aura_jane

<p>Ian, great advice! I love the jab yourself with a pencil bit! Made my day. I have a hard time talking about myself, so I need to sit down for some time and really write a better bio, and I'll use the tips from here. Although, I may refrain from jabbing myself with the pencil ;-)</p>

<p>Thanks Art! Found it. It was in my title-meta and description-meta sections. I thought it was in one of the information text area. </p>

<p>Help me out Art, I am not seeing where the mispelled "portrait" is on the page. I checked the menu text and I am not seeing it.<br>

I am doing some volunteer work here, I always do, but not as much as before I moved. I don't have as much time now.</p>

<p>Thank you for the feedback and info. Looks like I should have someone who has better technical writing skills than myself edit my "information" and "about me" pages. My librarian mother would be so ashamed ;-)</p>

<p>Vail, thanks for letting me know it's not working on the iPad. That's strange because it works on my iPhone 4, so I just assumed it would work fine on the iPad as well. I will have to do some research to find out why it's not working.</p>

<p>No, it's the same site, with the same web address. It's just an HTML mirror of the flash version. If you pull up the web address on an ipad or an iphone, it will be the HTML version. If you are on a computer with flash, it will take you to the flash version.</p>

<p>Thank you for all your responses. John, thanks for your kind words.<br>

I am working on building relationships with vendors. There are some local wedding vendor luncheons that I have on my schedule for January, and I know there is so much more work I need to do in that area. I have a hard time approaching people, and I am working to get over that.<br>

Barry, I actually have an HTML mirror site, and I have my SEO setting so that it will use the HTML version for SEO purposes. I am so way down the list for my area though. And I am sure the only way to become known in my area is to network and do some bridal shows.</p>

<p>I have been an second shooter for sometime, and have done a few wedding solo, under my own name as well. I just moved, and have decided to go full time on my own as a wedding photographer. I have updated my logo, portfloio, and bio. I have joined PPA, and I'm waiting for my packet. My business license stuff is all set up to start Jan 2nd, I am getting my insurance before that time, I have a bridal show lined up for May, and some advertising in a local wedding guide. I have smaple albums designed and on their way to me. I don't know anyone in this town, so I am trying to build a client base from nothing. I feel confident in my ability to shoot a full wedding solo, even though I plan to always have a second. My question is, how does the website look, what areas of my porfolio hurt or help, how is my information section, what other things should I consider before openening day? I have been hesitant to branch out on my own because business planning is not fun or easy, and is very costly, as I am finding out very quickly.</p>

You should consider getting a HTML

mirror site or at least a mobile version.

I am almost always on my iPhone

when I am online, and I know a lot of

others are as well. If I were looking for

a photog and I pulled up a website that

told me I needed flash, I would go right

to the next one. Plus flash is not as

good for seo. I know it's not an answer

to your question, but I thought it might

help.

I would have to second everything Phil

has said. The exact same lenses for

me as well. Also on a canon.

<p>I rent from borrowlenses.com pretty frequently. It's really the best way to put a lens or body to the real world test before you buy it. I second the suggestion for the 17-55 2.8. I have owned it for about 2 years now, and it stays on the body most of the time, that is when I am not renting the 16-35 2.8. That would be my top choice, but it's much more expensive. I could shoot a whole wedding with the 70-200 2.8, or another long lens, and either of the wide lenses. I have found after going over images at the end of the day, sometimes I only use the 17-55 2.8 and my 85 1.8. It just depends a lot on your shooting style. See is you can find someone to second shoot for in the meantime. It has been the absolute best learning experience for me.</p>

<p>And here is another, same day, same settings, but with an open bloom. Can not decide which I like better. Thoughts?</p><div></div>

<p>Here is one of my favorite ring shots. Taken in March 2011. f 4.5 iso 100 1/250. Used a 7D and a canon 17-55 2.8</p><div></div>

Second the syncing before ceremony, but for the one you have already shot, you can go into lightroom, select all the files from the

other camera, and change the time stamp on it. You just need to check how far apart they are and adjust it by that much. I had my

second camera 12 hours off accidentally once and it saved me so much time to do this.

<p>I actually did this exact thing a couple of months ago. Turned out well. I used FX Photokey 3, which keys very well. I used a beach scene from a digital backdrop cd. It was very difficult to fit everyone on my 5x7 scene for the group shot. Required some photoshop to remove some of the walls that showed at the edge of the frame. All you have to do is make them the same shade of green and it will key in photokey though, so it's much easier than removing walls in a traditional shot. If you can, I would suggest a large green cloth backdrop. I have a 10x12 (I believe are the dimensions) and so long as you do not have huge wrinkles, it will key perfectly. You may want to set up a backdround light to reduce the spill. I used a speedlight as mine without any issues. Children with really light hair will get more spill on them, which you can fix in PS with the color replacement tool pretty easily. Here is a sample from the day. I actually turned the screen to the blue side because most of the props and swim suits were green.</p><div></div>

I second the collapsable background. I bought on for green/blue screen photos, (awesome for kids birthday parties) and works

perfectly. Folds up small and pops up perfect with no wrinkles. I hold it up with a big reflector stand.

Black river imaging also sells them now. I have ordered metal prints from them, and bay photo as well. They are fabulous,

and the pricing has become more affordable recently. When you consider not having to mat and frame a print, it's actually

less expensive in some sizes. My customers love them and I love the way the colors pop. You don't have to worry about

them getting water damaged or fading either.

<p>I have done this shot before. I used a black backdrop, and a black sheet. Had mom drape it over herself and poke her hands through, just as you guessed. Use a wide aperture so you focus on just the hands and head.</p>

Justin,

Thank you so much for you very detailed response. Everything you said made perfect sense, and gave me a lot to think

about. You make some excellent points. I appreciate you taking the time to give me such helpful advice.

Thanks Robert. I added that commercial part recently to see how it would go over. Guess I have my answer. It is the only

ad work I have done. It is for a local pet store. I took your advice and culled that category. The style of my photographs on

my website represents what I like to do. I have a wider range in my history, but this represents my style.

<p>Karen, thank you for your response. I am setting up in an area that would attract my clients. Just not a great bulding. Kind of like a run of the mill bland office setup. I just intend to use it for studio portraits, and meeting with clients to sign papers and view samples. I am ok with not making a profit for the first year, just as long as I can cover expenses. I am sure most of my work will still be outside of the studio. I have had to turn down a couple of jobs because I didn't know them enough to let them come to my home. I will not go into debt to open for 6 months. I have enough to cover all the costs. I won't have much money for advertising though. I have a lot of my samples and flyers already, but I will need to purchase some more. I live in an area with dirt cheap rent, and most photogs are low priced. In your opinion, would raising my prices be doable?</p>

<p>Shawn, Thank you! I actually love shooting weddings, but not when I am the lead. When I second shoot, it is the funnest thing ever! I have been to some pretty fun, very cool weddings, with great bands, awesome locations, and tons of equipment to play with. I get really excited looking at the back of my camera and seeing what comes out. But that is when I work for someone else. When I do them on my own, it's stressful, and costly and I don't get high end weddings. Also, I think I have learned enough about photography this year to know I am NOT ready to take on a $7-8k job. Maybe a small budget wedding that needs only 1 photog, but where is the fun in that? The only downfalls of second shooting are that I get paid a lot less, and I don't get to use any of my images. I had one that was published in a bridal magazine that I can never claim rights to because I was contracted. But at least I know I took it. That's why my wedding stuff is so slim.</p>

<p>I have been in business for about a year, and have moslty been small scale, a couple of weddings on my own, and several portrait sessions. I have also been doing a ton of pet photography, mostly for people I don't know personally, and have done around 10 mini session photo events at a gourmet pet food store, a groomers, and a vet clinic. 3 of which were charity fundraisers. The only portrait sessions I have done for people I do not know I have had to go to their location, or meet them somewhere, because I do not like bringing people to my home. I have shot around 10 weddings as a second shooter for a large wedding photographer in a larger neighboring city. I have decided that I would like to continue to second shoot larger weddings, and maybe take on one or two smaller scale weddings on my own, but focus on pet and senior photography. Those are the two areas I prefer, and also the two areas that no other photographer in my area are currently focusing. Most of them focus on weddings and children. I have found a small studio (200 sq ft) that I can afford with a six month lease. I have the ability to cover all costs for that first 6 months to see if it works out. It's not a great building, but it is in a good neighborhood and it's visible from a high traffic road. Any advise or things to consider before I make the big leap? Also, if anyone would be willing to look over my website and let me know if you feel I am ready for this, and focusing on the right areas. <a href="http://www.theampstudio.com">www.theampstudio.com</a></p>

<p>Matt, thanks so much for the info. I came to photo.net today with just that question in my mind. Looks like exactly what will work for me. I LOVE photo.net!</p>

I love my local antique mall. Target and hobby lobby also have some great things. I get ideas for shoots just by shopping.