lisa_christianson

<p>Thanks for the link! I looked through just about all of the postings. </p>

<p>I have been looking at using a photography online storefront for awhile and since it's the new year, I think it's time to get started. Right now I show all my work on facebook but I want a more professional looking tool to use for clients. I read through the questions already posted and I'm hoping to get some feedback from people who already use or have used either SmugMug or Zenfolio. I want something that I can sell my pictures on and make my own pricing. Has anyone sold prints on SmugMug? If so, how is the quality? If you have a site at either of these I would love to look at them. </p>

<p>Since you shot on the floor and the light was too high, you should have used a reflector to help with the under shadows. In this case you wouldn't put the reflector on a stand, but just prop it up on something to angle it upward. I use couches a lot when shooting kids this age because it it easy to use equipment since the baby is high up and i don't need a stand for the background that way either. <br mce_bogus="1"></p>

<p>This is all very good information and is giving me a good idea of what I need. I have decided to start with a 300 w/s and if I need more power then I will add another light. I figure anything is a step up from just using my hotshoe flash. I was going back and forth with setting up a flash or getting a monolight and I really want to start practicing with monolights. I was looking into kits and I am still thinking of going with a 300 w/s monolight kit.<br>

I saw a good tip from Devon that kit lightstands are junk. I am planning on using that one with my reflector and buying a sturdy one to go with the monolight. I just need to look into reflector brackets now. Any good brands to recomend or tips on those?<br>

I would also still like to use my hotshoe flash to bounce. To use the hotshoe flash and monolight together what would you recomend as a trigger?<br>

Thank you all for your help!</p>

<p>I have been trying to learn as much as I can about lighting the past couple of months through all these posts. I have posted a few questions to clarify all the different opinions too. I have now settled on getting a monolight to start with. I have been looking at kits because I want the stand and umbrella included. I read through the studio guide and it stated that serious photographers start with 2000 watts seconds. As I was looking through adorama I got to about the 1200 watt second range that's in my budget. Would I be able to do portraits with a 1200 watt second monolight with umbrella kit? I noticed that just about everyone here likes alien bees equipment. Looking on adorama I was interested in the Flashpoint II 2420 Monolight Kit, 1200 Watt Second, One Monolight Kit with Stand and Umbrella. What would be the drawbacks of this equipment? Would I be able to get away with a 900 watt second? I also have a reflector that I plan to use. I am mainly interested in photographing babies and small children with the occasional small family. I also saw that monolights are plugged into the wall. Can you use battery packs with them too?<br /> </p>

<p>That's the responce I was looking for! Thanks guys, I am going to give it a try.</p>

<p>Thank you all for your information! It really helped out a lot. I'm glad I asked before buying the kit. I didn't relize that it was constant light and that it didn't put out very much light. I think I might consider starting with buying one stobe and umbrella to work with my flash and build my kit from there. I am not trying to spend more than $200 right now. I have a flash right now. Any sugestions for a strobe and umbrella with stand in the $200 range?</p>

<p>Has anyone tried Portrait Professional 9 yet? Or even the last version? I was thinking about trying the trial version but wanted to know if it was easy to use or even effective. I'm pretty good with photoshop but if this is an effective program and makes the retouching process go faster then I will try it.</p>

<p>I have been looking at lighting kits since I posted a question about renting studio lighting and I was advised to just buy some of my own because with the time it will take to practice with the equipment, I might as well buy it. I was looking into something simple since I will be learning with this equipment. On adorama I found a kit that includes the following:<br>

3-7' stands, <br /> <br /> 2 umbrellas 33" shoot-thru and 33" white umbrella with black back <br /> <br /> 1- 5.5" relflector <br /> <br /> 2 socket kits, <br /> <br /> 2 85watt and 1 45 watt fluorescent bulb <br /> <br /> large carrying case.<br>

I am wondering about power now. Do kits like this usually plug into the wall? Or do you have to use a battery pack? And you have to use transmitters right? I was looking into those too. I saw the Flashpoint 4 Channel, A/C Radio Remote Control Set, with Transmitter and Receiver, Range of 90'. Plugs into the A/C Cord of the Monolight. I was thinking that would work out. Am I missing anything else that needs to make this kits complete for me to start using?</p>

<p>I find that these oportunities are excellent for some new equipment you have been wanting to try. In this case I would sugest you either buy or rent a flash since you will definatly need some fill lighting given the time of year. And since you are doing this with your teacher she can coach you through it. Once you get the flash I would practice a little so that you are a little familiar with it. Even if it's just setting up a doll or something outside. Practice using your flash and making it look natural with the light the sun provides. You may have to take the power down a couple of stops to make it look natural but fill lighting does wonders! Run it by your teacher and see what she thinks. This gives you a two for one learning experience.</p>

<p>That was a great tip to not fold your sheet neatly. I use sheets in my home sometimes and have the problem with the squares in the sheets. I think I will start storing the ones I use for backgrounds wadded up instead of folded neatly, that will give such a better look. And then throw it into the drier for a few minutes before I pin it up.</p>

<p>I also have a 32" 5-in-one collapsible disc reflector set that I will use to fill in the under shadows if I use the flashes. I was thinking about useing the white side for just a little lighting but now I am thinking of using the silver side to get the most of the light I have.</p>

<p>Since I have been getting some tips for using my hotshoe flashes, the next question I have is when you use two hotshoe flashes what ISO are you at? I don't really want to go above 400 ISO. I would love to stay at 200 ISO if my flashes are putting out enough light. From your experience working indoors is this possible. I usually have to set my ISO pretty high 800 indoors with one flash when I am moving around. But that has also been at night lately. For a studio type setting I might be able to get away with it lower since everyone won't be moving much. I do have a cannon speedlight 430EX and If I am going to get a second flash I want the speedlight 580EX II. I have a canon 7D as my main body and a canon rebel XT as my backup.</p>

<p>Oh, I forgot to mention that the event is going to be indoors. When I get a chance I am going to take a look at how much space I have to work in. I didn't think to take a look at the color of the walls and I will definatly take note of that!</p>

<p>Thank you all for your information. The groups will all be family sized so from 2-5 people in a shot. I agree with studio lighting needing some practice to master. I am actually deployed with them and I will only have a couple of weeks before the event to practice with the lighting equipment when we get back. I am a little nervous with the equipment since I have no experience with it. But, there is no time like the present to learn right! I think I will stick to my original plan with renting the softboxes since you think they make all the difference. I really want to do a good job and they all know that I am using this as practice. I have been shooting portraits of these same soldiers for the last year and they all like my work. I told them that I would do this event and only charge enough to cover my rental and printing fees since I am using this as practice and it is my first event.</p>

<p>I am shooting an even next month for a military unit that is returning from Iraq. I had planned on renting a lighting kit with two light boxes but I have been so impressed lately with the light gives off when I bounce it. Now i'm thinking about just renting another flash and using a reflector as fill in. Any sugestions as to why I shouldn't go this route?</p>

<p>I use quicken for home use accounting and I'm looking for some other software that I could use with my new business. I want something that prints out professional looking invoices and one that will help me when it comes to tax time. Any suggestions? I've seen one advertised by broderbund that looks nice but i'm open to other possibilities.</p>

<p>I've created a business name since I have a common name and there are actually other photographers out there with the same name. Now I need to know what to do to copyright my business name. Any sugestions?</p>

<p>Do you have a website yet? Since you like the free idea so much I would suggest that you make the photo shoot free then upload your pictures to either your website or a storefront to sell your images. It's a way to get your foot in the door while still selling your images. After awhile then you can start charging for the photoshoots too.</p>

<p>So with the research i've done, looks like the best storefront providers are: printroom.com, pictage.com, labtricity.com and intothedarkroom.com</p>

<p>Hello all, I am in the process of designing my website. I have my front page created and how I want the other

pages to look as well. What I am trying to research now are sites I can link up with to have people be able to order

their own prints. I do not have access to paypal or credit cards so I am looking for something simple until I get

comfortable with this process. If you could just throw out some links so I can look into them it would be greatly

appreciated! I am taking a web design class in a couple of months and I would like to have all my research done by

then so I can complete my website.</p>�

<p>Epson printers are the way to go for any photo printing. I would never go with another brand! I use mine for small packages and any prints under 50 at a time. If you don't want to print your own pictures yet, look up adorama.com in the picture section. They are easy to use and the price is very good. I have been using it and I love it.</p>

<p>Right now I have just passed the stage you are at. I did a whole lot of research before I set my prices. From my experience I have learned that pricing depends on the area you are in,the quality of your work, your experience and the equipment you are using. To start out look into at least three different photographers or studios in your area. Based on those prices, ask yourself how do your photos compaire to the ones taken at those studios. Ask youself how does your experience compair to those places. The next thing you will want to look into is the cost of the prints you are offering or are you willing to give your clients full use rights of the photos you took. Compair the cost of printing to what you are thinking of selling your photos for. Then ask yourself again if you think with your experience and equipment if this is a fair price. Remember you are just starting out and the price of your photos will increase with the experience you will gain. It's ok to change your prices at a later date. There are all kinds of online sites these days that you can upload your photos to and that site will do the selling with your stated pricing and printing without you having to do much. Right now I am using adorama.com in their pix section. It's easy to use since I haven't completed my website yet. I hope this info helps you out with your new business and remember that you are just starting out and this should all be a fun experience for you. Don't stress yourself out yet, that will come later ;)</p>

<p>I agree with needing the flash. Once you get use to using it you will see a world of difference in the outcome of your portraits. Get use to bouncing your flash for indoor portraits for soft light and using the settings on your flash for outdoor portraits. You will notice that the faces, especially the eyes, will light up more and glow using a flash. You will also notice that you will have to alter your photos less in post-production. This was one of the best investments I ever made starting out! Like David stated, the flash debepeds on the camera sytem you are using. I love to use the adorama.com site to look up all my equipment and read the reviews before purchasing. As for books, I am a big fan of Scott Kelby. He is great for beginer photographers because he talks to you in words you will actually understand before you get use to the technical talk. His second book in his digital photography series talks a lot about lighting and how to properly use your flash to get different looks. Those books aren't very expensive so I also suggest getting the first book with it. You can look them up on amazon or just go to your local book store.</p>

<p>Really good point Stephanie! Tagging is a really good way to get your work seen by people you've never met. It's a constant way of advertising that is free because everytime you post something it reminds people that you are still there. It is also an efortless way to constantly show peole your work or projects you are working on. Emails can sometimes feel like you are being bothered, but on facebook when you post something, people don't feel like they are being targeted.</p>