying down. This particular couple would have looked awesome in some shots from way above too. Allow for a little more background.<br /><br />There is something odd about the dress lace up shot and it could use a little more contrast. Flatten her tummy in the rock shot (I love that one sans the tummy), crop the slide show shot up some from the bottom and burn the bottom in a little. Now this is just a matter of personal taste: I would not shoot the shoes with the gown. It's a big detail to most brides so I would shoot a seperate shot of them, this is a lovely take even though it appears a little soft online. However, the shoes are a distraction. It's the less is more thing. <br /><br />Dave Wilson, your commentary is very helpful. If you have time it would be great if you could share some shots on a separate thread about hands that included examples.</p>

<p>I stopped ready a few posts back. There is no real argument to me, give the couple what they hired you for and more and it's a win/win situation. Get peer advice, critique and you grow and become more profitable... hopefully. <br /><br />Peer advice:What this forum lacks is true nuts and bolts help in the subject of wedding photography. Real image critique laying out what was used and how it could have been used better, better composition, better use of environment, better use of lighting, etc. <br /><br />The fact remains if you give a client a product that meets their expectations you will have a happy client and get a lot of business from that clients referals. If you don't, you won't. There are a lot of people out there doing quite well for themselves with this vein of thinking. Those who continue to grow will stay in business for the long term and if they grow creatively in a way that is accepted by their market as the up and coming, they should grow in profitability and additional client approval.</p>

<p>I can't get the Portfolio to load. None of them.<br />Flash isn't the problem, it's the server, the code<br />or the images.</p>

<p>Slick!<br /><br />I'm not much on the translucent cards because you have to hold them up to something solid to read them, but other than that I like it a lot.</p>

<p>It's not should you, but how fast can you get something good up.<br /><br />Your present set up works against you if you are looking to have a professional stance. A personalized professional website is considered key for may who are looking to verify your professional stance as a business. <br /><br />I think what you have priced is really high for what you need. You can start with something much more simple than a customized flash site. Just make sure it's classy and well linked. However, if you really want to go for the gold you should invest in a quality site.<br>

When talking to brides that have not yet seen my site (and most of them have, that's how they know what I do) that is the first thing they ask me. "Do you have a website?" It gives brides and other potential clients the opportunity to study your work, find out more about you and your style. They can get contact information too. Properly coded a website will also get you new potential business by people Googling for what you do.<br>

The best question is, are you ready to take that jump up? to do that much business?<br /><br />If you decide to do a site make sure you have someone proof all of your text, makes sure all links work, make sure it at least says what you do, where you are and how to contact you. <br />I've been doing simple html sites for 10 years they get a lot of attention. Make sure who ever builds it for you has proof that they know what they are doing. You could invest a lot of money in a product that doesn't work. <br /><br />Here is another idea. It will take much more time, but you can do it. Buy server space and get a Word Press blog. There are free templates all the time and it is getting extremely user friendly. Find a template where you can just change minor things and you will be up and running in to time. It can serve as your site easily. While I would never recommend this to someone who doesn't know any coding at all, if you really want to learn you can potentially save yourself a lot of money, especially if this is not your full time job and you never intend to make it that way. Many of the top photogs have went to blog only sites. I think I am leaning that way myself right now, even though I currently have both.<br /><br />Another option is to get a simple site and link your shopping cart and flicker to it.</p>

<p>Design is fine. I would add e-mail for sure. A lot of brides plan while they are at work and won't call, but will e-mail. If you are going to use color I would coordinate an image with your signature color of green if at all possible. Envoke emotion with faces and an exciting image.<br>

If no more changes I would go for 6.</p>

<p>Portraits and on the fly are two very different animals I've found. Lots of batteries, backups and plenty of storage is a major plus. Depending on the shot list for formals and how long of a day you are talking about you might not have enough storage. After the ceremony I will change cards regardless because of fear of something happening to those images. Just something to think about. <br /><br />Aimee is right though, "...the less your client spends, the more they expect." Does your bride realize that on the fly is not like a controlled portrait setting? If not, you might want to enlighten her. Other than that I'd bet you'd be fine.</p>

<p>You might want to get some disk burning software to you help you out. I find that most often the trouble incured is because the disk burned is from a proprietary program to the computer (HP, Dell etc.) I use Nero and I don't have compatibility issues. I don't use the photo, video or audio options, I just burn files as data. (Knock on wood...) zero compatibility issues for myself or any client.<br /><br />Also your issue may not have as much to do with the UDF as the disks themselves (you get what you pay for) disk format (anything other than -R can be a pain) and write speed (write and read speeds vary and can cause an issue if read by an older player.) I've seen more problems with "mastered" disks than any others. I take the KISS principle to heart when doing any dvd and so far so good. Just my take...</p>

<p>ROFL It's a funny catch with the positioning of the balloons. I'm sure it was fun to do,<br />but it has so many questionable interpretations and since the subject is blocked I don't think it has portfolio merit AND i wouldn't give it to a bride.<br>

I've never seen selective color be anything more than novel. It's a trick to me, I don't like it in photos or video. I think I have seen all of 1 or 2 photos, if ever, that it actually worked on.<br />Just my take.</p>

<p>FWIW...Your portfolio should start with a different image than that of the home page. When I first opened it the home page photo did not load. Might just be our backwoods connection. <br /><br />It feels dry to me. The actions used on the photos give it an editorial feel. More grain than film feel. Very dark and forboding. Void of detail. Not sure if this style appeals to NYC folks or not, maybe it's just me I like color and detail. Lots of smiles but no detail. Almost disconnected...sad....I don't know how to put my finger on it. I think the color void and the fact that the border is so pale pink that it just drains the eye. There are no detail shots as in (shoes, dress, etc.) wedding details right? Is that on purpose? I think it needs a feminine touch or a edgy touch.<br /><br />To me, very few photos actually lend themselves to b/w. I'm not saying that you need to change you. Everyone should have their own style. I want to give you an example of b/w wedding pics with detail that speak emotion, try <a href="http://cheninboutwell.com/weddings/2.html">http://cheninboutwell.com/weddings/2.html</a> . While I'm not totally into that CA bleach bypass/50's film or what ever it is look, I really admire her ability as a photographer and especially when to turn a photo into b/w and how to keep the level of detail in post.<br /><br />I would crop to level the kissing couple in front of the brick that is slightly tilted, there is an almost identical shot I would use one or the other, but not both. I would not use the guy straighting out his cuffs he looks disgusted. I would not use the pic of the older brides butt. Brides want their butts to look as hot as possible. While this beautiful bride has a great figure, it's not the most flattering angle for a bride in the prime of her life. The focus is more on her butt than the embrace it appears to me.<br /><br />Great critique can be found here: <a href="http://www.zarias.com/?p=365">http://www.zarias.com/?p=365</a> Zack Arias and his wife chill and review websites. It's VERY eye opening and makes lots of sense.<br /><br />Nice layout and fully functional from what I saw. It will change as you go along. Hope that helps. I didn't check, but make sure you do a complete spelling, grammer and usage check. It matters and so many don't do it. I don't always do it in my posts and I should, drives some folks nuts. However, on a web site unless it's a style thing, it should be correct. What I liked best was the ease of use. The links are all right there. Great start!</p>

<p>Hi Jeff, thanks so much for joining us today. I enjoy your work, it is inspirational to me. I have a lot to learn and much experience to gain. I am appreciative that you are willing to share with us. <br /><br />My question is how much of the standard fare as far as formals do you do or do you do them at all? If so what is your approach? (Families with bride and goom, wedding party etc.)<br />Thanks again, <br />~Laura</p>

<p>What was your flash position? What was behind you?<br /><br />Anyway, cool. I think it's always good to catch what happened that day. <br />Rain, snow, sleet, hail, 110 degrees whatever, it's part of their day.</p>

<p>Max said: Saad, to me, client meetings are about selling your personality...<br /><br />I disagree. The couple wants to see if they feel comfortable working with Y O U. Not all clients match all couples. If it's not a match you will figure it out very early on. Not only that they want to see just what you are going to give them. <br /><br />I think your biz name on your shirt is very old school. I never see anyone around our parts sans one guy, doing that and I am in conservative, hard to change middle America where people are still using their flash, head on with no difusion whatsoever all the time, where albums are often plastic sheets, ya know?<br /><br />Be honest about your experience and your portfolio and let it go at that. Don't discount your services or rearrange all your packages. They either want to work with you or they don't. Just be polite, be yourself, dress biz casual or how you would on a wedding day. You'll be fine! Let us know how it goes.</p>

<p>This is a common option that I've seen more than once. I'm not sure why anyone would want to do it. They think it's because they will face the congregation, but in reality you get to see much less like this than if they stand in the best configuration which is the standard, pastor in back, couple faces each other. <br /><br />Now to open a whole new can of worms. I almost always ask the couple how they will be standing well ahead of time. If they say they wanted to do the above (pastors back to the congregation) I talk them out of it. I remind them that no one will get to see the ring exchange, or them holding hands and that depending on where someone is sitting, that their faces will be blocked from the view of their friends and family, the video camera and the still camera. If they stand, facing each other most of the time they are up, folks will get to see a lot more of what they came to share with the couple. Every single time I tell a couple this, they change things immediately. I think there are times when we as professionals can politely assist the couple in making decisions about the way things are to go that they will thank us for over and over AND it makes our job sooooo much easier.<br /><br />And to the original poster, who cares, they are always gonna be there, go wider and don't worry about it. You will get plenty of them kissing. This guy was just really close and there is nothing in the background to tie him to the ceremony so it looks a little weird. Don't worry about it. It was the way things were, or as Walter Cronkite would have said "...and that's the way it is...".</p>

<p>I like the original becaue it seems to have a very natural feel to it. It has an early evening glow to it with touches of color. I liked it BW as good or even more. I think I would show the couple both. I wouldn't do any of the color alterations already shown other than the BW.</p>

<p>CS2 would like to try Lightroom, but I hear the new version is buggy. I have so much stinkin software that upgrading is driving me nuts. I consider Photoshop to be the best tool there is and I've tried PSP and a couple other smaller ones. So many actions, plug ins etc are available for PS it seems silly to go with anything else. I have worked PS on Mac and PC and both to be just awesome, unlike some of Adobes other programs. CS3 will be in the near future. <br /><br />You will eventually find that Elements does not do all that you need to do. Also, if Elements is slow, then your computer needs upgraded. Processing speed and memory will help you. Then eventually you are going to need a bunch of storage. Have fun!</p>

<p>Large weddings are more interesting. Much more paparazzi there. You will deal with larger group shots, probably a larger wedding party. What is the church like? Long and dark compared to what you have been working with? Do they allow flash? Do you have a shot list from the bride and groom? Big church, church lady to help? Who will gather the groups with no assistant? I'd say it's the usual fare. Remember they hired you because of what they have seen, that is what they expect.</p>